US3731002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interconnected loop data block transmission system
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1970-10-08
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1990-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A closed loop transmission system is described in which a plurality of stations have access to each loop to write messages into and read messages from standard-sized message blocks transmitted around the loop. One station in each loop provides regeneration of all message blocks. The various loops are interconnected by switching stations which respond to address information at the head of each message block to selectively switch the block to the interconnected loop. The next required address is always substituted for the current address to simplify address recognition. Alternate and redundant routing are also provided for.
Inventors
- 👤 J Pierce
- 👤 S County
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/46; H04L12/4637
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A transmission system for transmitting multi-word message blocks of digital data comprising at least three intersecting transmission loops, each said loop including a plurality of substantially identical autonomous stations responsive only to availability and destination control signals indicating the availability and destination of said message blocks, respectively, said control signals being placed on said loop by any of said autonomous stations for respectively writing message blocks onto and for reading message blocks from that loop, and a message block switching station at each intersection of said loops, said switching stations each comprising buffer storage means for storing a plurality of said message blocks, selection means responsive only to said destination control signals for selecting message blocks to be transferred to an intersecting loop, means for writing the selected message blocks from one of said selected loops into said buffer storage means at the time of arrival thereof, and means for reading Message blocks from said buffer storage means onto the other one of said intersecting message loops in response to said availability control signals on said other one of said loops.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A transmission system for transmitting multi-word message blocks of digital data comprising at least three intersecting transmission loops, each said loop including a plurality of substantially identical autonomous stations responsive only to availability and destination control signals indicating the availability and destination of said message blocks, respectively, said control signals being placed on said loop by any of said autonomous stations for respectively writing message blocks onto and for reading message blocks from that loop, and a message block switching station at each intersection of said loops, said switching stations each comprising buffer storage means for storing a plurality of said message blocks, selection means responsive only to said destination control signals for selecting message blocks to be transferred to an intersecting loop, means for writing the selected message blocks from one of said selected loops into said buffer storage means at the time of arrival thereof, and means for reading Message blocks from said buffer storage means onto the other one of said intersecting message loops in response to said availability control signals on said other one of said loops.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The transmission system according to claim 1 further comprising an alternatively usable loop between two loops intersecting the same common loop, and message block switching means for interconnecting said alternatively usable loop to said two loops to switch message blocks between said two loops without said message blocks traversing said common loop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The transmission system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one redundant loop interconnecting the same stations as one of said transmission loops, and at least one spare station of said message block switching stations interconnecting said redundant loop to an intersecting one of said transmission loops.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
A distributed control, loop transmission system for digital data message blocks comprising at least three closed transmission loops, a plurality of substantially identical autonomous stations on each of said loops, each of said autonomous stations including means responsive to availability signals indicating the availability of said message blocks and placed on the connected one of said loops by any one of said autonomous stations for writing a digital message on that loop in an available message block, and means responsive to destination signals indicating the destination of the data in said message block and placed on the connected one of said loops by any one of said autonomous stations for reading a digital message block from that loop, and buffer storage means connected between two of said autonomous stations on different ones of said loops to interconnect the corresponding loops for exchange of digital message blocks therebetween by allowing the data received from one loop to be transmitted in a message block of another loop when the availability signals in said other loop indicate an available message block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
A distributed control, loop transmission system for digital data message blocks comprising at least three closed transmission loops, a plurality of substantially identical autonomous stations on each of said loops, each of said autonomous stations including means responsive to availability signals indicating the availability of said message blocks and placed on the connected one of said loops by any one of said autonomous stations for writing a digital message on that loop in an available message block, and means responsive to destination signals indicating the destination of the data in said message block and placed on the connected one of said loops by any one of said autonomous stations for reading a digital message block from that loop, and buffer storage means connected between two of said autonomous stations on different ones of said loops to interconnect the corresponding loops for exchange of digital message blocks therebetween by allowing the data received from one loop to be transmitted in a message block of another loop when the availability signals in said other loop indicate an available message block.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A distributed control, loop transmission system according to claim 4 further comprising a resynchronizing unit in each of said transmission loops for closing each of said loops on itself.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A distributed control, loop transmission system according to claim 4 wherein said means for writing digital message blocks comprises a shift register in series with said transmission line, detection means responsive to signals in said register for identifying digital message block starting times, and means responsive to said detection means for writing data into said shift register.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A distributed control, loop transmission system according to claim 4 wherein said closed transmission loops include a plurality of lower level loops each interconnecting a plurality of said stations, and at least one higher level loop interconnecting all of said lower level loops.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A distributed control, loop transmission system according to claim 7 including at least three levels of interconnecting loops, each higher level loop interconnecting a plurality of lower level loops, and a single highest level loop interconnecting a plurality of next lower level loops.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A distributed control, loop transmission system according to claim 7 comprising a bypassing transmission loop interconnecting two of said lower level loops to permit communication between said two lower loops without traversing said higher level loop, and bypass buffer storage means interconnecting one of said stations on said bypassing transmission loop with stations on said two lower level loops.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A distributed control, loop transmission system according to claim 9 wherein said bypass buffer storage means is connected to said one station to intercept messages prior to their delivery to said higher level loop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A distributed control, loop transmission system according to claim 9 wherein said bypass buffer storage means is connected to said oNe station to intercept messages after their attempted delivery to said higher level loop.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |