Cordless accessed high-speed high-capacity local area networks
First Claim
1. A Local Area communications network (LAN) comprising:
- a communications bus (14,40) which is routed along a predetermined path within an area to be serviced by the LAN; and
a plurality of regional bus interface units (11) (RBIUs) disposed at separate selected points around the area to be serviced by the LAN, each RBIU comprising;
means (12, 27, FIG. 2-3;
12, 35, FIG.
5) for providing cordless, low-level radiation, two-way communications between the RBIU and each user of a separate group of one or more network users assigned to, and located in, the proximity of the RBIU using a predetermined communications protocol;
transmitting means (20-22, 25-26, 28, FIGS. 2-3) for (a) forming an information signal received by the cordless transmission means from a user of the associated group of users into a separate packet of information with a predetermined format including a destination user'"'"'s address, (b) detecting when the communications bus is not currently propagating a packet of information from another RBIU of the network that would interfere with the transmission of the formed packet of information, and (c) transmitting the formed packet of information received from a user of the group assigned to the RBIU onto the communications bus in a detected free packet period; and
receiving means (30, 32-34, FIG.
5) for (a) receiving formatted information signals propagating on the communications bus, (b) detecting from an included destination user'"'"'s address whether or not each received information signal is destined for a user of the group of users assigned to the RBIU, and (c) delivering an information signal destined for one of said network users to the cordless two-way transmission means for transmission to the destined user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a high-speed high-capacity Local Area Network (LAN) wherein each user, of a separate group of one or more of the network users, communicates cordlessly, using radio frequencies or infrared, with an assigned Regional Bus Interface Unit (RBIU) located in the proximity of the group. Each RBIU of the network interfaces with a high-speed serial or lower speed parallel bus of an open-ring network for purposes of transmitting information signals while receiving information signals via the high-speed serial network bus (es), Various communications protocols such as, for example, CSMA/CD, slotted ALOHA, etc. can be employed by the users in communicating with the associated RBIUs with high efficiency due to the short paths involved relative to the transmission frame durations used on the bus.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A Local Area communications network (LAN) comprising:
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a communications bus (14,40) which is routed along a predetermined path within an area to be serviced by the LAN; and a plurality of regional bus interface units (11) (RBIUs) disposed at separate selected points around the area to be serviced by the LAN, each RBIU comprising; means (12, 27, FIG. 2-3;
12, 35, FIG.
5) for providing cordless, low-level radiation, two-way communications between the RBIU and each user of a separate group of one or more network users assigned to, and located in, the proximity of the RBIU using a predetermined communications protocol;transmitting means (20-22, 25-26, 28, FIGS. 2-3) for (a) forming an information signal received by the cordless transmission means from a user of the associated group of users into a separate packet of information with a predetermined format including a destination user'"'"'s address, (b) detecting when the communications bus is not currently propagating a packet of information from another RBIU of the network that would interfere with the transmission of the formed packet of information, and (c) transmitting the formed packet of information received from a user of the group assigned to the RBIU onto the communications bus in a detected free packet period; and receiving means (30, 32-34, FIG.
5) for (a) receiving formatted information signals propagating on the communications bus, (b) detecting from an included destination user'"'"'s address whether or not each received information signal is destined for a user of the group of users assigned to the RBIU, and (c) delivering an information signal destined for one of said network users to the cordless two-way transmission means for transmission to the destined user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A Regional Bus Interface Unit (RBIU) for use in a Local Area Network (LAN), the RBIU comprising:
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a first (S) and a second (R) input terminal and an output terminal (T); means for providing cordless, low-level radiation, two-way transmissions of information signals between the RBIU and each user of a group of one or more users assigned to the RBIU; transmiting means connected between the first input terminal and the output terminal and to the cordless transmission means for (a) arranging information signals received by the cordless transmission means from a user assigned to the RBIU into formatted packet information signals, (b) detecting when a formatted information signal is not received at the first input terminal during a predetermined time period, and (c) transmitting information signals received from a user of the group of one or more users assigned to the RBIU in a predetermined format including a destination user'"'"'s address to the output terminal during the detected time period; and receiving means coupled to the second input terminal for (a) receiving formatted information signals from the second input terminal, (b) detecting from an included destination user'"'"'s address whether or not a received information signal is destined for a user of the group of one or more users assigned to the RBIU, and (c) delivering an information signal destined for a user of the group to the cordless two-way transmission means for transmission to the destined user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification