Multiple access data communications controller for a time-division multiplex bus

Claim 2

A multiple access data communications controller for unifying the operation of a plurality of synchronous communication nodes and a time-division multiplex bus comprising: (a) means for sequentially polling each of a plurality of synchronous nodes; (b) means for receiving a signal from a synchronous node; (c) means for simultaneously granting control of a predetermined data slot on the time-division multiplex bus to said requesting node for a predetermined time and inhibiting said sequential polling means; (d) means for resuming sequential polling at the node following said requesting node in the sequence, whereby each of said plurality of nodes is provided equal access to a predetemined data slot; and (e) timing means for synchronizing the operation of said synchronous nodes, said time-division multiplex bus and said multiple access data communication controller.

Claim 3

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for relating each of said nodes to a predetermined time slot on the time-division multiplex bus.

Claim 4

A multiple access data communications controller for use in a communications system providing for bi-directional audio and data transfer between a plurality of nodes and including a time-division multiplex bus connecting the nodes with a unique one of the recurrent time slots defined by the time-division multiplex bus corresponding to each of the plurality of nodes and a dedicated recurrent data time slot, said controller providing equal access to the dedicated data slot to each of the nodes comprising: timing means for enabling synchronous operation with the time division multiplex bus; means for sequentially polling each of the plurality of nodes; means for receiving a requesting signal from a requesting node; means for simultaneously granting control of the data time slot to said requesting node and inhibiting said sequential polling means for a predetermined time; means for enabling designated one of the plurality of nodes to receive data; and means for resuming sequential polling at the node following said requesting node in the sequence.

Claim 5

A multiple access data communications controller for use in a communications system providing for bi-directional audio and data transfer between a plurality of nodes and including a time-division multiplex bus connecting the nodes with a unique one of the recurrent time slots defined by the time-division multiplex bus corresponding to each of the plurality of nodes and a dedicated recurrent data time slot, said controller providing equal access to the dedicated data slot to each of the nodes comprising: timing means for enabling synchronous operation with the time division multiplex bus; means for sequentially polling each of the plurality of nodes; means for receiving a requesting signal from a requesting node; means for simultaneously granting control of the data time slot to said requesting node and inhibiting said sequential polling means for a predetermined time; means for enabling designated one of the plurality of nodes to receive data; and means for resuming sequential polling at the node following said requesting node in the sequence.

Claim 6

The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said timing means for enabling synchronous operation with the time-division multiplex bus include a bit rate clock means, counter means coupled to said bit rate clock means for generating a start-of-frame signal and data clock means.

Claim 7

Method of assigning a dedicated data slot on a time-division multiplex bus to one of a plurality of nodes such that each of the plurality of nodes has equal access to the dedicated data slot, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially polling the plurality of nodes; (b) receiving a requesting signal; (c) inhibiting the polling and simultaneously granting control of the dedicated data slot to said requesting node for a predetermined time; and (d) resuming sequential polling following said requesting node.

Claim 8

Method of assigning a dedicated data slot on a time-division multiplex bus to one of a plurality of nodes such that each of the plurality of nodes has equal access to the dedicated data slot, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially polling the plurality of nodes; (b) receiving a requesting signal; (c) inhibiting the polling and simultaneously granting control of the dedicated data slot to said requesting node for a predetermined time; and (d) resuming sequential polling following said requesting node.