US4237550A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiuser protected optical data bus distribution systems
Assignee: ITT Inc
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Filing: 1979-06-08
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1999-06-08
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber having a center core and an outer core coaxial of the center core is coupled in a loop to a control station and a plurality of equally spaced users. The fiber propagates data time sequentially between the plurality of users on the center core in a given direction around the loop. A source of masking signal disposed in the control station is propagated on the outer core in a direction around the loop opposite to the given direction to prevent intercepting data on the fiber. The masking signal is turned off at a given time for a predetermined length of time to provide a window in the masking signal which arrives at each of the plurality of users in time sequence coincident with the data intended for each of the plurality of users to enable each of the plurality of users to recover the data intended therefore.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter D. Steensma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/80; H04B10/85; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/4469; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A multiuser protected optical data bus distribution system comprising: an optical fiber capable of propagating thereon two different signals independent of each other, said fiber being coupled in a loop to a control station and N equally spaced users, where N is equal to an integer greater than one, and propagating data between said N users in time sequence in one direction around said loop; and first means disposed in said control station to transmit a first masking signal on said fiber in a direction around said loop opposite to said given direction to prevent interception of said data, said first masking signal being turned off at a given time for a predetermined period of time to provide a window in said first masking signal which arrives at each of said N users in time sequence coincident with said data intended for each of said N users to enable each of said N users to recover said data intended therefore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A multiuser protected optical data bus distribution system comprising: an optical fiber capable of propagating thereon two different signals independent of each other, said fiber being coupled in a loop to a control station and N equally spaced users, where N is equal to an integer greater than one, and propagating data between said N users in time sequence in one direction around said loop; and first means disposed in said control station to transmit a first masking signal on said fiber in a direction around said loop opposite to said given direction to prevent interception of said data, said first masking signal being turned off at a given time for a predetermined period of time to provide a window in said first masking signal which arrives at each of said N users in time sequence coincident with said data intended for each of said N users to enable each of said N users to recover said data intended therefore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said first masking signal is noise.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said data is propagated in amplitude modulated pulse form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said data is propagated in digital form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said N users include an acoustic means to remove said data intended therefore from said fiber during the presence of said window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said N users are assigned two different adjacent time slots in a time frame composed of a time sequential arrangement of all of said two adjacent time slots, one time slot of each of said two adjacent time slots being assigned for transmission from an associated one of said N users and the other time slot of each of said two adjacent time slots being assigned for reception at said associated one of said N users, and further including second means disposed in said control station to transmit a second masking signal on said fiber in said given direction to prevent interception of said data in said one time slot of each of said two adjacent time slots, said second masking signal including pulses time coincident with each of said one time slot of each of said two adjacent time slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 6, wherein said pulses of said second masking signal are bursts of noise.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein said first masking signal is noise.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said fiber includes a central core, and an outer core coaxial of said central core, said data is propagated on said central core, and said first masking signal is propagated on said outer core.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said first masking signal is noise.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said data is propagated in amplitude modulated pulse form.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said data is propagated in digital form.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein each of said N users include an acoustic means to remove said data intended therefore from said fiber during the presence of said window.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
151 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein each of said N users are assigned two different adjacent time slots in a time frame composed of a time sequential arrangement of all of said two adjacent time slots, one time slot of each of said two adjacent time slots being assigned for transmission from an associated one of said N users and the other time slot of each of said two adjacent time slots being assigned for reception at said associated one of said N users, and further including second means disposed in said control station to transmit a second masking signal on said central core in said given direction to prevent interception of said data in said one time slot of each of said two adjacent time slots, said second masking signal including pulses time coincident with each of said one time slot of each of said two adjacent time slots.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein said pulses of said second masking signal are bursts of noise.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein said first masking signal is noise.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |