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Data communication apparatus for adjusting frame length and method of operating same

  • US 5,307,351 A
  • Filed: 08/26/1991
  • Issued: 04/26/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Data communication apparatus DCA, interfaceable with data terminal apparatus and a communication medium for exchanging digital data in the form of data frames between the data terminal apparatus and communication medium, each data frame including data frame overhead, said data communication apparatus comprising:

  • means for interfacing with said data terminal apparatus to receive data therefrom to be transmitted over said communication medium;

    means for assembling said received data to form assembled data frames, each of the assembled data frames having a length that is adjustable;

    means for transmitting the assembled data frames over the communication medium;

    error determining means coupled to the communication medium for determining an error rate of the communication medium; and

    means coupled to the error determining means for adjusting the length of the assembled data frames based on said error rate,wherein the error determining means includes means for determining a number of unacceptable transmissions of assembled data frames over the communication medium;

    and wherein the adjusting means includes means for adjusting the length of the assembled data frames based on said number of unacceptable transmissions of assembled data frames over the communication medium,and wherein the determining means includes;

    means for monitoring the communication medium for a retransmit indication corresponding to said unacceptable assembled data frame transmission, thus forming a number of retransmit inductions, said monitoring means causing the assembling means and transmitting means to retransmit the assembled data frame in response to its associated retransmit indication;

    and wherein the adjusting means includes means for adjusting the length of the assembled data frames based on the number of retransmit indications, the number of assembled data frames transmitted and the data frame overhead, and wherein the adjusting means includes;

    first counting means responsive to the assembling means for determining the number of assembled data frames assembled for transmission;

    second counting means responsive to the error determining means for determining the number of retransmit indications; and

    setting means for setting a new assembled data frame length for data transmission based on the number of assembled data frames assembled for transmission and the number of retransmit indications.

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