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High level message priority assignment by a plurality of message-sending nodes sharing a signal bus

  • US 20020146031A1
  • Filed: 02/06/2001
  • Published: 10/10/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. In a system of a plurality of nodes communicating with each other on a serial data path using dominant and recessive signal levels, where a dominant signal level sent on the data path by any of the nodes creates a dominant signal level on the data path irrespective of the number of recessive signal levels sent by other nodes, and wherein the dominant and recessive signal levels form a series of bits organized into messages, wherein each sending node senses the signal level on the data path bit by bit, and if different from that sent by that sending node, provides a collision signal and halts further sending of signal levels by that sending node, wherein each sending node while sending a message identifies the end thereof, and wherein each node includes i) a send register for recording a message in bit format ordered from leading to trailing bits for sending on the data path and for providing a message signal encoding the message bit format, and ii) a message sending module receiving the message signal and modulating the signal levels on the data path to create dominant and recessive signal levels encoding the message bit format in order from leading to trailing bits thereof, wherein the message sending module begins to send each message in preselected time relationship to the end of the previous message, and wherein each node of the system includes:

  • a) a priority value generator providing a priority signal encoding a value whose magnitude indicates a relative priority; and

    b) a message priority module receiving the priority signal, and storing the priority value in predetermined bits of the send register.

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