×

Data transmission arrangement including a reconfiguration facility

  • US 4,723,241 A
  • Filed: 07/18/1985
  • Issued: 02/02/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

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.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×