Network hub for a reconfigurable data network having physical transmission media

• US 6,666,400 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: White, Orland Kermit III
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLZEN, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US10/392,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20030209630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 244/1.R, 244/904, 244/194, 244/221, 244/96, 244/117.R, 359/24, 701/3, 701/33, 385/24
• US Class Current: 244/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A data network includes a plurality of network devices spaced apart from one another and distributed at multiple locations, a plurality of cables each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of network devices by a respective one of a plurality of first connectors, and a network hub including a second connector coupled to each of said plurality of cables. The network hub also includes a removable and replaceable termination element that mates with the second connector to provide signal connectivity between selected ones of said plurality of cables. The removable and replaceable termination element couples each of the plurality of cables to another of the plurality of cables such that any signal transmitted on the plurality of cables by the plurality of network devices both enters and exits said network hub at said second connector.

Claims

1. A data network, including:

a plurality of network devices spaced apart from one another and distributed at multiple locations;

a plurality of cables each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of network devices by a respective one of a plurality of first connectors; and

a network hub including a second connector coupled to each of said plurality of cables, said network hub further including a removable and replaceable termination element that mates with said second connector to provide signal connectivity between selected ones of said plurality of cables, wherein said removable and replaceable termination element couples each of said plurality of cables to another of said plurality of cables such that any signal transmitted on said plurality of cables by said plurality of network devices both enters and exits said network hub at said second connector.

2. The data network of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cables comprise a plurality of fiber optic cables.

3. The data network of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cables includes at least three cables.

4. The data network of claim 1, wherein said replaceable termination element comprises a first replaceable termination element and wherein said data network further comprises a diverse second replaceable termination element that mates with said second connector to provide signal connectivity between different ones of said plurality of cables, wherein said first and said second replaceable termination elements can be alternatively mated with said second connector to obtain diverse first and second network configurations of said data network, respectively.

5. A vehicle, comprising a body and the data network of claim 1 within said body.

9. The vehicle of claim 5, and further comprising at least one engine for propelling the vehicle coupled to at least one of the body.

6. A network hub, comprising:

a connector having connections for a plurality of cables each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of network devices; and

a removable and replaceable termination element providing signal connectivity between selected ones of said plurality of cables, wherein said removable and replaceable termination element couples each of said plurality of cables to another of said plurality of cables such that an signal transmitted on said plurality of cables by said plurality of network devices both enters and exits said network hub at said connector.

7. The network hub of claim 6, wherein said replaceable termination element comprises a first replaceable termination element, and further comprising a diverse second replaceable termination element that mates with said connector to provide signal connectivity between different ones of said plurality of cables, wherein said first and said second replaceable termination elements can be alternatively mated with said connector to obtain diverse first and second network configurations, respectively.

8. The network hub of claim 6, wherein the cables comprise fiber optic cables and wherein said replaceable termination element provides optical signal connectivity between selected ones of said fiber optic cables.

10. A data network, including:

a plurality of network devices spaced apart from one another and distributed at multiple locations;

a plurality of cables each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of network devices by a respective one of a first plurality of first connectors; and

a network hub means, said network hub means including a second connector coupled to each of said plurality of cables, said network hub means having a removable and replaceable termination element means for providing signal connectivity between selected ones of said plurality of cables such that each of said plurality of cables is coupled to another of said plurality of cables and any signal transmitted on said plurality of cables by said plurality of network devices both enters and exits said network hub at said second connector.

11. A network hub, comprising:

a connector having connections for a plurality of cables each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of network devices; and

a removable and replaceable termination element means for providing signal connectivity between selected ones of said plurality of cables.

12. A method of reconfiguring a data network, comprising:

coupling a plurality of network devices in a first configuration by coupling a plurality of cables to said plurality of network devices and coupling each of said plurality of cables to a network hub having a first removable and replaceable termination element providing signal connectivity between selected ones of said plurality of cables; and

reconfiguring said plurality of network devices in a different second configuration by removing and replacing said first removable and replaceable termination element with a second removable and replaceable termination element providing signal connectively between different ones of said plurality of cables.