Time slot exchanger mechanism in a network for data communication having isochronous capability
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for communicating between first and second entities in a time slot interchange fashion, the apparatus comprising:
- a storage memory having first, second and third memory sections;
wherein said first memory section is coupled to receive data from said first entity;
wherein said second memory section is adapted to store data received from said first entity prior to receipt of said data by said first memory section;
wherein said third memory section is coupled to said second entity and outputs to said second entity data received from said first entity at a time previous to receipt of said data stored in said second memory section;
means coupled to said first and second entities for receiving a first cycle start reference from said first entity indicating the start of a cycle of data of said first entity and a second cycle start reference from said second entity indicating the start of a cycle of data of said second entity, respectively; and
control means coupled to said means for receiving for alternately assigning first, second and third physical storage locations to said first, second and third memory sections, respectively, responsive to receipt of said first and second cycle start references.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for transferring data between two entities in a time slot interchange fashion. The apparatus and method includes a buffer memory comprised of three sections to accommodate up to one cycle of skew between the two independently operating entities. Cycle start detection logic coupled to the two entities controls or, as implemented in the preferred embodiment, designates a physical location within the buffer memory for each of the three sections upon receipt of cycle start reference signals from the two entities.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. Apparatus for communicating between first and second entities in a time slot interchange fashion, the apparatus comprising:
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a storage memory having first, second and third memory sections; wherein said first memory section is coupled to receive data from said first entity; wherein said second memory section is adapted to store data received from said first entity prior to receipt of said data by said first memory section; wherein said third memory section is coupled to said second entity and outputs to said second entity data received from said first entity at a time previous to receipt of said data stored in said second memory section; means coupled to said first and second entities for receiving a first cycle start reference from said first entity indicating the start of a cycle of data of said first entity and a second cycle start reference from said second entity indicating the start of a cycle of data of said second entity, respectively; and control means coupled to said means for receiving for alternately assigning first, second and third physical storage locations to said first, second and third memory sections, respectively, responsive to receipt of said first and second cycle start references. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for communicating between first and second stations in a data communication system over a link, said data communication system including a plurality of data sources and sinks, a first of said sources and sinks configured to receive or transmit data isochronously and a second of said sources and sinks configured to transmit data non-isochronously, the apparatus comprising:
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a first receiver and a first transmitter in said first station; said link coupling said first station with said second station; said second station being coupled to both said first and second sources and sinks; a second transmitter in said second station adapted to transmit data to said first receiver; a multiplexer in said second station adapted to permit the transmission of data from both said first and second sources and sinks over said link as multiplexed data, said multiplexer providing a dedicated bandwidth for data originating from an isochronous source, including said first of said sources and sinks; and means, coupled to said first and second stations, for exchanging said isochronous data over said link including; a storage memory having first, second and third memory sections; wherein said first memory section is coupled to receive data from said second station; wherein said second memory section is adapted to store data received from said second station prior to receipt of said data by said first memory section; wherein said third memory section is coupled to said first station for outputting data received from said second station at a time previous to receipt of said data stored in said second memory section, to said first station; means coupled to said second and first stations for receiving a first cycle start reference from said second station indicating the start of a cycle of data of said first station and a second cycle start reference from said first station indicating the start of a cycle of data of said second station, respectively; and control means coupled to said means for receiving for alternately assigning first, second, and third physical storage locations to said first, second and third memory sections responsive to receipt of said first and second cycle start references. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. In a data communications system, a method for exchanging data between first and second entities in a time slot interchange fashion comprising the steps of:
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receiving data from said first entity and placing said data in a first portion of memory; storing data received from said first entity prior to receipt of said data by said first portion of memory, in a second portion of memory; outputting to said second entity, from a third portion of memory, data received by said third portion of memory from said first entity at a time earlier than said data is received by said second portion of memory; alternately designating a first one of three physical memory locations for said first portion of memory and a second one of said three physical memory locations for said second portion of memory upon receipt of a first cycle frame reference from said first entity; and alternately designating a third one of said three physical memory locations for said third portion of memory upon receipt of a second cycle frame reference from said second entity such that said three physical memory locations are alternately designated for said first, second and third portions of memory. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for exchanging data between first and second entities in a time slot interchange fashion, the apparatus comprising:
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a buffer memory coupled to said first and second entities comprised of first, second and third physical memory sections; means coupled to said first and second entities for receiving a cycle start reference from said first entity indicating the start of a cycle of data from said first entity and a cycle start reference from said second entity indicating the start of a cycle of data from said second entity; and means coupled to said means for receiving for designating the first, second and third physical memory sections to alternately; (1) input data from said first entity responsive to receipt by said means for receiving of a cycle start reference from said first entity, (2) hold data received from said first entity responsive to a preceding cycle start reference from said first entity upon receipt by said means for receiving of said cycle start reference from said first entity, and (3) output data received during a further preceding cycle start reference from said first entity to said second entity upon receipt by said means for receiving of a first cycle start reference from said second entity. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a data communications system, a method for exchanging data between first and second entities in a time slot interchange fashion comprising the steps of:
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inputting first data from said first entity into a first memory section upon receiving a first cycle start reference from said first entity indicating the start of a first cycle of data from said first entity; outputting said first data to said second entity from said first memory section upon receiving a first cycle start reference from said second entity indicating a start of a new cycle of data from said second entity; inputting second data from said first entity into a second memory section upon receiving a second cycle start reference from said first entity; outputting said second data to said second entity from said second memory section upon receiving a second cycle start reference from said second entity indicating the start of a second cycle of data from said second entity; inputting third data from said first entity into a third memory section upon receiving a third cycle start reference from said first entity; and outputting said third data from said second entity from said third memory section upon receiving a third cycle start reference from said second entity indicating the start of a third cycle of data from said second entity. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification