COMMUNICATION NETWORK APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method for configuring a network, comprising:
- grouping processing nodes of the network into a plurality of sub-networks;
organizing the plurality of sub-networks into layers where sub-networks within each layer are not directly coupled to each other; and
coupling processing nodes of a layer to at least one processing node of an above sub-network of an upper layer, unless the layer is a top layer, and at least one processing node of a below sub-network of a lower layer, or a child device.
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Abstract
A communication network apparatus and method for routing communication signals from a source device to a receiving device. The apparatus performs only local processing on communication signals to thereby increase the speed of processing the signals. A plurality of the processing nodes are combined into a plurality of sub-networks that comprise the network apparatus. Each processing node of a sub-network need only process address information pertaining to the node'"'"'s current layer, one layer above it, if any, and one layer below it, if any. Additionally, each processing node has associated communication signal frequencies/wavelengths that identify the processing node as the intended recipient of the communication signal. When a communication signal having a carrier signal with a frequency/wavelength corresponding to the processing node is received, the processing node demodulates the carrier signal and forwards the communication signal data to a processing module used to process address information to determine how to route the communication signal through the network. Communication signals may be assigned “express” frequencies/wavelengths, in which case, all of the processing nodes, except the destination processing node, of the network pass the communication signal without performing processing on the communication signal.
187 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a network, comprising:
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grouping processing nodes of the network into a plurality of sub-networks;
organizing the plurality of sub-networks into layers where sub-networks within each layer are not directly coupled to each other; and
coupling processing nodes of a layer to at least one processing node of an above sub-network of an upper layer, unless the layer is a top layer, and at least one processing node of a below sub-network of a lower layer, or a child device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for routing communication signals in a network organized into layers of sub-networks, comprising:
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receiving in a sub-network, a communication signal from another sub-network or a child device;
selecting a carrier signal based on a destination address of the communication signal; and
outputting the carrier signal to one of an above sub-network, a below sub-network, a same sub-network, or a child device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A network comprising:
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a first layer of processing nodes; and
a second layer of processing nodes, wherein;
the processing nodes of each of the first and second layers are organized into sub-networks comprised of one or more processing nodes;
sub-networks of a same layer are not directly coupled to each other; and
at least one processing node of each sub-network of the second layer is coupled to a processing node of a sub-network in the first layer, unless the second layer is a top layer, and to at least one of a processing node of a sub-network in a third layer or a child device. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification