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;
means for storing an address unique to the transceiver;
infrared receiving means for recovering 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 a recovered destination address matching the stored address.
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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 which 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.
149 Citations
20 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; means for storing an address unique to the transceiver; infrared receiving means for recovering 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 a recovered destination address matching the stored address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A 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 transceivers coupled thereto, said transceiver comprising:
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means for coupling data to the transceiver from a terminal coupled to the transceiver; transceiver for transmitting a signal at a common carrier frequency including means for modulating the signal with the data and with an address; receiver for recovering data and addresses by detection of signals transmitted on the common carrier from another of the plurality of infrared transceivers; means for storing and subsequently retransmitting data recovered by the receiving means; and means for monitoring transmissions of other transceivers transmitting on the common carrier, and for storing address information recovered from monitored transmissions to create a local routing table. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A 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 transceivers coupled thereto, said transceiver comprising:
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means for coupling data to the transceiver from a terminal coupled to the transceiver; transceiver for transmitting a signal at a common carrier frequency including means for modulating the signal with the data and with a request for formation of a group with at least one other of the plurality of transceivers; receiver for recovering data and the request for formation of a group by detection of signals transmitted on the common carrier from another of the plurality of transceivers; means for responding to a recovered request for formation of a group by transmitting an acknowledge signal including a group availability indication; means for activating the transmitter and receiver to selectively exchange data with another transceiver of a group in response to an acknowledge indicating the other transceiver is available.
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Specification