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Arbitration method for a communication network

  • US 5,960,174 A
  • Filed: 12/20/1996
  • Issued: 09/28/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A system communications network comprising:

  • A. a plurality of master control devices coupled to said communications network, each of said master control devices having an application program for controlling communications on said network, some of said master controls having dissimilar data structures;

    B. a plurality of slave devices coupled to said communications network, some of said slave devices having dissimilar data structures;

    C. a network arbiter for controlling network traffic of the communications network at a given period of time, said network arbiter operatively chosen from one of said master control devices;

    D. at least one of said master control devices functioning as a master database device for the network;

    E. wherein said network arbiter is chosen from said master control devices on a basis of an arbitration priority assigned to said master control devices, with said master database device having the highest priority;

    F. wherein each of said master control devices, through its application program, monitors the network for network traffic, and assumes control of the network as network arbiter if no master control device with a higher priority is active on the network; and

    G. wherein said master database device will always attempt to assume control of the network as network arbiter when said master database device requires control.

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