Reconfigurable data bus

• US 4,032,893 A
• Filed: 01/23/1976
• Issued: 06/28/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
• Inventors: Moran, Donald Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/651,770
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 340/166 R, 340/147 R, 340/147 C, 340/147 T, 340/172.5, 445/1, 179/15 AL, 179/15 A, 179/18 ES, 179/15 AT
• US Class Current: 340/2.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/42 Loop networks

Abstract

A digital data communication system having a plurality of digital nodal communication devices interconnected by a digital data bus in a fixed physical manner in which the data bus structure may be electrically reconfigured without physical modification of the digital data bus. The ability to reconfigure the digital data bus is accomplished by the insertion of a digital reconfigurable data bus module into the position on the digital data bus previously held by one of the digital nodal communication devices and the connection of the replaced digital nodal communication device to the digital reconfigurable data bus module. The digital reconfigurable data bus module contains a transceiver mechanism capable of receiving and transmitting digital information to and from the digital data bus, an adapter mechanism for communicating with the replaced digital nodal communication device and a switching mechanism capable of the multiple switching of data from the adapter section which is connected to the replaced digital nodal communication device to the transceiver section which is connected to the digital data bus.

The digital reconfigurable data bus module allows a fixed configuration of nodal devices and connecting devices to provide the function of tree structured buses, ring structured buses, dedicated channels or combinations of any of them. The module facilitates the receipt, switching and retransmission of data on any selected bus pattern.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable data bus transmission system for electrically reconfiguring the data bus structure established by the physical interconnections of a network of physically fixed digital data buses interconnecting a plurality of digital nodal communication devices, comprising in combination:

(A) a plurality of digital data buses;

(B) a plurality of digital nodal communication devices adapted to be coupled to selected ones of said digital data buses;

(C) a plurality of digital reconfigurable data bus modules, one for each of said plurality of digital nodal communication devices, adapted to be connected intermediate to said digital data buses and said digital nodal communication devices, each of said digital reconfigurable data bus modules including;

(a) at least one set of bus communication ports capable of receiving and transmitting digital information to and from said digital data buses,

(b) a set of device communication ports capable of digital data communication to and from said digital nodal communication device, and

(c) a switching means capable of the simultaneous and independent establishment of a plurality of connections, each of said connections consisting of the switching of data between at least one of said set of bus communication ports and said set of device communication ports.

2. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises a digital electronic matrix, consisting of n inputs and n outputs, said matrix including:

(A) a logical "AND"ing means located at each row and column juncture in said digital electronic matrix;

(B) means for associating one of the said n inputs with each of the rows in the said digital electronic matrix;

(C) means for associating one of the said n outputs with each of the columns in the said digital electronic matrix;

(D) means for connecting each of the said n inputs to all of the said logical "AND"ing means in the row with which each particular input is associated;

(E) means for individually connecting all of the said "AND"ing means in the said digital electronic matrix to a separate control means;

(F) means for collecting the output of all of the said logical "AND"ing means in a given column into a logical "OR"ing means such that a signal present at the output of any of the said logical "AND"ing means in said column will cause a signal to be present at the output of the said logical "OR"ing means for said column; and

(G) means for individually connecting the output of the said logical "OR"ing means for each column to the said output associated with that particular column.

3. A communication system as in claim 2 where said control means comprises:

(A) a series of n latches each having n bits;

(B) means for associating one of the said latches for each of the columns in the said digital electronic matrix;

(C) for all of the said n bits in each latch means connecting the output of said latch to the said logical "AND"ing means in the column associated with said latch, and

(D) means for loading each latch.

4. A communication system as in claim 1 where said switching means comprises a matrix consisting of n inputs and n outputs, said matrix including:

(A) n² logical AND gates, each having a single output and first and second inputs, said gates being agreeable in n columns and n rows;

(B) for all of the said n rows, means connecting one of the said n inputs directly to said first input of every said logical AND gate in said row;

(C) for all of the said n columns, means connecting the said second input of all of the logical AND gates individually to a controlling means;

(D) for all of the said n columns, means connecting the output of each of the said logical AND gates in said column to a separate "OR"ing means whereby a signal present at the output of any one of the said logical AND gates in said column will cause a signal to be present at the output of the "OR"ing means for said column, and

(E) means individually connecting the output of each of the said "OR"ing means to a different one of the said n outputs.

5. A communication system as in claim 4 where said "OR"ing means comprises:

(A) a series of (n-1) logical OR gates having a single output and first and second inputs;

(B) means coupling the said first input of a first of said logical OR gates to the output of a first of said logical AND gates;

(C) means coupling the said second input of said first logical OR gate to the output of a second of said logical AND gates;

(D) means connecting the output of said first, and all subsequent, logical OR gates to said first input of the next said logical OR gate until (n-1) of the said logical OR gates are utilized;

(E) means connecting the output of a third, and all subsequent, logical AND gate to the said second input of the second, and all subsequent, of said logical OR gates; and

(F) the output of the (n-1)'"'"'th logical OR gate being the output of said "OR"ing means.

6. A communication system as in claim 4 where said "OR"ing means comprises:

(A) a logical OR gate having a single output and n inputs;

(B) for all of the said n logical AND gates, means for connecting the said output of one of the said logical AND gates to the n'"'"' th input of the said logical OR gate; and

(C) the output of said logical OR gate being the output of said "OR"ing means.

7. A communication system as in claim 4 where said "OR"ing means comprises means for connecting the said output of all of the n said logical AND gates to a single electrical point thereby creating a "wired-OR" configuration, said single electrical point also being the output of said "OR"ing means.

8. A communication system as in claim 4 where said controlling means comprises:

(A) a latch having n bits;

(B) for all of the said n bits, means connecting the output of said latch to the said second input of the n'"'"'th said logical AND gate located in said column; and

(C) means for loading said latch.