EP0257947A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cordless accessed high-speed high-capacity local area networks
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1987-08-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-08-17
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a high-speed high-capacity Local Area Network (LAN) wherein each user, of a separate group of one or more of the network users, communicates cordlessly, using radio frequencies or infrared, with an assigned Regional Bus Interface Unit (RBIU) (11) located in the proximity of the group. Each RBIU of the network interfaces with a high-speed serial or lower speed parallel bus (14) of an open-ring network for purposes of transmitting information signals while receiving information signals via the high-speed serial network bus(es). Various communications protocols such as, for example, CSMA/CD, slotted ALOHA, etc. can be employed by the users in communicating with the associated RBIUs with high efficiency due to the short paths involved relative to the transmission frame durations used on the bus.
Inventors
- 👤 Noach Amitay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/10; H04W84/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A Local Area communications network (LAN) comprising: a communications bus (14,40) which is routed along a predetermined path within an area to be serviced by the LAN; and a plurality of regional bus interface units (11) (RBIUs) disposed at separate selected points around the area to be serviced by the LAN, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each RBIU comprises; means (12, 27, FIG. 2-3; 12, 35, FIG. 5) for providing cordless, low-level radiation, two-way communications between the RBIU and each user of a separate group of one or more network users assigned to, and located in, the proximity of the RBIU using a predetermined communications protocol; means (20-22,25-26,28, FIGs. 2-3) for transmitting information signals received from a user of the group assigned to the RBIU onto the communications bus in a predetermined format including a destination user's address; and means (30, 32-34, FIG. 5) for (a) receiving formatted information signals propagating on the communications bus, (b) detecting from an included destination user's address whether or not each received information signal is destined for a user of the group of users assigned to the RBIU, and (c) delivering an information signal destined for one said of network users to the cordless two-way transmission means for transmission to the destined user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A Local Area communications network (LAN) comprising: a communications bus (14,40) which is routed along a predetermined path within an area to be serviced by the LAN; and a plurality of regional bus interface units (11) (RBIUs) disposed at separate selected points around the area to be serviced by the LAN, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each RBIU comprises; means (12, 27, FIG. 2-3; 12, 35, FIG. 5) for providing cordless, low-level radiation, two-way communications between the RBIU and each user of a separate group of one or more network users assigned to, and located in, the proximity of the RBIU using a predetermined communications protocol; means (20-22,25-26,28, FIGs. 2-3) for transmitting information signals received from a user of the group assigned to the RBIU onto the communications bus in a predetermined format including a destination user's address; and means (30, 32-34, FIG. 5) for (a) receiving formatted information signals propagating on the communications bus, (b) detecting from an included destination user's address whether or not each received information signal is destined for a user of the group of users assigned to the RBIU, and (c) delivering an information signal destined for one said of network users to the cordless two-way transmission means for transmission to the destined user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An LAN according to claim 1 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the LAN further comprises: means for generating periodic frame marker signals for propagation along the communications bus, each frame marker signal indicating the beginning of a frame in which a formatted information signal can be transmitted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An LAN according to claim 2 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the generating means is disposed at the head end of the communications bus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An LAN according to claim 2 CHARACTERIZED ON THAT the generating means is disposed within the RBIU nearest a head end of the communications bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
An LAN according to claim 3 or 4 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the transmitting means comprises: means (22) for (a) detecting both a frame marker signal propagating on the communications bus and whether or not a formatted information signal occupies the remainder of a frame period, and (b) generating an output control signal whenever a formatted information signal does not occupy the remainder of a frame period; means (25) for sorting a formatted information signal to be transmitted over the communications bus and for transmitting the formatted information signal onto the bus in response to the output control signal from the detecting and generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
An LAN according to claim 2 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the receiving means comprises: means (32) for detecting a frame marker signal propagating on the communications bus and for generating an output control signal whenever the frame marker signal is detected; means (33) responsive to the output control signal from the detecting and generating means for temporarily storing information received from the communications bus in the frame period associated with the detected frame marker signal; and means (34, 35) responsive to the information stored in the storing means for determining from the included destination user's address whether or not the received information signal is destined for a user of the group assigned to the RBIU, and for cordlessly transmitting each information signal destined for a user of said group to that user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An LAN according to claim 1, 2, or 6 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the communications bus is a lightguide for propagating optical signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An LAN according to claim 1, 2 or 6 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the communications bus is capable of propagating electrical signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
207 words
A Regional Bus Interface Unit (RBIU) for use in a Local Area Network (LAN), CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the RBIU comprises: a first and a second input terminal and an output terminal; means for providing cordless, low-level radiation, two-way transmissions of information signals between the RBIU and each user of a group of one or more users assigned to the RBIU; means connected between the first input terminal and the output terminal for (a) detecting when a formatted information signal is not received at the first input terminal during a predetermined time period, and (b) transmitting information signals received from a user of the group of one or more users assigned to the RBIU in a predetermined format including a destination user's address to the output terminal during the detected time period; and means coupled to the second input terminal for (a) receiving formatted information signals from the second input terminal, (b) detecting from an included destination user's address whether or not a received information signal is destined for a user of the group of one or more users assigned to the RBIU, and (c) delivering an information signal destined for a user of the group to the cordless two-way transmission means for transmission to the destined user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
207 words
A Regional Bus Interface Unit (RBIU) for use in a Local Area Network (LAN), CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the RBIU comprises: a first and a second input terminal and an output terminal; means for providing cordless, low-level radiation, two-way transmissions of information signals between the RBIU and each user of a group of one or more users assigned to the RBIU; means connected between the first input terminal and the output terminal for (a) detecting when a formatted information signal is not received at the first input terminal during a predetermined time period, and (b) transmitting information signals received from a user of the group of one or more users assigned to the RBIU in a predetermined format including a destination user's address to the output terminal during the detected time period; and means coupled to the second input terminal for (a) receiving formatted information signals from the second input terminal, (b) detecting from an included destination user's address whether or not a received information signal is destined for a user of the group of one or more users assigned to the RBIU, and (c) delivering an information signal destined for a user of the group to the cordless two-way transmission means for transmission to the destined user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
An RBIU according to claim 9 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the transmitting means comprises: means for (a) detecting both a periodic frame marker signal received at the first input terminal, which frame marker signal is disposed at the start of a frame period, and whether or not a formatted information signal is received at the first input terminal during the remainder of the frame period, and (b) for generating an output control signal whenever a formatted information signal is not received at the first input terminal during a frame period; and means for storing a formatted information signal to be delivered to the output terminal and for transmitting the formatted information signal to the output terminal in response to the output control signal from the detecting and generating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
An RBIU according to claim 9 or 10 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the receiving means comprises: means for detecting a frame marker signal received at the second input terminal and for generating an output signal whenever a frame marker signal is detected; means responsive to the output control signal from the detecting and generating means for temporarily storing an information signal received at the second input terminal in a frame period associated with a frame marker signal; and means responsive to the information signal stored in the storing means for determining from the included destination user's address whether or not the received information signal is destined for a user of the group assigned to the RBIU, and for cordlessly transmitting each information signal destined for a user of the group to that user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An RBIU according to claim 11 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the first and second input terminals are arranged to receive lightwave signals and the transmitting means is arranged to transmit lightwave signals to the output terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An RBIU according to claim 11 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the first and second input terminals are arranged to receive electrical signals and the transmitting means is arranged to transmit electrical signals to the output terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An RBIU according to claim 9 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the cordless transmission means provides two-way communications with the user of the group using radio frequency signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An RBIU according to claim 9 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the cordless transmission means provides two-way communications with the users of the group using infrared signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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