Signalling method and structure suitable for out-of-band information transfer in communication network
First Claim
1. A signalling method comprising the steps of:
- sequentially generating n-bit sequence segments where n is at least 3, each bit in each sequence segment selectively being a first binary value or a second binary value opposite to the first binary value, each sequence segment being coded with a selected one of a plurality of different n-bit code groups allocated into a first code group and a set of second code groups, the n bits in the first code group all being the first binary value, no pair of non-contiguous bits of the second binary value occurring in any of the second code groups; and
outputting the sequence segments according to the order in which they are generated to produce a special bit sequence.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high-speed out-of-band signalling technique for transferring information such as station status information between stations in a communication network, typically a local-area network, involves sequentially generating a plurality of n-bit sequence segments, where n is at least 3. Each bit is either a first binary value or a second binary value. Each sequence segment is coded with one of a plurality of different n-bit code groups divided into a first code group and a set of second code groups. The n bits in the first code group are all the first binary value--e.g., all "1s". None of the second code groups contain a pair of non-contiguous bits of the second binary value--e.g., none of the second code groups contains two "0s" separated by at least one other bit. The sequence segments are outputted in the order that they were generated to produce a special bit sequence which carries the desired information. The station status information typically includes configuration capability, flow control parameters, and integrity control parameters.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A signalling method comprising the steps of:
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sequentially generating n-bit sequence segments where n is at least 3, each bit in each sequence segment selectively being a first binary value or a second binary value opposite to the first binary value, each sequence segment being coded with a selected one of a plurality of different n-bit code groups allocated into a first code group and a set of second code groups, the n bits in the first code group all being the first binary value, no pair of non-contiguous bits of the second binary value occurring in any of the second code groups; and outputting the sequence segments according to the order in which they are generated to produce a special bit sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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- 23. A signalling method comprising the step of producing a special bit sequence containing a plurality of 5-bit segments that occur timewise one after another, each bit in each sequence segment selectively being a first binary value or a second binary value opposite to the first binary value, each sequence segment being coded with a selected one of a plurality of different 5-bit code groups comprising a first code group and a set of second code groups, the five bits in the first code group all being the first binary value, no pair of non-contiguous bits of the second binary value occurring in any of the second code groups, and no pair of non-contiguous bits of the second binary value occurring in any ten consecutive bits in the special bit sequence.
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25. Electronic communication apparatus comprising:
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state circuitry which produces a special bit sequence containing a plurality of n-bit sequence segments that occur timewise one after another where n is at least 3, each bit in each sequence segment selectively being a first binary value or a second binary value opposite to the first binary value, each sequence segment being coded with a selected one of a plurality of different n-bit code groups allocated into a first code group and a set of second code groups, the n bits in the first code group all being the first binary value, and no pair of non-contiguous bits of the second binary value occurring in any of the second code groups; and output circuitry which modifies the special bit sequence for cable transmission and then furnishes the so modified special bit sequence to an external cable. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A communication network comprising:
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a transmission cable; a first communication station that transmits a bit stream representing a special bit sequence over the cable during an out-of-band period when data is not being transferred, the special bit sequence containing a plurality of n-bit sequence segments that occur timewise one after another where n is at least 3, each bit in each sequence segment selectively being a first binary value or a second binary value opposite to the first binary value, each sequence segment being coded with a selected one of a plurality of different n-bit code groups comprising a first code group and a set of second code groups, the n bits in the first code group all being the first binary value, and no pair of non-contiguous bits of the second binary value occurring in any of the second code groups; and a second communication station to which the cable supplies the bit stream representing the special bit sequence. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A communication network comprising:
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a plurality of data-transferring communication stations, each capable of transmitting data to at least one other data-transferring communication station in the network; and a communication-management station that provides a bit stream representing a special bit sequence containing a plurality of n-bit sequence segments that occur timewise one after another where n is at least 3, each bit in each sequence segment selectively being a first binary value or a second binary value opposite to the first binary value, each sequence segment being coded with a selected one of a plurality of different n-bit code groups comprising a first code group and a set of second code groups, the n bits in the first code group all being the first binary value, and no pair of non-contiguous bits of the second binary value occurring in any of the second code groups, the bit stream being supplied to each of the data-transferring communication stations to establish communication priorities for transferring data among the data-transferring stations, the special bit sequence varying in content for each data-transferring station depending on its communication priority. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification