Link transmission control with common time reference
First Claim
1. A transmission system for coupling of data units from an output port to an input port of a communications channel, the system comprising:
- a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) signal providing a common time reference (CTR);
wherein the CTR is coupled to a transmitter subsystem and a receiver subsystem;
a source of delimiter signals responsive to the CTR;
wherein the transmitter subsystem, responsive to the delimiter signals and the CTR for sending control information and data units over the communications channel; and
wherein the receiver subsystem physically separate from the transmitter subsystem wherein the receiver subsystem is responsive to selected ones of the delimiter signals and the CTR, for storing the received data units from the communications channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention specifies how control information is inserted in the flow of data units on a channel between two common time reference (CTR) driven switches in order to delineate time frames, sub-time frames, and time cycles. The delineation enables the receiver to unambiguously associate the received data units with time frame, sub-time frame, and time cycles. The invention further introduces a method for counting data units in order to, among other things, detect the end of a time frame, the end of a time cycle, and the position and value of other control information.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A transmission system for coupling of data units from an output port to an input port of a communications channel, the system comprising:
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a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) signal providing a common time reference (CTR);
wherein the CTR is coupled to a transmitter subsystem and a receiver subsystem;
a source of delimiter signals responsive to the CTR;
wherein the transmitter subsystem, responsive to the delimiter signals and the CTR for sending control information and data units over the communications channel; and
wherein the receiver subsystem physically separate from the transmitter subsystem wherein the receiver subsystem is responsive to selected ones of the delimiter signals and the CTR, for storing the received data units from the communications channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48)
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28. A transmission system for coupling of data units from an output port to an input port of a communications channel, the system comprising:
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a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) signal providing a common time reference (CTR);
source of time frame safety gaps responsive to the CTR;
a transmitter subsystem, responsive to delimiter signals and the CTR for sending safety gaps, control information and data units over the communications channel;
a receiver subsystem physically separate from the transmitter subsystem; and
wherein the received subsystem is responsive to selected ones of the safety gaps and the CTR, for storing the received data units from the communications channel.
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36. A transmission method for coupling of data units from an output port to an input port of a communications channel, the method comprising:
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providing a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) signal as a common time reference (CTR);
a source of delimiter signals responsive to the CTR;
a transmitter subsystem, responsive to the delimiter signals and the CTR for sending control signals and data units over the communications channel; and
a receiver subsystem physically separate from the transmitter subsystem wherein the receiver subsystem is responsive to a selected one of the delimiter signals and the CTR, for storing the received data units from the communications channel.
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46. A transmission method for coupling of data units from an output port to an input port of a communications channel, the method comprising:
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providing a common time reference (CTR) comprising a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) signal;
generating a source of time frame safety gaps responsive to the CTR;
sending control signals and data units over the communications channel responsive to the safety gaps and the CTR; and
a physically separate receiver subsystem for storing the received data units from the communications channel responsive to a selected one of the safety gaps and the CTR.
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Specification