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Communication node with a first bus configuration for arbitration and a second bus configuration for data transfer

  • US 5,579,486 A
  • Filed: 01/14/1993
  • Issued: 11/26/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A communication system for interconnecting a plurality of local hosts, the communication system providing a first bus configuration for arbitration and a second bus configuration for unidirectional data transfer, comprising:

  • a plurality of nodes, each node including an arbiter, a data bus, at least one port, and at least one multiplexer responsive to said arbiter for selectively coupling each port of the node to one of the arbiter and the data bus;

    a plurality of point-to-point links, each point-to-point link coupling a port of a first node with a port of a second, different node, so that the nodes have a tree topology coupled by said point-to-point links;

    a plurality of local hosts, each local host being coupled to one of the nodes for arbitrating bus access, receiving data, and transmitting data; and

    wherein in the first bus configuration the multiplexers couple the arbiters to the ports to receive and transmit arbitration messages thereon, and in the second bus configuration the multiplexers couple the data bus to the ports to selectively receive and transmit data thereon.

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