Method and apparatus for preventing loops in a full-duplex bus
First Claim
1. In a network of a plurality of nodes, each node in communication with other nodes in the network via a full-duplex communications bus, a method for performing loop breaking, the method comprising:
- detecting which nodes from said plurality select an untested connection;
wherein said act of selecting 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;
testing for loops through said untested connection by said detected nodes; and
joining said untested connection to said full-duplex bus by said detected nodes if no loops are found in said bus.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. In a network of a plurality of nodes, each node in communication with other nodes in the network via a full-duplex communications bus, a method for performing loop breaking, the method comprising:
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detecting which nodes from said plurality select an untested connection; wherein said act of selecting 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; testing for loops through said untested connection by said detected nodes; and joining said untested connection to said full-duplex bus by said detected nodes if no loops are found in said bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a network of a plurality of nodes, each node in communication with other nodes in the network via a full-duplex communications bus, a method for performing loop breaking, the method comprising:
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detecting which nodes from said plurality select an untested connection; wherein said act of detecting nodes 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; designating the selected candidate as a dominant node 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; testing for loops through said untested connection by said detected nodes; and joining said untested connection to said full-duplex bus by said detected nodes if no loops are found in said bus. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a network comprising a plurality of nodes present in a full-duplex bus, a method for building a loop free bus, comprising:
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determining which nodes from said plurality comprise an untested connection; testing for loops if said detected nodes were to be joined to said full-duplex bus; and joining said detected nodes to said full-duplex bus if no loops are found during said act of testing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a network comprising a plurality of nodes in a full-duplex bus, at least one node comprising computer instructions which when executed, perform loop breaking, according to the method comprising:
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selecting an untested connection in said plurality of nodes; establishing at least one dominant node in said full-duplex bus; testing for loops through said untested connection by said at least one dominant node; and joining said untested connection to said full-duplex bus by said at least one dominant node if no loops are found during said act of testing. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A device, comprising a plurality of instructions which when executed by said device prevents loops in a full-duplex bus by performing the method, comprising:
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selecting a plurality of candidate nodes to join said bus; establishing at least one dominant candidate node; testing for loops in said bus; and joining said at least one dominant candidate node if no loops are found in said bus. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification