Radio frequency bus for broadband microprocessor communications

• US 6,141,351 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Michail, Michel Salib, Ventrone, Sebastian Theodore, Goodnow, Kenneth Joseph, Pricer, Wilbur David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US08/770,355
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 370/364, 370/389, 370/438, 370/461, 370/462, 370/463, 370/465, 370/480, 370/489, 370/295, 370/451, 370/362, 370/447, 370/437, 370/436, 370/449, 370/330, 370/347, 370/319 , 370/329, 370/343, 370/346, 455/463, 455/452, 455/465, 455/512
• US Class Current: 370/449
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5613 Bus (including DQDB)
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5679 Arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for providing broader bandwidth in microprocessor bus, board and system designs. Broader bandwidth is achieved by dividing the full spectrum of frequencies available into discrete bandwidth packages, much like radio communications. The system includes a bus that is controlled by a traffic controller that polls for communication requests on the bus and then allocates bandwidth among the devices submitting such requests.

Claims

1. A microprocessor communication system comprising:

a microprocessor bus having a frequency bandwidth selectively subdivided into a plurality of frequency bands;

a plurality of nodes coupled to said bus, wherein at least one of said nodes is a central processing unit (CPU), and wherein at least one of said nodes includes a sending system for sending signals over said plurality of frequency bands, and at least one of said nodes includes a receiving system for receiving signals over said plurality of frequency bands; and

a traffic controller coupled to said bus, said traffic controller including a system for dynamically assigning said frequency bands to each of said sending and receiving systems.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said traffic controller further includes a mechanism for receiving communication requests from any of said plurality of nodes having sending systems.

3. The communication system of claim 2 wherein said traffic controller further includes a mechanism for arbitrating said communication requests.

4. The communication system of claim 2 wherein one of said plurality of frequency bands is dedicated to carrying said communication requests.

5. The communication system of claim 2 wherein said system for receiving communication requests by the traffic controller includes a polling system.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of frequency bands includes a sub-carrier frequency for determining transfer characteristic data.

7. The communication system of claim 6 wherein at least one of said receiving systems includes a mechanism for receiving and analyzing transmission path characteristic data being transferred on said sub-carrier frequency.

8. A transmission line system comprising:

a plurality of sending nodes wherein each sending node includes means for sending signals over a plurality of frequency bands, wherein one of the sending nodes is a central processing unit (CPU);

a plurality of receiving nodes wherein each receiving node includes means for receiving signals over said plurality of frequency bands;

a microprocessor bus coupled to said plurality of sending and receiving nodes, said microprocessor bus having a plurality of wires and sufficient bandwidth to support said plurality of frequency bands; and

a traffic controller coupled to said bus, said traffic controller including means for receiving communication requests from each of said plurality of sending nodes and means for dynamically assigning frequency bands to each of said sending and receiving nodes.

9. The transmission line system of claim 8 wherein said traffic controller includes a polling system for detecting communication requests over a dedicated frequency band.

10. The transmission line system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of sending nodes include means for sending communication requests over said dedicated frequency band.

11. The transmission line system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of sending nodes include means for sending transmission path transfer characteristic data over a plurality of sub-carrier frequencies corresponding to each of said plurality of frequency bands.

12. The transmission line system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of receiving nodes include means for receiving transmission path transfer characteristic data over said plurality of sub-carrier frequencies corresponding to each of said plurality of frequency bands.

13. The transmission line system of claim 12 wherein said plurality of receiving nodes include means for interpreting transmission path transfer characteristic data and means for adjusting an input gain and setting a threshold level.

14. The transmission line system of claim 8 wherein said traffic controller includes a polling system for detecting communication requests over a dedicated set of wires.

15. The transmission line system of claim 8 further comprising a dissipative element connected to said bus.