Method and apparatus for preventing loops in a full-duplex bus

• US 6,842,805 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Whitby-Strevens, Colin, Hauck, Jerrold V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US10/390,944
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-222, 709/224, 709/232, 709/235, 709/238, 709/243, 710/100, 710300-302, 710/104, 710/107, 710305-306, 370216-222, 370241-242, 370254-256
• US Class Current: 710/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/426 using an embedded synchronisation, e.g. Firewire bus, Fibre Channel bus, SSA bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40078 Bus configuration home automation networks H04L12/2803; arrangements for maintenance or administration H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40123 Interconnection of computers and peripherals printer information exchange with computer G06F3/1293
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for preventing loops in a full-duplex bus. One method has the acts of: selecting at least two candidates to join said bus; establishing a dominant candidate from one of said at least two candidates; testing for loops in said bus; and joining said dominant candidate if no loops are found in said bus.

Another method has the acts of: selecting a plurality candidates to join said bus; establishing at least one dominant candidate; testing for loops in said bus; and joining said at least one dominant candidate if no loops are found in said bus. Alternative embodiments are shown that utilize unique identifiers to facilitate candidate selection and to establish dominance on the bus.

Claims

1. A network of a plurality of nodes, each node in communication with other nodes in the network via a full-duplex communications bus, at least one node comprising computer instructions which, when executed by on a computer, perform loop breaking, by:

the plurality of nodes selecting the untested connection to join the bus;

establishing dominance of the full-duplex bus by those nodes that selected said untested connection;

testing for loops through said untested connection by said dominant nodes; and

joining said untested connection to said full-duplex bus by said dominant nodes if no loops are found in said bus.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the act of selecting further comprises:

transmitting a request containing a unique identifier;

receiving requests transmitted by other candidates;

ignoring said received requests that meet a first condition;

abandoning the transmittal of further requests if said received requests meet a second condition and acknowledging the existence of said received requests; and

challenging the request if said received request meets a third condition.

3. The network of claim 2, wherein said first condition is met if said unique identifier contained within said transmitted request is greater than said unique identifier contained within said received request.

4. The network of claim 2, wherein said first condition is met if said unique identifier contained within said transmitted request is less than said unique identifier contained within said received request.

5. The network of claim 2, wherein said first condition is met if said unique identifier contained within said transmitted request is equal to said unique identifier contained within said received request.

6. The network of claim 1, wherein said act of establishing dominance of said bus further comprises:

selecting a candidate by arbitrating for control of said bus;

transmitting a packet containing a unique identifier on said bus;

listening for packets received on said bus;

establishing dominance if the received packet meets a first condition;

dropping transmission of packets if said received packets meet a second condition; and

re-transmitting packets a predetermined number of times if the received packets meet a third condition.

7. The network of claim 6, wherein said first condition is met if said unique identifier contained within said transmitted packet is greater than said unique identifier contained within said received packet.

8. The network of claim 6, wherein said first condition is met if said unique identifier contained within said transmitted packet is less than said unique identifier contained within said received packet.

9. The network of claim 6, wherein said first condition is met if said unique identifier contained within said transmitted packet is equal to said unique identifier contained within said received packet.

10. The network of claim 6, wherein said predetermined number of tries is less than or equal to ten.

11. The network of claim 6, further comprising the act of transmitting a join request on said bus when said first condition has been met.

12. The network of claim 1, wherein said act of joining a candidate further for control of said bus;

arbitrating for control of said bus;

waiting for a predetermined period of time;

issuing a short bus reset if said arbitration is won within said predetermined period of time; and

issuing a long bus reset if arbitration is not won within said predetermined period of time.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein said predetermined period of time is less than or equal to the time period of one asynchronous packet on said bus.