Multiplex transmission apparatus and method

• US 5,550,830 A
• Filed: 12/23/1994
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation, Naldec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation, Naldec Corporation
• Inventors: Akiyama, Yuichi, Michihira, Osamu, Kurata, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US08/364,392
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 370/95.3, 370/85.1, 370/85.2, 370/95.1, 370/84, 370/85.8, 370/85.7, 370/94.1, 370/79, 370/82, 370/83, 370/95.2, 340/825.08
• US Class Current: 370/449
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00

Abstract

The number of control nodes, of a plurality of control nodes distributed/connected to a common multiplex transmission path, which can exchange data with each other, is counted and data communication between the plurality of control nodes is performed while each control node prolongs the data transmission period as the number of control nodes, i.e., the number of control nodes which can exchange data with each other, increases.

Claims

1. A multiplex transmission apparatus in which a plurality of control nodes connected to a common multiplex transmission path exchange data with each other, comprising:

counting means, located in each of said plurality of control nodes, for counting a number of control nodes which are in a state of being able to exchange data with each other; and

period control means, located in each of said plurality of control nodes, for prolonging a period during which each of said control nodes in said state performs a data transmission as said number of control nodes increases,

wherein said period control means prolongs the period to regulate data communication density in the common multiplex transmission path.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining, when said counting means counts a predetermined number of control nodes, that each of said predetermined number of control nodes can exchange data with each other, and for controlling each of said predetermined number of control nodes to perform a normal communication after being activated to start.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said period control means determines said period so that a data communication density in the multiplex transmission path becomes a maximum density, which is determined by communication capacity of said multiplex transmission path, when the number of said plurality of control nodes which are capable of exchanging data is one.

4. A method of exchanging data between a plurality of control nodes connected to a common multiplex transmission path, comprising the steps of:

counting the number of control nodes which are in a state of being able to exchange data with each other; and

prolonging a data transmission period in each control node as said number of control nodes increases to avoid an excessively high data communication density in the common multiplex transmission path.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of determining, when a predetermined number of control nodes are counted in said counting step, that each of said predetermined number of control nodes can exchange data with each other, and of controlling each of said predetermined number of control nodes to perform a normal communication after being activated to start.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said period is determined so that a data communication density in the common multiplex transmission path becomes a maximum density, which is determined by communication capacity of said common multiplex transmission path, when said number of control nodes which are capable of exchanging data is one.

7. A multiplex transmission apparatus in which a plurality of control nodes connected to a common multiplex transmission path exchange data with each other, comprising:

counting means, located in each of said plurality of control nodes, for counting a number of control nodes which are in a state of being able to exchange data with each other; and

period control means, located in each of said plurality of control nodes, for prolonging a data transmission period of each of said control nodes which are in said state, wherein said period becomes longer as said number of control nodes increases.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of control nodes generate acknowledgement signals acknowledging a predetermined data transmission, and said counting means counts a number of acknowledgement signals from another control node with respect to the predetermined data transmission, said number indicating the number of control nodes which are in said state.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said counting means counts a number of received data inherent to another control node with respect to a predetermined data transmission, and regards said number as the number of control nodes which are in said state.

10. A control node in a multiplex transmission apparatus having a plurality of control nodes, comprising:

counting means for counting a number of control nodes which are in a state of being able to exchange data with each other; and

period control means for prolonging a data transmission period for the control node according to the number of control nodes which are in said state.

11. A multiplex transmission apparatus in which a plurality of control nodes connected to a common multiplex transmission path exchange data with each other, comprising:

acknowledgement generating means, located in each of said plurality of control nodes, for generating acknowledgement signals acknowledging a predetermined data transmission;

counting means, located in each of said plurality of control nodes, for counting a number of control nodes which are in a state of being able to exchange data with each other according to a number of acknowledgement signals received from other control nodes; and

period control means, located in each of said plurality of control nodes, for prolonging a period during which each of said control nodes in said state performs a data transmission as said number of acknowledgement signals counted increases,

wherein said period control means prolongs the period to regulate data communication density in the common multiplex transmission path.

12. A multiplex transmission apparatus in which a plurality of control nodes connected to a common multiplex transmission path exchange data with each other, comprising:

counting means, located in each of said plurality of control nodes, for counting a number of received data inherent to another control node with respect to a predetermined data transmission, said number of received data inherent to another control node indicating the number of control nodes which are in a state of being able to exchange data with each other; and

period control means, located in each of said plurality of control nodes, for prolonging a period during which each of said control nodes in said state performs a data transmission every time said number of received data increases,

wherein said period control means prolongs the period to regulate data communication density in the common multiplex transmission path.

13. A method of exchanging data between a plurality of control nodes connected to a common multiplex transmission path, comprising the steps of:

generating acknowledgement signals acknowledging a predetermined data transmission, in each of said plurality of control nodes;

counting, in each of said plurality of control nodes, a number of control nodes which are in a state of being able to exchange data with each other according to a number of acknowledgement signals received from other control nodes; and

prolonging, in each of said plurality of control nodes, a period during which each of said control nodes in said state performs a data transmission as said number of acknowledgement signals counted increases,

wherein the period is prolonged so as to regulate data communication density in the common multiplex transmission path.

14. A method of exchanging data between a plurality of control nodes connected to a common multiplex transmission path, comprising the steps of:

counting, in each of said plurality of control nodes, a number of received data inherent to another control node with respect to a predetermined data transmission, said number of received data inherent to another control node indicating the number of control nodes which are in a state of being able to exchange data with each other; and

prolonging, in each of said plurality of control nodes, a period during which each of said control nodes in said state performs a data transmission every time said number of received data increases,

wherein the period is prolonged so as to regulate data communication density in the common multiplex transmission path.