Method and apparatus for configuring data paths within a supernet station
First Claim
1. Apparatus for configuring the data signal paths within a local area network station having dual access to both a primary ring and to a secondary ring of a dual-ring local area network, comprising:
- a first media access controller MAC and a first encoder/decoder ENDEC, said first ENDEC having an input terminal coupled to the primary ring and having an output terminal coupled to the secondary ring;
a second media access controller MAC and a second encoder/decoder ENDEC, said second ENDEC having an input terminal coupled to the secondary ring and having an output terminal coupled to the primary ring;
first bus means for connecting signals between said first MAC and said first ENDEC;
second bus means for connecting signals between said second MAC and said second ENDEC;
first multiplexing means for selecting certain signals from said first bus means and for coupling said selected signals to said second bus means;
second multiplexing means for selecting certain signals from said second bus means and for coupling said selected signals to said first bus means;
means for controlling said first and said second multiplexing means to control connection of data signal paths within said local area network station through said first and said second MACs and ENDECs, to selectively configure the network station to operate in a predetermined operational mode.
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Abstract
A modular system for configuring and reconfiguring the data paths within a local area network station permits the network station to be configured in various operational modes including a through mode, a wrap mode, and a concentrator mode. A module includes a media access controller MAC and an encoder/decoder ENDEC connected together by a bus. Certain signals from the bus are selected by a multiplexer. External signals for example, from another module are inputted to the bus through a latch. The multiplexer and the data paths through the MAC and ENDEC are controlled to configure the station in one of the operational modes. A second module similar to the first module is used to provide a station for a dual-ring local area network conforming to the FDDI standard.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for configuring the data signal paths within a local area network station having dual access to both a primary ring and to a secondary ring of a dual-ring local area network, comprising:
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a first media access controller MAC and a first encoder/decoder ENDEC, said first ENDEC having an input terminal coupled to the primary ring and having an output terminal coupled to the secondary ring; a second media access controller MAC and a second encoder/decoder ENDEC, said second ENDEC having an input terminal coupled to the secondary ring and having an output terminal coupled to the primary ring; first bus means for connecting signals between said first MAC and said first ENDEC; second bus means for connecting signals between said second MAC and said second ENDEC; first multiplexing means for selecting certain signals from said first bus means and for coupling said selected signals to said second bus means; second multiplexing means for selecting certain signals from said second bus means and for coupling said selected signals to said first bus means; means for controlling said first and said second multiplexing means to control connection of data signal paths within said local area network station through said first and said second MACs and ENDECs, to selectively configure the network station to operate in a predetermined operational mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A modular system for configuring data signal paths within a local area network station, comprising:
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a first module including; a first media access controller MAC and a first encoder/decoder ENDEC; first bus means for connecting signals between said first MAC and said first ENDEC; first multiplexing means for selecting certain signals from said first bus means and for providing said selected signals on a first multiplex output bus; means for controlling said first multiplexing means to control connection of data signal paths within said local area network station, which data signal paths are through said first MAC and ENDEC a second module having; a second media access controller MAC and a second encoder/decoder ENDEC; second bus means for connecting signals between said second MAC and said second ENDEC; second multiplexing means for selecting certain signals from said second bus means and for providing said selected signals on a second multiplex output bus; means for controlling said second multiplexing means to control data signal paths within said local area network station, which data signal paths are through said second MAC and ENDEC; first means for coupling said first multiplex output bus to said second bus means; second means for coupling said second multiplex output bus to said first bus means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification