EP0190661A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-star fiber optic network improved access time
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1986-01-30
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A multi-star fiber optic network achieves improved access periods by grouping terminal devices into subnet-i works that are connected to a bus, with token passing or collision detection being localized to individual subnetworks, and with communication between subnetworks being conducted over the bus via non-interfering optical channels which may be light sources having different wavelengths or different channel frequencies. Each subnetwork includes an N-to-1 star which receives optical signals from terminal devices in the subnetwork and 1-to N star which distributes optical signals to terminal devices in the subnetwork are a transmit repeater, a receive repeater, and a buffer memory within the receive repeater of each subnetwork.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold Barry Shutterly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/27; H04B10/278; H04B10/271; H04B10/272
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A fiber optic communication network for communication between terminal devices having access periods that are governed by an access control system, to obtain fast access, comprising an optical bus; and a plurality of subnetwork means for optically connecting respective groups of terminal devices to the bus while localizing operation of the access control system to the groups, each subnetwork means including star means for receiving optical signals from and distributing optical signals to each terminal device of the respective group, the network characterized by: a transmit repeater optically connected between said star means and said bus, said transmit repeater having bus transmit means providing a unique optical channel for transmitting messages on said bus, and a receive repeater optically connected between said bus and said star means and electrically connected to said transmit repeater, said receive repeater having bus receive means for receiving from said bus messages on the optical channels of transmit repeaters of other subnetwork means connected to said bus, said receive repeater additionally having storage means for temporarily storing messages received from other subnetwork means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A fiber optic communication network for communication between terminal devices having access periods that are governed by an access control system, to obtain fast access, comprising an optical bus; and a plurality of subnetwork means for optically connecting respective groups of terminal devices to the bus while localizing operation of the access control system to the groups, each subnetwork means including star means for receiving optical signals from and distributing optical signals to each terminal device of the respective group, the network characterized by: a transmit repeater optically connected between said star means and said bus, said transmit repeater having bus transmit means providing a unique optical channel for transmitting messages on said bus, and a receive repeater optically connected between said bus and said star means and electrically connected to said transmit repeater, said receive repeater having bus receive means for receiving from said bus messages on the optical channels of transmit repeaters of other subnetwork means connected to said bus, said receive repeater additionally having storage means for temporarily storing messages received from other subnetwork means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The network of claim 1, wherein said bus comprises a first optical fiber to which the transmit repeater of each subnetwork means is optically connected and a second optical fiber to which the receive repeater of each subnetwork means is optically connected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The network of claim 2, wherein said bus further comprises means for optically connecting said first and second fibers so than an optical signal propagating on said first fiber is injected into said second fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network of claim 1, wherein said bus transmit means comprises means for amplitude modulating light and wherein said bus receive means comprises means for detecting amplitude modulated signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network of claim 1, wherein said bus transmit means comprises means for frequency modulating light and wherein said bus receive means comprises means for detecting frequency modulated signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The network of claim 1, wherein said access control system is a token passing system and wherein said transmit repeater comprises means for preventing passage of a token to said bus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network of claim 1, wherein said access control system is a token passing system and wherein said receive repeater comprises means for delaying passage of a token.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The network of claim 1, wherein said access control system is a token passing system, wherein said transmit repeater comprises means for preventing passage of a token to said bus, and wherein said transmit repeater comprises means for delaying passage of a token when messages are transmitted over said bus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The network of claim 8, wherein said means for delaying passage selectively delays passage of a token for a period of time that is proportional to one less than the number of subnetwork means connected to said bus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The network of claim 1, wherein said bus comprises first and second optical fibers and wherein said star means comprises an N-to-1 star and a 1-to-N star, said transmit repeater being connected between said N-to-1 star and said first fiber and said repeat repeater being connected between said 1-to-N star and said second fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
1 1. The network of claim 10, wherein 'said transmit repeater comprises a series connection of a photodetector which receives light from said N-to-1 star, means connected to said photodetector for regenerating a digital signal, and means for storing said digital signal, said means for storing being connected to said bus transmit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network of claim 11, wherein said bus transmit means comprises an electrical modulator and an LED, modulated light from said LED being conveyed to said first optical fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The network of claim 11, wherein said bus receive means of said receive repeater is responsive to light from said second optical fiber, and wherein said storage means is connected to said bus receive means and to said means connected to said photodetector of said transmit repeater.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The network of claim 13, wherein said receive repeater additionally comprises means connected to said storage means for emitting light to said 1-to-N star.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.