EP0185122A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three level distributed control for networking I/O devices
Assignee: Aetna Telecommunications Laboratories
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Filing: 1984-11-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A three level microprocessor based nodal architecture for a local area network communication system is disclosed. The processing responsibility for establishing a communication link between an initiating I/0 device and a recipient I/O device and for subsequent two way data exchange between the initiating and recipient devices are shared between three levels 1, 2, 3 of digital processing capability in such a manner as to demand the least amount of time from the highest, most intelligent processing level (1) common to all devices. Each I/O device whether it be a digital terminal, computer or telephone set interfaces with the nodal system through a middle level of processors (20). Voice, video or data can be sent externally of the node (12) via a coupling network (14), or routed back through the node (12) to another middle level processor (20) to an associated I/O device. A priority scheme utilizing a separate control data channel coupling the plural nodes at the third processor level (3) operates to maintain substantially full data density on the data coupling network.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Barr
- 👤 Leon K. Woo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A node structure for a communication system comprising : a first level logical processor (18) operative in response to indicia indicative of a desired communication recipient for generating routing indicia corresponding to the routing for communication to the desired recipient ; one or more second level logical processors (20) adapted for operation in association with one or more sources of communication signals and responsive to routing indicia from said first level logical processor (18) for generating outgoing signals comprising communication signals from an associated source and routing indicia from said first level logical processor (18); and one or more third level logical processor (26) responsive to said output signals for routing said communication signals in accordance with the routing indicia.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A node structure for a communication system comprising : a first level logical processor (18) operative in response to indicia indicative of a desired communication recipient for generating routing indicia corresponding to the routing for communication to the desired recipient ; one or more second level logical processors (20) adapted for operation in association with one or more sources of communication signals and responsive to routing indicia from said first level logical processor (18) for generating outgoing signals comprising communication signals from an associated source and routing indicia from said first level logical processor (18); and one or more third level logical processor (26) responsive to said output signals for routing said communication signals in accordance with the routing indicia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1, further including means for providing indicia of a desired recipient as an interrupt signal from a source associated with a second level logical processor (20) to said first level logical processor (18).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 2,further including means for controlling said second level logical processor(20) and associated source to provide said interrupt to said first level logical processor (18) at a character rate of data transmission.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1, further including means for providing said outgoing communication signals from said second level logical processor (2 0 )to said third level logical processor (26) at a data burst rate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 4, further including : means (23) for queuing the outgoing communication signals between said second level logical processor (20) and said third level logical processor (26).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 5, further including means associated with said third level logical processor (26) for routing said outgoing communication signals over a fiber optical coupler system (14) in communication with one or more additional node structures(12).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 6,further including means for prioritizing the communication of one node with respect to another node over said fiber optic coupler (14).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
The system of claim 7,wherein said prioritizing means comprises : means for establishing a control signal exchange over a fiber optic coupler (14) comprising a repeating sequence of transmitted requests for transmission of an outgoing communication signal on said fiber optic coupler, one from each node (12) associated with said fiber optic coupler (14), alternating with a repeating sequence of grants, one from each node (12) associated with said fiber optic coupler (14), and indicating the identity of the node (12) next to transmit over said fiber optic coupler (14); means for transmitting said outgoing communication signals over said fiber optic coupler network (14) from the node identified in the preceding sequence of grant signals; and means for determining the grants at each node structure (12) in accordance with the same priority scheme, awarding the grant to the node having waited the longest time since its last opportunity to transmit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 8 wherein : said means for determining grants provides priority to real time communication; and said requests identify whether the message waiting at each corresponding node is a real time communication.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
28 words
The system of claim l,wherein said signal sources with which a second level logical processor (20) is associated are selected from the class comprising voice and data signals.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
42 words
The system of claim lO / further including means responsive to signal sources of a voice signal transmitting capability for digitizing said signals whereby the generated outgoing communication signals comprise digital counterparts of the source generated voice signals as said communication signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
