EP0472296A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-performance packet-switched wdm ring networks with tunable lasers
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1991-07-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A communications network comprising a plurality of "subnetworks" multiplexed onto a single communications medium. A separate group of network interface units (NIUs) communicates on each predetermined "subnetwork", and each NIU also includes a tunable transmitter for transmitting data to NIUs of other subnetworks. Data from a user equipment is transmitted via the tunable transmitter if it is destined for an NIU from another subnetwork, and via a fixed transmitter if it is destined for an NIU on the same subnetwork. In one embodiment, fiber optics are utilized in order to provide a high speed network with tunable lasers.
Inventors
- 👤 Kai Y. Eng
- 👤 Mark J. Karol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/42; H04J; H04J14/00; H04J14/02; H04J14/0227; H04J14/0241; H04L12/2801; H04J14/0278; H04J14/028; H04J14/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A communications network comprising: a plurality of network interface units, arranged into groups, each of said groups defines a subnetwork, each of particular one of said network interface units being CHARACTERIZED BY means for determining if data to be transmitted is destined for a receiving network interface unit on the subnetwork including said particular one of said network interface units, and means for transmitting the data to a predetermined network interface unit on the subnetwork of said particular one of said network interface units if the data is destined for any network interface unit on that subnetwork and for transmitting the data to a predetermined network interface unit on the subnetwork of the receiving network interface unit if the data is destined for a receiving network interface unit not on the subnetwork of said particular one of said network interface units.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communications network of claim 1 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the means for transmitting comprises means for retuning a frequency of a transmitter in response to an address in the data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The communications network of claim 2 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each network interface unit transmits data during predetermined time slots, and each particular one of said network interface unit includes means for detecting if others of the network interface units are transmitting, during a time slot, data on the frequency to which said particular one of said network interface units has retuned, and for inhibiting transmission during such time slot if such others of the network interface units are transmitting data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communications network claim 1 further CHARACTERIZED BY an optical coupler for interfacing to an optical communications medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications network of claim 2 further CHARACTERIZED BY an optical coupler for interfacing to an optical communications medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications network of claim 3 further CHARACTERIZED BY an optical coupler for interfacing to an optical communications medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The communications network of claim 6 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the means for transmitting includes, a tunable transmitter for transmitting data to receiving network interface units not on the same subnetwork as said particular one of said network interface units, and a fixed transmitter, for transmitting data to receiving network interface units on the subnetwork of said particular one of network interface units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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