Data transmission arrangement including a reconfiguration facility
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting data between a plurality of input and output devices comprising:
- (a) a plurality of interconnection units of substantially equivalent capability, each said interconnection unit being connecting to an input and/or output device;
(b) at least two transmission paths, for data transmission in two respective opposite directions, said paths communicating, in a non-disturbed case, so that at least one path is formed which successively passes through all said interconnection units;
(c) at least two physically separate data connections for each said interconnection unit, each said data connection including at least two connection lines, for coupling with and for forming said paths;
(d) a plurality of detector means, one in each interconnection unit, each respective detector means for;
(i) monitoring at least one data stream on said paths and detecting any disturbance therein;
(ii) activating a respective synchronization means in the same interconnection unit as the respective detector means; and
(iii) connecting respective ones of said data connections, for the same interconnection unit as the respective detector means, to;
one another, data connections of neighboring interconnection units, and said synchronization means;
(e) a plurality of said synchronization means, one in each interconnection unit, each respective synchronization means for;
(i) generating synchronization information;
(ii) generating test information, upon activation by the respective detector means in the same interconnection unit; and
(iii) reading test information from neighboring interconnection units;
(f) the above elements interacting so that;
(i) in said non-disturbed case, one synchronization means generates synchronization information on said stream for all said interconnection units; and
(ii) upon detection of aid disturbance in said stream;
(A) said respective detector means activate their respective synchronization means and connect their respective data connections to generate test information to and read test information from at least one respective neighboring interconnection unit; and
(B) said respective detector means subsequently couple their respective data connections with;
one another;
data connections of a neighboring interconnection unit;
or their respective synchronization means, according to whether and on which data connection test information was received, and according to what information was received, whereby said detector means thus interconnect said data connections outside a location of a disturbance to form a new transmission path which interconnects all of said interconnection units which are themselves not malfunctioning and which have at least one functioning data connection for coupling with and for forming said new path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The construction of an arrangement for data transmission between a number of interconnection units should be realized so that, after a disturbance, an extensive reconfiguration of the arrangement is possible, so that all interconnection units which still communicate via a connection are interconnected by means of transmission paths which merely follow a different course in comparison with the non-disturbed state. In accordance with the invention each interconnection unit is provided with a device for generating synchronization information and in the case of a disturbance, appearing as a breakdown of the normal data stream, all interconnection units enter a test state in which test information is transmitted and possibly received test information is returned via all connections. Consequently, in each interconnection unit it can be autonomously decided which data paths are to be interconnected. In the case of at least three data connections per interconnection unit, different configurations are feasible which enable a complete reconfiguration to be realized also in the case of multiple disturbed connections between the interconnection units.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting data between a plurality of input and output devices comprising:
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(a) a plurality of interconnection units of substantially equivalent capability, each said interconnection unit being connecting to an input and/or output device; (b) at least two transmission paths, for data transmission in two respective opposite directions, said paths communicating, in a non-disturbed case, so that at least one path is formed which successively passes through all said interconnection units; (c) at least two physically separate data connections for each said interconnection unit, each said data connection including at least two connection lines, for coupling with and for forming said paths; (d) a plurality of detector means, one in each interconnection unit, each respective detector means for; (i) monitoring at least one data stream on said paths and detecting any disturbance therein; (ii) activating a respective synchronization means in the same interconnection unit as the respective detector means; and (iii) connecting respective ones of said data connections, for the same interconnection unit as the respective detector means, to;
one another, data connections of neighboring interconnection units, and said synchronization means;(e) a plurality of said synchronization means, one in each interconnection unit, each respective synchronization means for; (i) generating synchronization information; (ii) generating test information, upon activation by the respective detector means in the same interconnection unit; and (iii) reading test information from neighboring interconnection units; (f) the above elements interacting so that; (i) in said non-disturbed case, one synchronization means generates synchronization information on said stream for all said interconnection units; and (ii) upon detection of aid disturbance in said stream; (A) said respective detector means activate their respective synchronization means and connect their respective data connections to generate test information to and read test information from at least one respective neighboring interconnection unit; and (B) said respective detector means subsequently couple their respective data connections with;
one another;
data connections of a neighboring interconnection unit;
or their respective synchronization means, according to whether and on which data connection test information was received, and according to what information was received, whereby said detector means thus interconnect said data connections outside a location of a disturbance to form a new transmission path which interconnects all of said interconnection units which are themselves not malfunctioning and which have at least one functioning data connection for coupling with and for forming said new path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An interconnection unit for transmitting data to and from input and output devices and to and from other equivalent interconnection units, comprising:
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(a) at least two data connections, each including at least two connection lines, said lines being for coupling with and for forming at least two transmission paths through said unit, said paths being for data transmission in two respective opposite directions; (b) means for monitoring data streams on said paths and for detecting a disturbance in said streams; (c) means for generating test information; (d) means for activating said means for generating test information upon detection of said disturbance by said means for monitoring; (e) means for reading and evaluating test information received on said paths; (f) means for determining which data connection said test information arrived; (g) means for selectably connecting said lines; (i) in a non-disturbed case, to couple with and to form said paths; (ii) in the case of said disturbance, (A) to transmit and receive test informaton; and (B) after transmission of test information, to reform said paths according to whether and on which data connection test information was received, and according to what information was received so that new paths and extended transmission paths are formed which avoid a location of said disturbance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of locating and avoiding a disturbed portion of a data path, said path successively interconnecting a plurality of interconnection units, said path including two channels for data transmission in two respective opposite directions, each interconnection unit coupling an inpout and/or output device to said path, each interconnection unit having at least two physically separate data connections each data connection including at least two connection lines for coupling with and for forming said path, said method comprising:
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(a) monitoring a data stream on said path by each interconnection unit simultaneously and in parallel; (b) detecting a disturbance in said data stream by each interconnection unit in parallel said disturbance reaches the respective interconnection unit; (c) interrupting said path by each interconnection unit upon detection of said disturbance; (d) generating test information by each interconnection unit in parallel upon detection of said disturbance by the respective interconnection unit; (e) transmitting said test information by each interconnection unit in parallel to at least one respective neighboring interconnection unit, of the respective interconnection unit, along said path; (f) reading any said test information received along said path by each interconnection unit in parallel; (g) first determining, by each interconnection unit, on which of its respective data connections any said test information was received and whether that test information a functioning neighboring interconnection unit; (h) reconnecting said path by each interconnection unit coupling each of its respective data connections when test information was received on the respective data connection and that test information indicated that the relevant neighboring interconnection unit was functioning. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification