US4777330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network system diagnosis system
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1987-10-01
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Granted: 1988-10-11
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Expires: 2007-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A station diagnosis method in a communications network system including a closed ring transmission line and a plurality of data stations which can be connected to the ring transmission line by a plurality of line concentrators disposed in the ring transmission line wherein an internal ring transmission line is formed in the line concentrators so that the operation states of the line concentrators are diagnosed by transmitting diagnosis data through the internal ring transmission line.
Inventors
- 👤 Susumu Nakayashiki
- 👤 Takeshi Harakawa
- 👤 Yoshinori Bekki
- 👤 Hiroyuki Wada
- 👤 Masahiro Fuse
- 👤 Hiroshi Nakase
- 👤 Osamu Ebina
- 👤 Jiro Kashio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/42; H04L12/437
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A diagnosis method for a network system in which a plurality of concentrators are connected by a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, the first and second ring transmission lines each having a signal transmission direction opposite to each other and each said line concentrator including a plurality of ports for connecting stations, a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports, a plurality of second switching means for short-circuiting the first and second ring transmission lines respectively at input and output portions of the line concentrators, and means for controlling the first and second switch means, said diagnosis method comprising: a step responsive to a control signal outputted from the control means of activating the second switch means so as to form an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; a step of transmitting a signal for diagnosis from the control means to the internal ring; and a step responsive to a receive state of the signal of transmitting a control signal changing a state of the internal ring or releasing the internal ring from the control means to the first or second switch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A diagnosis method for a network system in which a plurality of concentrators are connected by a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, the first and second ring transmission lines each having a signal transmission direction opposite to each other and each said line concentrator including a plurality of ports for connecting stations, a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports, a plurality of second switching means for short-circuiting the first and second ring transmission lines respectively at input and output portions of the line concentrators, and means for controlling the first and second switch means, said diagnosis method comprising: a step responsive to a control signal outputted from the control means of activating the second switch means so as to form an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; a step of transmitting a signal for diagnosis from the control means to the internal ring; and a step responsive to a receive state of the signal of transmitting a control signal changing a state of the internal ring or releasing the internal ring from the control means to the first or second switch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of supplying the control signal from the control means to each said first switch means to bypass all the ports wherein the signal for diagnosis is transmitted to an internal ring including the control means and not including the other stations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of supplying the control signal from the control means to the first switch means so as to connect at a time a port to the internal ring and to bypass the other ports wherein when the signal for analysis cannot completely circulate the internal ring, the port connected to the internal ring is assumed to be a failure port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of supplying a signal for setting the internal ring to an interrupted state at a location of the switch from the control means to the first switch means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of supplying a control signal from the control means to the first and second switch means so that each line concentrator is connected to the other line concentrators with all the ports being bypassed; a step of transmitting a signal for diagnosis to the first ring transmission line in the state of the preceding step; and a step of controlling the second switch means in accordance with the receive state of the signal on the first ring transmission line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 2, further comprising: a step of supplying a control signal from the control means to the first and second switch means so that each line concentrator is connected to the other line concentrators with all the ports being bypassed; a step of transmitting a signal for diagnosis to the first ring transmission line in the state of the preceding step; and a step of controlling the second switch means in accordance with the receive state of the signal on the first ring transmission line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 3, further comprising: a step of supplying a control signal from the control means to the first and second switch means so that each line concentrator is connected to the other line concentrators with all the ports being bypassed; a step of transmitting a signal for diagnosis to the first ring transmission line in the state of the preceding step; and a step of controlling the second switch means in accordance with the receive state of the signal on the first ring transmission line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 4, further comprising: a step of supplying a control signal from the control means to the first and second switch means so that each line concentrator is connected to the other line concentrators with all the ports being bypassed; a step of transmitting a signal for diagnosis to the first ring transmission line in the state of the preceding step; and a step of controlling the second switch means in accordance with the receive state of the signal on the first ring transmission line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
A failure diagnosis method in a ring network system in which a plurality of line concentrators are connected to a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, the first and second ring transmission lines each having a signal transmission direction opposite to each other and each said line concentrator including a plurality of data stations connected via branch lines to the first ring transmission line and control means for controlling connections between the first ring transmission line and the branch lines, said failure diagnosis method comprising: a first of inspecting a failure position in a state in which an internal ring including a plurality of data stations is formed in each line concentrator independently of the other line concentrators; and a second step of releasing the internal ring in each line concentrator and for connecting the internal ring to the other line concentrators in a state in which a branch line including a detected failure position is bypassed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
A failure diagnosis method in a ring network system in which a plurality of line concentrators are connected to a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, the first and second ring transmission lines each having a signal transmission direction opposite to each other and each said line concentrator including a plurality of data stations connected via branch lines to the first ring transmission line and control means for controlling connections between the first ring transmission line and the branch lines, said failure diagnosis method comprising: a first of inspecting a failure position in a state in which an internal ring including a plurality of data stations is formed in each line concentrator independently of the other line concentrators; and a second step of releasing the internal ring in each line concentrator and for connecting the internal ring to the other line concentrators in a state in which a branch line including a detected failure position is bypassed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
A failure diagnosis method according to claim 9 further comprising between the first and second steps: a third step of connecting each line concentrator to the other line concentrators to check for a failure in a state in which all data stations of the internal ring are bypassed; and a further step effected when a failure is detected on the first ring transmission line in said third step of forming a loopback path connecting the first and second ring transmision lines in two line concentrators each being adjacent to the failure position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
163 words
A diagnosis method for a network system in which a plurality of concentrators are connected by a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, each said line concentrator including a plurality of ports for connecting stations, a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports, a plurality of second switching means for changing the configuration of the network system, and means for controlling the first and second switch means, said diagnosis method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a control signal from the control means to the second switch means so as to form an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; (b) transmitting a signal for diagnosis from the control means to the internal ring; and (c) according to a receive state of the signal, providing a control signal to change the configuration of the internal ring from the control means to the first switch means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
163 words
A diagnosis method for a network system in which a plurality of concentrators are connected by a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, each said line concentrator including a plurality of ports for connecting stations, a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports, a plurality of second switching means for changing the configuration of the network system, and means for controlling the first and second switch means, said diagnosis method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a control signal from the control means to the second switch means so as to form an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; (b) transmitting a signal for diagnosis from the control means to the internal ring; and (c) according to a receive state of the signal, providing a control signal to change the configuration of the internal ring from the control means to the first switch means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 11 further comprising a step of supplying the control signal from the control means to each said first switch means to bypass all the ports, wherein the signal for diagnosis is transmitted to an internal ring including the control means and not including the other stations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 11 further comprising a step of supplying the control signal from the control means to the first switch means so as to connect one at a time a port to the internal ring and to bypass the other ports wherein, when the signal for analysis cannot completely circulate the internal ring, the port connected to the internal ring is assumed to be a failure port.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 11 further comprising a step of supplying a signal for setting the internal ring to an interrupted state at a location of the switch from the control means to the first switch means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
167 words
A network system comprising: a plurality of line concentrators each having a plurality of ports for connecting stations; a first ring transmission line having a first signal transmission direction for connecting the line concentrators in a ring; and a second ring transmission line having a second signal transmission direction opposite to said first one for connecting the line concentrators in a ring; each of said line concentrators having a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports; second switch means for forming a loopback path between the first and second ring transmission lines at input or output portions of the line concentrator; third switch means for forming an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; and control means for selectively controlling the first, second and third switch means so as to form the internal ring, to change the state of the internal ring, to restore the internal ring or to form the loopback path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
167 words
A network system comprising: a plurality of line concentrators each having a plurality of ports for connecting stations; a first ring transmission line having a first signal transmission direction for connecting the line concentrators in a ring; and a second ring transmission line having a second signal transmission direction opposite to said first one for connecting the line concentrators in a ring; each of said line concentrators having a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports; second switch means for forming a loopback path between the first and second ring transmission lines at input or output portions of the line concentrator; third switch means for forming an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; and control means for selectively controlling the first, second and third switch means so as to form the internal ring, to change the state of the internal ring, to restore the internal ring or to form the loopback path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
184 words
A diagnosis method for a network system in which a plurality of line concentrators are connected by a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, each of said line concentrators including a plurality of ports for connecting stations, a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports, a plurality of second switching means for changing the configuration of the network system, and means for controlling the first and second switch means, said diagnosis method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a control signal from the control means to the first and second switch means so as to form an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; (b) transmitting a signal for diagnosis from the control means to the internal ring; (c) providing a control signal from the control means to the second switch means so as to connect said internal ring with other line concentrators; and (d) transmitting a signal for diagnosis to the first ring transmission line while said internal ring is connected with other line concentrators.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
184 words
A diagnosis method for a network system in which a plurality of line concentrators are connected by a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, each of said line concentrators including a plurality of ports for connecting stations, a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports, a plurality of second switching means for changing the configuration of the network system, and means for controlling the first and second switch means, said diagnosis method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a control signal from the control means to the first and second switch means so as to form an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; (b) transmitting a signal for diagnosis from the control means to the internal ring; (c) providing a control signal from the control means to the second switch means so as to connect said internal ring with other line concentrators; and (d) transmitting a signal for diagnosis to the first ring transmission line while said internal ring is connected with other line concentrators.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 16, wherein said internal ring is formed to bypass all the ports therefrom.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
A diagnosis method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of: providing a control signal from the control means to the second switch means in accordance with the receive state of the diagnosis signal on the first ring transmission line.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for reconfiguration of a network system in which a plurality of line concentrators are connected by a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, the first and second ring transmission lines each having a signal transmission direction opposite to each other and each said line concentrator including a plurality of ports for connecting stations, a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports, a plurality of second switching means for changing the configuration of the network system, and means for controlling the first and second switch means, said diagnosis method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a control signal from the control means to the first and secnd switch means so as to form an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; (b) transmitting a signal for diagnosis from the control means to the internal ring; (c) according to a receive state of the diagnosis signal, providing a control signal to change the configuration of the internal ring from the control means to the first switch means; and (d) according to a receive state of the diagnosis signal, providing a control signal to restore the internal ring from the control means to the second switch means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for reconfiguration of a network system in which a plurality of line concentrators are connected by a first ring transmission line and a second ring transmission line, the first and second ring transmission lines each having a signal transmission direction opposite to each other and each said line concentrator including a plurality of ports for connecting stations, a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to the first ring transmission line or selectively bypassing the ports, a plurality of second switching means for changing the configuration of the network system, and means for controlling the first and second switch means, said diagnosis method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a control signal from the control means to the first and secnd switch means so as to form an internal ring closed in the line concentrator; (b) transmitting a signal for diagnosis from the control means to the internal ring; (c) according to a receive state of the diagnosis signal, providing a control signal to change the configuration of the internal ring from the control means to the first switch means; and (d) according to a receive state of the diagnosis signal, providing a control signal to restore the internal ring from the control means to the second switch means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 19 further comprising a step of supplying the control signal from the control means to each said first switch means to bypass all the ports, wherein the signal for diagnosis is transmitted to an internal ring including the control means and not including the other stations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of: (e) supplying the control signal from the control means to the first switch means so as to connect one at a time a port to the internal ring and to bypass the other ports; and (f) supplying the control signal from the control means to the first switch means when the diagnosis signal cannot completely circulate the internal ring so as to connect all the ports to the internal ring without the port connected to the internal ring at the preceding step.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
140 words
A network system comprising: a plurality of station means; a plurality of line concentrators each having a plurality of ports for connecting station means; and a pair of ring transmission lines, which transmit signals in opposite signal transmission directions relative to each other, for connecting the line concentrators; each of said line concentrators having (a) an internal line connectable to at least one of said ring transmission lines; (b) a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to said internal line or selectively bypassing the ports; (c) second switch means for forming said internal line in an internal ring closed in the concentrator; and (d) control means for selectively controlling the first and second switch means so as to form the internal ring to change the state of the internal ring or to restore the internal ring.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
140 words
A network system comprising: a plurality of station means; a plurality of line concentrators each having a plurality of ports for connecting station means; and a pair of ring transmission lines, which transmit signals in opposite signal transmission directions relative to each other, for connecting the line concentrators; each of said line concentrators having (a) an internal line connectable to at least one of said ring transmission lines; (b) a plurality of first switch means for selectively connecting the ports to said internal line or selectively bypassing the ports; (c) second switch means for forming said internal line in an internal ring closed in the concentrator; and (d) control means for selectively controlling the first and second switch means so as to form the internal ring to change the state of the internal ring or to restore the internal ring.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
A network system according to claim 22 wherein said control means includes means for transmitting a signal for diagnosis to said internal ring.
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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) | 1991-10-11 | 1992-04-11 | 1992-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-11 | 1996-04-11 | 1996-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-11 | 2000-04-11 | 2000-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |