Integrated communication link having a dynamically allocatable bandwidth and protocol for transmission of allocation information over the link
First Claim
1. A system to carry multiple types of information in a multiplexed manner in a framed format, on a multiplexed integrated link, each frame of the framed format being divided into portions, comprising:
- at least two integrated link controllers, each integrated link controller operable as a transmitter and a receiver to transmit and receive a plurality of information signals in each frame, each information signal occupying an allocated amount of bandwidth in at least one portion of each frame;
means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth of each information signal;
means for generating error control information that is transmitted from an integrated link controller operating as a transmitter to an integrated link controller operating as a receiver;
means for allocating the bandwidth of each individual information signal among a plurality of contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is at least as small as any unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame and among a plurality of non-contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is larger than all unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated communications link in a communications network that is provided with apparatus which allows dynamic allocability of bandwidth among a plurality of channels. At least three different types of information can be carried on these channels, and the bandwidth of these channels are dynamic so that it can be changed according to a determinable scheme. The link also sends error control information with a message that informs the receiver how the bandwidth is to be allocated, this error control information providing an extremely high level of assurance that the receiver of the information will know how the received information is to be allocated.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A system to carry multiple types of information in a multiplexed manner in a framed format, on a multiplexed integrated link, each frame of the framed format being divided into portions, comprising:
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at least two integrated link controllers, each integrated link controller operable as a transmitter and a receiver to transmit and receive a plurality of information signals in each frame, each information signal occupying an allocated amount of bandwidth in at least one portion of each frame; means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth of each information signal; means for generating error control information that is transmitted from an integrated link controller operating as a transmitter to an integrated link controller operating as a receiver; means for allocating the bandwidth of each individual information signal among a plurality of contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is at least as small as any unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame and among a plurality of non-contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is larger than all unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system to carry multiple types of information in a multiplexed manner on a multiplexed integrated link, in a framed format, each frame of the framed format being divided into portions, comprising:
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at least two integrated link controllers that are couplable to an integrated link, such integrated link controller operable as a transmitter and a receiver to transmit and receive a plurality of information signals in each frame, each information signal occupying an allocated amount of bandwidth in at least one portion of each frame; means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth of each information signal; means for generating error control information that is transmitted from an integrated link controller operating as a transmitter to an integrated link controller operating as a receiver; means for checking error control information in the integrated link controller operating as a receiver; means for allocating the bandwidth of each individual information signal among a plurality of contiguous and noncontinguous portions of said frame; a set of information signal sources coupled to one of said integrated link controllers, and a set of information signal destinations coupled to the other of said integrated link controllers. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of switching the allocation of bandwidth of information signals in a transmitting integrated link controller and a receiving integrated link controller coupled by a time division multiplexed link that carries multiple information signals in a framed format, each frame in said framed format being divided into slots of a preselected bandwidth, an allocation mask stored in a mask register indicating the number of slots each information signal is allocated, comprising:
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sending protocol information from said transmitting integrated link controller in protocol packets and transmitted over a plurality of frames, each protocol packet containing an allocation mask, and error control information, each protocol packet being transmitted over a plurality of frames; receiving said protocol packets in said receiving integrated link controller; and using the received allocation mask to dynamically switch the allocation of the bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A controller for a system of the type capable of carrying multiple types of information in a multiplexed manner in a framed format, each frame of the framed format being divided into portions, the system capable of having a link joining at least two of the controllers, the controller comprising:
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transmission means for transmitting and receiving a plurality of information signals in each frame, each information signal occupying an allocated amount of bandwidth in at least one portion of each frame; means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth of each information signal; means for generating error control information, said error control information capable of being transmitted from a controller operating as a transmitter to a controller operating as a receiver; and
,means, responsive to said means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth and responsive to said means for generating error control information, for allocating the bandwidth of each individual information signal among a plurality of contiguous and non-contiguous portions of said frame. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A system to carry at least three types of information in a multiplexed manner in a framed format, on a multiplexed integrated link, each frame of the framed format being divided into portions, comprising:
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at least two integrated link controllers, each integrated link controller operable as a transmitter and a receiver to transmit and receive a plurality of information signals in each frame, each information signal occupying an allocated amount of bandwidth in at least one portion of each frame; means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth of each information signal; means for generating error control information that is transmitted from an integrated link controller operating as a transmitter to an integrated link controller operating as a receiver; means for checking error control information in the integrated link controller operating as a receiver; and means for allocating the bandwidth of each individual information signal among a plurality of contiguous and non-contiguous portions of said frame.
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66. A system to carry multiple types of information in a multiplexed manner on a multiplexed integrated link, in a framed format, each frame of the framed format being divided into portions, comprising:
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at least two integrated link controllers that are couplable to an integrated link, such integrated link controller operable as a transmitter and a receiver to transmit and receive a plurality of information signals in each frame, each information signal occupying an allocated amount of bandwidth in at least one portion of each frame; means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth of each information signal; means for generating error control information that is transmitted from an integrated link controller operating as a transmitter to an integrated link controller operating as a receiver; means for checking error control information in the integrated link controller operating as a receiver; means for allocating the bandwidth of each individual information signal among a plurality of contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is at least as small as any unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame and among a plurality of non-contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is larger than all unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame; a set of information signal sources coupled to one of said integrated link controllers, and a set of information signal destinations coupled to the other of said integrated link controllers.
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67. A controller for a system of the type capable of carrying multiple types of information in a multiplexed manner in a framed format, each frame of the framed format being divided into portions, the system capable of having a link joining at least two of the controllers, the controller comprising:
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transmission means for transmitting and receiving a plurality of information signals in each frame, each information signal occupying an allocated amount of bandwidth in at least one portion of each frame; means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth of each information signal; means for generating error control information, said error control information capable of being transmitted from a controller operating as a transmitter to a controller operating as a receiver; and
,means, responsive to said means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth and responsive to said means for generating error control information, for allocating the bandwidth of each individual information signal among a plurality of contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is at least as small as any unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame and among a plurality of non-contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is larger than all unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame.
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68. A system to carry at least three types of information in a multiplexed manner in a framed format, on a multiplexed integrated link, each frame of the farmed format being divided into portions, comprising:
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at least two integrated link controllers, each integrated link controller operable as a transmitter and a receiver to transmit and receive a plurality of information signals in each frame, each information signal occupying an allocated amount of bandwidth in at least one portion of each frame; means for dynamically changing the allocation of the bandwidth of each information signal; means for generating error control information that is transmitted from an integrated link controller operating as a transmitter to an integrated link controller operating as a receiver; means for checking error control information in the integrated link controller operating as a receiver; and means for allocating the bandwidth of each individual information signal among a plurality of contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is at least as small as any unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame and among a plurality of non-contiguous portions of said frame when the bandwidth of the individual information signal is larger than all unoccupied contiguous portions of said frame.
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Specification