The system of claim 1, wherein : said one or more third level logical processors (26) are adapted to receive signals applied to them as outgoing communication signals from a second level logical processor (20) or other node structure and to apply said communication signals to a second level logical processor (20) having associated with it a source identified as a recipient in the routing indicia at said third level logical processor (26); and means associated with said first level processor (18) are provided for adapting said one or more second level logical processors (20) to apply to a source associated therewith the communication signals received from a third level logical processor (26).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said optical coupler (14) includes a passive star (16).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1, further including : a plurality of queues (53) coupled by a data bus (55) and associated with a second level logical processor (58) and one or more signal sources; and means for directing communication signals between said queues (3) in accordance with said routing indicia.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 14, further including : a plurality of said second level logical processor data buses (55) each associated with a separate second level logical processor (58) and a plurality of signal sources to provide plural clusters of second level logical processors (58) and signal sources; and a plurality of queues (80) operative under routing indicia control for communicating between each cluster through said third level processor (84).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 14, further including : a control bus (56); and a source/destination register (79) associated with each cluster and controlled by a second level logical processor (58) over said control bus (56) to identify the flow of communication signals between said queues (80) as a function of said routing indicia.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, further including a directory associated with said first level logical processor (18) identifying routing indicia corresponding to a desired communication recipient.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said digitizing means is selectively logarithmic in its transfer function between voice signal and digital counterpart.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
184 words
A communication priority scheme for communication between a plurality, greater than three, of communication centers over a channel coupling network comprising : three or more communication centers (12) each capable of receiving and transmitting data; a communication coupler (14) capable of supporting communication between one such communication center (12) and another such communication center (12); a control channel linking said three or more communication centers (12); means associated with each of said communication centers (12) for transmitting over said control channel a repeating sequence of requests for transmission, one associated with each of said communication centers, alternating with a repeating sequence of grants of communication to an identifiable communication center; means associated with each communication center (12) for identifying the communication center next to transmit in response to information received in the previous requests for communication, that determination were being made at each communication center according to the same priority algorithm; and the communication center identified in the preceeding set of grants communicating a message over the coupling system until a subsequent grant to a different communication center is transmitted over said control network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
184 words
A communication priority scheme for communication between a plurality, greater than three, of communication centers over a channel coupling network comprising : three or more communication centers (12) each capable of receiving and transmitting data; a communication coupler (14) capable of supporting communication between one such communication center (12) and another such communication center (12); a control channel linking said three or more communication centers (12); means associated with each of said communication centers (12) for transmitting over said control channel a repeating sequence of requests for transmission, one associated with each of said communication centers, alternating with a repeating sequence of grants of communication to an identifiable communication center; means associated with each communication center (12) for identifying the communication center next to transmit in response to information received in the previous requests for communication, that determination were being made at each communication center according to the same priority algorithm; and the communication center identified in the preceeding set of grants communicating a message over the coupling system until a subsequent grant to a different communication center is transmitted over said control network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The priority system of claim 19, wherein said communication coupler (14) comprises an optical fiber communication coupled having a passive star coupler (16).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The priority system of claim 19, wherein each communication center (12) is operative to provide in each request for communication an identification of the communication type as real time communication or not.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The priority system of claim 21, wherein said priority algorithm gives precedence to requests for real time communication.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
96 words
A node architecture for a communication system comprising : plural signal originating and receiving sources and an associated logical processor (20); a hierarchically superior logical processor (18) and associated source directory, having source routing indicia; a plurality of block transfer registers (23) for the flow of signals between said sources; means associated with a logical processor (20) for controlling the transferring of signals in blocks between said registers (23) in response to routing indicia; and said superior logical processor (18) operative to provide said routing indicia from said directory for use by said logical processor (20).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
96 words
A node architecture for a communication system comprising : plural signal originating and receiving sources and an associated logical processor (20); a hierarchically superior logical processor (18) and associated source directory, having source routing indicia; a plurality of block transfer registers (23) for the flow of signals between said sources; means associated with a logical processor (20) for controlling the transferring of signals in blocks between said registers (23) in response to routing indicia; and said superior logical processor (18) operative to provide said routing indicia from said directory for use by said logical processor (20).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
