Communication broadcast channel interface
First Claim
1. A data communication network comprising:
- a shared broadcast communication medium for carrying packet switched information;
a plurality of user devices, such as data terminal equipment, for using said communication medium;
a plurality of device interface means for coupling user devices to said communication medium, receiving user information from a user device for assembly into data packets for transmission on said communication medium, receiving data packets from said communication medium for disassembly into data to be transmitted to a user device, each of said interface means having a user port coupled to at least one of said user devices and a network port coupled to said communication medium, and including data transfer means for transmitting and receiving information over said medium; and
each of said interface means including a command means for defining parameters of communication control which determine by their values the packet assembly and disassembly operations, packet addressing functions, type of packet service, start/stop user device characteristics and error reporting functions for use in conjunction with a user, said command means being responsive to a plurality of said users for the purpose of altering the parameters of communication control.
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Abstract
The Local Network Architecture (LNA) is an organization of a data communication network where the control and access to the communication channel is handled local to each user device interface. The device interface (Local Netowrk Architecture Interface or LNAI) is an electronic module which interfaces a user with the LNA communication network. This device adapter contains both a network port and a user interface port. This interface accepts user data and fragments it into data packets for shipment over a shared communication medium which is connected to the network port. A communication microprocessor is used to implement the functions of data buffering, routing, sequencing, flow control, acknowledging and error checking of data. Such distributed control eliminates the need for messages in the network to be forwarded to a message flow control process or computer station. Users supported by the system can include microprocessor based systems, programmable controllers, terminal devices, minicomputers and larger host computers. Since users differ in their exact communication conventions certain "personalities" can be imparted to the LNA device interface. These personalities allow data to be transmitted between users in a full transparent information mode in such a fashion as to be compatible with protocols implemented by those users and at different user transmission rates.
47 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A data communication network comprising:
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a shared broadcast communication medium for carrying packet switched information; a plurality of user devices, such as data terminal equipment, for using said communication medium; a plurality of device interface means for coupling user devices to said communication medium, receiving user information from a user device for assembly into data packets for transmission on said communication medium, receiving data packets from said communication medium for disassembly into data to be transmitted to a user device, each of said interface means having a user port coupled to at least one of said user devices and a network port coupled to said communication medium, and including data transfer means for transmitting and receiving information over said medium; and each of said interface means including a command means for defining parameters of communication control which determine by their values the packet assembly and disassembly operations, packet addressing functions, type of packet service, start/stop user device characteristics and error reporting functions for use in conjunction with a user, said command means being responsive to a plurality of said users for the purpose of altering the parameters of communication control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification