Method and apparatus for maintaining a dynamic logical ring in a token passing LAN
First Claim
1. Apparatus for maintaining a dynamic logical ring in a token passing local area network, comprising:
- transmit means for transmitting and receiving message signals over first and second transmission channels, said transmit means being adapted to be coupled to said network; and
data processing means for receiving message signals and transmitting message signals via said transmit means, said data processing means being responsive to a media demand signal received over said first channel for transmitting a media entrance signal over said second channel, wherein said media demand signal is provided for indicating that an entering station wishes to be added to the logical ring and said media entrance signal is provided for adding said entering station to the logical ring, the logical ring being a list prescribing an order in which the token is passed from station to station in said network.
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a local area network wherein a network control center is provided to maintain a dynamic logical ring. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the local area network is provided with a transmission medium having first and second channels, wherein prospective entrants to the logical ring are solicited over the first channel and wherein information transfer among BIUs occurs over the second channel. The network control center is provided for continuously soliciting successors and resolving contentions over the first channel. Further, the network control center is adapted to add entering stations to the logical ring by receiving the token and transmitting next neighbor packets over the second channel. Additionally, the network control center may be adapted for monitoring communications over the second channel to determine when a station has received the token and failed and, thereafter, to reestablish the logical ring.
127 Citations
33 Claims
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1. Apparatus for maintaining a dynamic logical ring in a token passing local area network, comprising:
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transmit means for transmitting and receiving message signals over first and second transmission channels, said transmit means being adapted to be coupled to said network; and data processing means for receiving message signals and transmitting message signals via said transmit means, said data processing means being responsive to a media demand signal received over said first channel for transmitting a media entrance signal over said second channel, wherein said media demand signal is provided for indicating that an entering station wishes to be added to the logical ring and said media entrance signal is provided for adding said entering station to the logical ring, the logical ring being a list prescribing an order in which the token is passed from station to station in said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A token passing local area network having a dynamic logical ring, comprising:
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first and second transmission channels; a plurality of bus interface unit (BIU) means, each said BIU means being adapted to transmit and receive message signals over said second channel and each said BIU means being adapted to transmit media demand signals over said first channel, said media demand signal for indicating that an entering station wishes to be added to the logical ring, the logical ring being a list prescribing an order in which the token is passes from BIU means to BIU means in said network; and network control means responsive to said media demand signal received over said first channel for transmitting a media entrance signal over said second channel, said media entrance signal for adding said entering station to the logical ring. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for maintaining a dynamic logical ring in a token passing local area network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring a first channel for transmission of a media demand signal, wherein said media demand signal is provided for indicating that an entering station wishes to be added to the logical ring, the logical ring being a list prescribing an order in which the token is passed from station to station in said network; and (b) responding to said media demand signal transmitted over said first channel by transmitting a media entrance signal over a second channel, wherein said media entrance signal is provided for adding said entering station to the logical ring. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification