Data communication transceiver using identification protocol
First Claim
1. A transceiver comprising:
- a. a transmitter for transmitting a command signal, the command signal comprising an address of a subset of a predetermined set of designations;
b. a receiver for receiving a reply signal;
c. means for determining a self designation from the reply signal, the self designation responsive to the command signal;
d. a circuit for providing a collision detection signal;
e. specifying means, responsive to the collision detection signal, for specifying the address, wherein the specifying means further comprises a computer circuit that performs the following method for selecting an untested subset after use of an initial subset, the method comprising the steps of;
(1) if a collision occurred, dividing the initial subset into an untested right subset and an untested left subset, the initial subset becoming the immediate superset of the untested right subset, the untested right subset disjoint from the untested left subset, and selecting the untested left subset whereby the untested left subset becomes a tested left subset;
(2) if a collision occurred and the initial subset cannot be divided or if a collision did not occur, selecting the untested right subset disjoint from the initial subset whereby the untested right subset becomes a tested right subset; and
(3) if a collision did not occur, considering individually each immediate superset of the initial set until a tested left is under consideration and selecting the untested right subset that is disjoint from the tested left subset under consideration.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One or more interrogating commander stations and an unknown plurality of responding responder stations coordinate use of a common communication medium. Each commander station and each responder station is equipped to broadcast messages and to check for error in received messages. When more than one station attempts to broadcast simultaneously, an erroneous message is received and communication is interrupted. To establish uninterrupted communication, a commander station broadcasts a command causing each responder station of a potentially large first number of responder stations to each select a random number from a known range and retain it as its arbitration number. After receipt of such a command, each addressed responder station transmits a response message containing its arbitration number. Zero, one, or several responses may occur simultaneously. By broadcasting requests for identification to various subsets of the full range of arbitration numbers and checking for an immediate error-free response, a commander station can determine the arbitration number of every responder station capable of communicating at the time. Consequently, a commander station can conduct subsequent uninterrupted communication with each responder station, for example by addressing only one responder station. Responder stations of this invention require minimal logic and circuitry to respond to multiple commander stations.
418 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A transceiver comprising:
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a. a transmitter for transmitting a command signal, the command signal comprising an address of a subset of a predetermined set of designations; b. a receiver for receiving a reply signal; c. means for determining a self designation from the reply signal, the self designation responsive to the command signal; d. a circuit for providing a collision detection signal; e. specifying means, responsive to the collision detection signal, for specifying the address, wherein the specifying means further comprises a computer circuit that performs the following method for selecting an untested subset after use of an initial subset, the method comprising the steps of; (1) if a collision occurred, dividing the initial subset into an untested right subset and an untested left subset, the initial subset becoming the immediate superset of the untested right subset, the untested right subset disjoint from the untested left subset, and selecting the untested left subset whereby the untested left subset becomes a tested left subset; (2) if a collision occurred and the initial subset cannot be divided or if a collision did not occur, selecting the untested right subset disjoint from the initial subset whereby the untested right subset becomes a tested right subset; and (3) if a collision did not occur, considering individually each immediate superset of the initial set until a tested left is under consideration and selecting the untested right subset that is disjoint from the tested left subset under consideration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A transceiver comprising:
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a. a transmitter for transmitting a command signal, the command signal comprising an address of a subset of a predetermined set of designations; b. a receiver for receiving a reply signal; c. means for determining a self designation from the reply signal, the self designation responsive to the command signal; d. a circuit for providing a collision detection signal; e. specifying means, responsive to the collision detection signal, for specifying the address, wherein the specifying means further comprises a computer circuit that performs the following method for selecting an untested subset after use of an initial subset, the untested subset being one of a hierarchy of subsets, the hierarchy having levels arranged from a root level, the root level having one subset comprising the full set of designations, each subset at any one level being disjoint from all other subsets at that level, each subset at any level being the proper subset of only one subset at a level closer to the root level, the method comprising the steps of; (1) recording that the initial subset does not require test; (2) if a collision did not occur, recording for each proper subset of the initial subset that test is not required; (3) if a subset that requires test exists at the same level as the initial subset, selecting a subset on the same level as the initial subset; and (4) if no subset that requires test exists at the same level as the initial subset, proceeding to another level and continuing the method from step (2). - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification