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EP0430053A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ring latency timer

Assignee: National Semiconductor Corp
•
Filing: 1990-11-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-11-21
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Abstract

Abstract A ring latency timer provides a station attached to a token ring network with the capability of obtaining an accurate latency measurement of the ring to which it is attached. An internal hardware register, which may be read via the processor control bus interface, contains the latest ring latency measurement. A latency interrupt bit, when cleared, enables the latency measurement function. A subsequent interrupt which causes the latency interrupt bit to be set by the chip signals the completion of the latency measurement and the function is once again disabled. The latency register holds the latency information until the interrupt bit is cleared by the processor. <IMAGE>

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert M. Grow
  • 👤 Randall F. Wetzel
  • 👤 Perry S. . Stultz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 15:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/42; H04L12/427; H04L12/433

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 122 words
A ring latency timer for measuring a ring latency of a token ring network, wherein the ring comprises a plurality of nodes that are interconnected by a unidirectional medium in a ring configuration, each node serving as a means for attaching stations to the ring such that information units may be transferred between stations attached to the ring via the nodes, the ring latency timer comprising: (a) means located within a node for generating a latency timer information unit; (b) means for transmitting a latency timer information unit on the ring; (c) means for counting the latency time required for the latency timer information unit to traverse the ring back to the transmitting node; and (d) means for storing the latency time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 105 words
A method for measuring the ring latency of a token ring network, wherein the ring comprises a plurality of nodes interconnected by a unidirectional transmission medium in a ring configuration, each node serving as a means for attaching stations to the ring such that information units may be transferred between stations attached to the ring, the method comprising: (a) generating a latency timer information unit within a node; (b) transmitting the latency timer information unit on the ring; (c) counting the latency time required for the latency timer information unit to traverse the ring back to the transmitting node; and (d) storing the latency time.

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