Multipoint access protocol utilizing a point-to-point methodology

• US 6,011,781 A
• Filed: 03/19/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsemi Semiconductor (U.S.) Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, Russell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US08/820,526
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 370/408, 370/419, 370/420, 370/421, 370/445, 370/446, 370/480, 370/485, 370/489, 370/410, 370/296, 370/352, 370/228, 370/447, 370/254, 375/222, 395/284, 395/830, 395/182.01, 395/200.54, 395/200.57, 395/290, 395/835, 395/200.63, 395/800.11
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks

Abstract

A communication system includes a network of nodes connected in a multipoint configuration. Each of the nodes is configured to concurrently communicate with the other nodes on a point-to-point basis using, for example, a channelization characterization protocol such as DMT or CAP. The network may be a local area network in which the nodes are connected to each other via telephone wiring. Other telephone equipment may also use the telephone wiring concurrently, including a telephone using the telephone wiring for voice communication or a modem using the telephone wiring for data communication.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of nodes coupled to each other in a multipoint configuration,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured to concurrently communicate with others of said plurality of nodes on a point-to-point basis,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured to determine whether said point-to-point communication has been established with said others of said plurality of nodes,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured, if said point-to-point communication has not been established, to transmit a pre-determined initialization signal,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured to monitor for said pre-determined initialization signal and, in response to receiving said pre-determined initialization signal, to perform an initialization sequence wherein said point-to-point communication is established between each of said plurality of nodes,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured, during said initialization sequence, to determine the presence of said others of said plurality of nodes and thereafter to establish said point-to-point communication between each of said plurality of nodes and said others of said plurality of nodes, respectively,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured to transmit a presence signal, to receive and record other presence signals from said others of said plurality of nodes, and to determine when all of said plurality of nodes have transmitted their respective presence signals, and

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured, when all of said plurality of nodes have transmitted their respective presence signals;

to determine a first node of said plurality of nodes to establish said point-to-point communication with said others of said plurality of nodes,

to determine a last node of said plurality of nodes to establish said point-to-point communication with said others of said plurality of nodes,

to transmit a hand-off signal corresponding to one of said others of said plurality of nodes when said point-to-point communication has been established between each of said plurality of nodes and said others of said plurality of nodes, respectively,

to receive a hand-off signal corresponding to each of said plurality of nodes and, in response to receiving said corresponding hand-off signal, to establish said point-to-point communication with said others of said plurality of nodes,

wherein said first node establishes said point-to-point communication with said others of said plurality of nodes without receiving said corresponding hand-off signal, and

wherein said last node transmits an initialization complete signal instead of said hand-off signal.

2. A method of communication, comprising the steps of:

coupling a plurality of nodes to each other in a multipoint configuration; and

configuring each of said plurality of nodes to concurrently communicate with others of said plurality of nodes on a point-to-point basis,

wherein, if any one of said plurality of nodes is not capable of communicating with all others of said plurality of nodes on the point-to-point basis, said any one of said plurality of nodes outputs a jamming signal at a predetermined frequency to all others of said plurality of nodes, wherein receipt of the jamming signal by each of said plurality of nodes causes each of said plurality of nodes to enter an initalization mode to attempt a set up of communications between each of said plurality of nodes on the point-to-point basis.

3. A method of providing a point-to-point communication, in a communication system comprising a plurality of nodes coupled to each other in a multipoint configuration, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) determining whether said point-to-point communication has been established between each of said plurality of nodes;

(B) transmitting an initialization signal if said point-to-point communication has not been established;

(C) monitoring for said initialization signal; and

(D) performing an initialization sequence, in response to receiving said initialization signal, wherein said point-to-point communication is established between each of said plurality of nodes,

wherein said initialization sequence comprises the steps of;

(i) determining the presence of each of said plurality of nodes; and

(ii) establishing said point-to-point communication between each of said plurality of nodes determined to be present, respectively,

wherein step (ii) comprises the steps of;

(a) determining a first node of said plurality of nodes as a current node to establish said point-to-point communication with said others of said plurality of nodes;

(b) establishing said point-to-point communication between said current node and said others of said plurality of nodes, respectively;

(c) determining if said current node is a last node of said plurality of nodes to establish said point-to-point communication with said others of said plurality of nodes;

(d) if said current node is not determined to be said last node;

(1) transmitting a hand-off signal from said current node, said hand-off signal corresponding to one of said others of said plurality of nodes;

(2) receiving said hand-off signal at said one of said others of said plurality of nodes;

(3) repeating steps (b)-(d) with said one of said others of said plurality of nodes as said current node; and

(e) if said current node is determined to be said last node;

(1) transmitting an initialization complete signal from said last node to said others of said plurality of nodes.

4. A method of providing a point-to-point communication, in a communication system comprising a plurality of nodes coupled to each other in a multipoint configuration, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) determining whether said point-to-point communication has been established between each of said plurality of nodes; and

(B) transmitting an initialization signal if said point-to-point communication has not been established,

wherein step (B) comprises the steps of;

(i) outputting a jamming signal by each of said plurality of nodes that have established point-to-point communications with all others of said plurality of nodes, the jamming signal being of a preset duration and being output on a preset jamming frequency;

(ii) monitoring, by each of said plurality of nodes, the preset jamming frequency at a rate of monitoring that has a corresponding period of monitoring that is less than the preset duration; and

(iii) detecting the jamming signal by each of said plurality of nodes, and entering an initialization mode by each of said plurality of nodes as a result of the detecting.

5. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of nodes coupled to each other in a multipoint configuration,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured to concurrently communicate with others of said plurality of nodes on a point-to-point basis,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured to determine whether said point-to-point communication has been established with said others of said plurality of nodes,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured, if said point-to-point communication has not been established, to transmit a pre-determined initialization signal,

wherein each of said plurality of nodes is configured to monitor for said pre-determined initialization signal and, in response to receiving said pre-determined initialization signal, to perform an initialization sequence wherein said point-to-point communication is established between each of said plurality of nodes,

wherein the initialization signal is transmitted for a time duration that is longer than an inverse of a rate of monitoring by each of said plurality of nodes, and

wherein the initialization signal is transmitted on a preset frequency that is reserved only for the initialization signal.