Infrared communications network
First Claim
1. An infrared transceiver for use in a two-way communication system for transfer of data between a plurality of terminals, each terminal having one of a plurality of infrared transceivers coupled thereto, said transceiver comprising:
- means for coupling data to the transceiver from a terminal coupled to the transceiver;
infrared transmitting means for transmitting an infrared signal at a common carrier frequency including means for modulating the infrared signal with the data and with an origin address and a destination address each address comprising at least two address components;
means for storing address components unique to each transceiver;
infrared receiving means for recovering said data and addresses by detection of infrared signals transmitted on the common carrier from another of the plurality of infrared transceivers;
means for generating an acknowledge signal and for activating the transmitting means to selectively transmit the acknowledge signal in response to the addresses matching the stored address components.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared data communications network in which groups of personal computers and associated peripherals may communicate by infrared signals with each other. The system utilizes a error correction and a packet switched protocol which allows any terminal to select communications with any other terminal or terminals without degradation of the error rate. Error free transmission is maintained by means of error correcting encoding and a handshake protocol. The packet switched protocol permits any terminal to function as a store and forward repeater thus making the system more reliable and less susceptible to beam blockage.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An infrared transceiver for use in a two-way communication system for transfer of data between a plurality of terminals, each terminal having one of a plurality of infrared transceivers coupled thereto, said transceiver comprising:
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means for coupling data to the transceiver from a terminal coupled to the transceiver; infrared transmitting means for transmitting an infrared signal at a common carrier frequency including means for modulating the infrared signal with the data and with an origin address and a destination address each address comprising at least two address components; means for storing address components unique to each transceiver; infrared receiving means for recovering said data and addresses by detection of infrared signals transmitted on the common carrier from another of the plurality of infrared transceivers; means for generating an acknowledge signal and for activating the transmitting means to selectively transmit the acknowledge signal in response to the addresses matching the stored address components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification