Shared medium access scheduling with common time reference
US6754210B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 22, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/28
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention describes a method for transmitting and forwarding data packets over a packet switching and shared media networks. The switches of the network maintain a common time reference (CTR), which is obtained either from an external source (such as GPS—Global Positioning System) or is generated and distributed internally. The time intervals are arranged in simple periodicity and complex periodicity (like seconds and minutes of a clock). The present invention provides for synchronous switches to be accessed by end-stations that are located on a shared media network. The shared media network can be of various types, including but not limited to: IEEE P1394 and Ethernet for desktop computers and room area networks, cable modem head-end (e.g., DOCSIS, IEEE 802.14), wireless base-station (e.g., IEEE 802.11), and Storage Area Network (SAN) (e.g., FC-AL, SSA). The end-station can be of corresponding various types including but not limited to: for IEEE 1394: video cameras, VCR and video disk, for cable modem: set-top box with multiple Ethernet connections to video cameras, VCRs, and for wireless: desktop computers and mobile units, and for SAN; disk drives, tape drives, RAM dis…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.