Ethernet based network to control electronic devices

• US 6,373,851 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1998
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: F.R. Aleman & Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: F.R. Aleman & Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Dadario, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US09/121,280
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 370/445, 370/447, 370/449, 370/462, 370/465
• US Class Current: 370/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]

Abstract

A data communication system wherein a network is connected to one polling server and several client stations over a relatively large area. The polling server includes a transceiver connected to the network and is capable of transmitting and receiving a data signal. The client stations are daisy chained in a network connected to said polling server and also provided with a transceiver module connected to the network and they are allowed to broadcast only when accessed by the polling server. A regeneration circuit provides the received data and control signal to its module'"'"'s transmitter which is in turn presented to the adjacent client station, or vehicular traffic control device. If the module belongs to the first client station in the network, then the data and control signal will be presented to the central location'"'"'s communications server.

Claims

1. An ethernet based data communication system operating according to ethernet standards modified for use in wide area net works, comprising:

A) a first communicating medium;

B) an ethernet polling server including a transceiver connected to said first communicating medium that includes first transmitting means for transmitting a signal onto said first communicating medium and first receiving means for receiving a signal communicated on said first communicating medium; and

C) a plurality of ethernet client stations daisy chained to each other in a network, each client station having a transceiver module connected to said first communicating medium, each transceiver module including second transmitting means for transmitting a signal onto said first communicating medium only upon request transmitted by said polling server, and second receiving means for receiving a signal communicated on said first communicated medium, so that collision is avoided.

2. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said transceiver module includes signal regeneration means connected between said second receiving means and said transmitting means to simultaneously present the received signal to an adjacent client station in the chain.

3. The system set forth in claim 2 wherein said client stations include means for detecting collision that are activated only when an activation request is received by said client stations from said polling server.

4. An ethernet based data communication system operating according to ethernet standards modified for use in wide area networks, comprising:

A) a first communicating medium;

B) an ethernet polling server including a transceiver connected to said first communicating medium that includes first transmitting means for transmitting a signal onto said first communicating medium and first receiving means for receiving a signal communicated on said first communicating medium;

C) an ATM assembly including local and remote ATM devices connected to each other through a second communicating medium, and said local ATM device being connected to said first communicating medium;

D) a third communicating medium to which said remote ATM device is connected; and

E) a plurality of client stations daisy chained to each other in a network, each client station having a transceiver module connected to said third communicating medium, each transceiver module including second transmitting means for transmitting a signal onto said third communicating medium only upon request transmitted by said polling server, and second receiving means for receiving a signal communicated on said third communicating medium so that collision is avoided.

5. The system set forth in claim 4 wherein said transceiver module includes signal regeneration means connected between said second receiving means and said transmitting means to simultaneously present the received signal to an adjacent client station in the chain.

6. The system set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said client stations include means for detecting collisions that are activated only when a request is received by said client stations.