EP0196911B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Local area networks
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1986-04-01
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Granted: 1991-09-25
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Expires: 2006-04-01
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Tony J. Kozlik
- 👤 Bruce J. Landini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L43/00; H04L43/08; H04L43/0805; H04L43/0817; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/40169; H04L12/40176; H04L12/40195; H04L12/407; H04L12/417; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S370/00; Y10S370/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A local area network (14) having a plurality of nodes (16-HM, AM, CM, US) and utilizing a token passing scheme for communicating between nodes, each node having an interface apparatus (32) which operates independently of a processor (38) associated with said node, characterized by means for diagnosing a first node from a second node (16-US), comprising: first means (226, 222) in the said first node for monitoring for a message frame addressed to the first node from the second node and determining if the message frame is a special function frame; and second means (222, 223) in the said first node which, if the message frame is determined to be a special function frame, assures that the node is in an off-line mode, determines the nature of special function frame and performs the command specified thereby, and returns to the mode of monitoring for a message frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second means comprises means for: a) reading information specified, if the nature of the special function frame is a read command wherein the information to be read is specified; b) issuing a control signal to abort the current processing of the processor associated with the node if the nature of the special function frame is an abort command; and c) queuing an acknowledgement frame message to be subsequently transmitted to the second node.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the second means further comprises means for: a) issuing a reset control signal to the node if the nature of the special function frame is a reset command; and b) waiting a predetermined amount of time to allow the reset control signal to propagate through the node.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to either of Claims 2 and 3 characterized in that the means for issuing a control signal to abort the current processing comprises means for: a) issuing a high priority, non-inhibitable interrupt to the processor associated with the node, the interrupt causing the processor to suspend operation; and b) queuing a time out frame message to be subsequently transmitted to said first node.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus according to any previous claim, characterized in that the first means further comprise means for: a) determining whether the message frame is a token pass frame, such that if the message frame is not a token pass frame the message frame is processed as a normal transmission message frame, and otherwise proceeding to step (b); b) determining if a return special function frame is queued, to transmit the return special function frame if it is queued, and then proceeding to step (d); c) determining if the node is in the off-line mode, to transmit available information frames if the node is not in the off-line mode, and otherwise proceeding to step (e); d) passing the token to a successor node; and e) returning to the mode of monitoring for a message frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that in performing said command, said second means (222, 223) (i) generates an acknowledgement frame in which a particular field includes data or status information, according to said command; and (ii) queues said acknowledgement frame for subsequent transmission to said second node.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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