EP0355861B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Industrialized token passing network
Assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC
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Filing: 1986-08-28
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Granted: 1994-02-09
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Expires: 2006-08-28
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan R. Engdahl
- 👤 Jeffery A. Hanneman
- 👤 David C. Sweeton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/407; H04L12/417
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of communicating over a network formed by a plurality of stations interconnected by a communications media, comprising the steps of: (a) passing a master token to each of a plurality of the stations in a predetermined order; and (b) enabling each station to send a message on the network when it has possession of the master token; characterized by the further steps of: (c) successively passing a solicit token to each of said plurality of the stations in a predetermined order; (d) enabling each station to send a solicit message on the network when it has possession of both the solicit token and the master token, said solicit message being directed to a recipient station interconnected to the communications media, but not in said plurality of stations receiving the master token; and (e) enabling each recipient station which receives a solicit message to become one of said plurality of stations receiving the master token and the solicit token.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method as recited in claim 1 in which each recipient station receiving the solicit message becomes one of said plurality of stations receiving the master token by: sending a set successor message back to the station which sent the recipient station the solicit message, said set successor message indicating that the master token is to be passed to the recipient station by the station which receives the set successor message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method as recited in claim 2 in which each station stores a successor station number which indicates the station to which it is to pass the master token, in which the solicit message includes the successor station number stored at the station which originated the solicit message, and in which each station receiving the solicit message stores the successor station number contained in the solicit message as its own successor station number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as recited in claim 1 in which each station stores a station number and a successor station number that indicates the station to which it is to pass the master token, and in which each station having the solicit token sends a solicit message to each of the stations having station numbers between the stored station number and the stored successor station number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
A station for a communications network having a plurality of such stations interconnected by a communications media, comprising: sending means for sending a message on the network; receiver means for receiving a message from the network; detector means coupled to the receiver means for determining the type of message which is received; and successor station storage means for storing the identity of another station on the network to which the station sends master token messages; characterized by: means coupled to the detector means and the sending means for forming and sending a solicit message when the station receives a message which indicates that the station has a solicit token, said solicit message being directed to yet another station on the network for the purpose of determining if said yet another station wants to establish communications on the network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The station as recited in claim 5 which includes means coupled to the detector means and the successor station storage means for altering the stored identity of the successor station when a set successor message is received from yet another station to which the solicit message was sent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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