Communications system and method for interconnected networks having a linear topology, especially railways
US6400281B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W88/04
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for communicating over networks, particularly generally-linear networks such as a netowrk of railcars in a railway train. The disclosed system and method include the relaying of packets which may contain plural messages down a line of nodes. Acknowledgement of the packets is obtained implicitly by listening to a subsequenct relay of the packet and retransmission of the packet is effected on a diverse antenna in the event of non-acknowledgement. Message bandwidth is shared among the nodes of the system by a message priority system and by the reservation of portions of a packet for certain types of messages. Message bandwidth is also shared by the use of groups of nodes as relay particpiants and by periodically changing the group which is peforming the relay operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.