The node architecture of claim 23, further including : a hierarchically inferior logical processor (26) and associated plural additional block transfer registers (23); and means for enabling said plural additional block transfer registers (29) to selectively participate in the block transfer of signals between sources under control of said inferior logical processor (26).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The architecture of claim 24, wherein the signal flow speed of block transfers between registers (23) increases inversely with hierarchical processor level.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
102 words
A process for node based information flow comprising : generating routing indicia at a first level logical processor (18) in response to indicia indicative of a desired communication recipient; generating outgoing signals at a second level logical processor (20) adapted for operation in association with one or more sources of communication signals in response to routing indicia from said first level logical processor (18), said outgoing signals comprising communication signals from the associated source and routing indicia from said first level logical processor (18); and routing said communication signals at a third level logical processor (26) in accordance with the routing indicia.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
102 words
A process for node based information flow comprising : generating routing indicia at a first level logical processor (18) in response to indicia indicative of a desired communication recipient; generating outgoing signals at a second level logical processor (20) adapted for operation in association with one or more sources of communication signals in response to routing indicia from said first level logical processor (18), said outgoing signals comprising communication signals from the associated source and routing indicia from said first level logical processor (18); and routing said communication signals at a third level logical processor (26) in accordance with the routing indicia.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 26, further including the step of providing an interrupt signal from a source to said first level logical processor (18) indicative of a desired communication recipient associated with a second level logical processor (20).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 27, wherein said interrupt is provided to said first level logical processor (18) at a character rate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 28, wherein said outgoing signals are provided at a data burst rate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 26, further including the step of : queuing the outgoing signals from said second level logical processor (20) to said third level logical processor (26) for block transfer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 30, further including the step of : routing said outgoing signals over a network comprising a fiber optical coupler system (14) in communication with one or more additional nodes (12).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 31, further including the step of prioritizing the communication of one node (12) with respect to another node (12) over said fiber optic coupler.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
143 words
The process of claim 32, wherein said prioritizing step comprises the steps of : establishing a control signal exchange over a fiber optic coupler (14) comprising a repeating sequence of transmitted requests for transmission of an outgoing signal on said fiber optic coupler (14), one from each node (12) associated with said fiber optic coupler (14), alternating with a repeating sequence of grants, one from each node associated with said fiber optic coupler (14), and indicating the identity of the node next to transmit over said fiber optic coupler (14); transmitting said outgoing signal over said fiber optic coupler network (14) from the node identified in the preceding sequence of grant signals; determining the grants at each nodal station in accordance with the same priority scheme, awarding the grant to the node having waited the longest time since its last opportunity to transmit.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 33 wherein : said step of identifying grants provides priority to real time communication; and said requests identify whether the message waiting at each corresponding node is real time communication.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 26, further including digitizing source signals whereby the generated outgoing signals comprise digital counterparts of the source generated signals as said communication signals.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
128 words
A communication priority method for communication between a plurality greater than three of communication centers over a single channel coupling network comprising: transmitting over a control channel a repeating sequence of requests for transmission, one associated with each of plural communication centers, alternating with a repeating sequence of grants of communication authority to an identifiable communication center; identifying the communication center to be granted authority next to transmit in response to information received in the previous request for communication, that determination were being made at each communication center according to the same priority algorithm; and communicating a message from the communication center identified in the preceding set of grants over a coupling system until a subsequent grant to a different communication center is transmitted over said control network.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
128 words
A communication priority method for communication between a plurality greater than three of communication centers over a single channel coupling network comprising: transmitting over a control channel a repeating sequence of requests for transmission, one associated with each of plural communication centers, alternating with a repeating sequence of grants of communication authority to an identifiable communication center; identifying the communication center to be granted authority next to transmit in response to information received in the previous request for communication, that determination were being made at each communication center according to the same priority algorithm; and communicating a message from the communication center identified in the preceding set of grants over a coupling system until a subsequent grant to a different communication center is transmitted over said control network.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The priority method of claim 36, wherein said priority algorithm gives precedence to requests for real time communication.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3985962A
Cited
GB2069734A
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