US4975830A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer communication system having supplemental formats
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1988-12-05
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Granted: 1990-12-04
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Expires: 2008-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A computer communication system including a comunication medium, a plurality of nodes coupled to the communication medium, and a transfer format selection means for selecting a format for the transfer of data between nodes. The system includes at least one default node and at least two supplemented nodes. Each node has a set of data transfer formats. A default format is included in the format set of each node. Each supplemented node has at least one supplemental format. Transfer format selection means in the form of circuitry and software provides for the selection of a data transfer format which is included in the source node format set and the destination node format set and is compatible with the communication medium. The source node includes a cache of node format sets. The source node searches for the destination node format set in the source node cache and selects a format which is common to the format sets of the source node and destination node. Our invention also includes an attention signal, a network interface and the other devices, apparatus, methods and subject matter disclosed herein.
Inventors
- 👤 George E. Gerpheide
- 👤 Kerry D. Sharp
- 👤 Daniel J. Lee
- 👤 David C. Olsen
- 👤 David B. Meyer
- 👤 Mark E. Kohagen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/163; G06F15/173; G06F15/17337
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A computer communication system for transferring data between a plurality of nodes comprising: (a) A communication medium, (b) a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium for a transfer of data between said nodes; wherein said transfer of data is a transfer of data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes, and (c) transfer format selection means for selecting a format for the transfer of data from said source node to said destination node; wherein said plurality of nodes is comprised of at least one default node and at least two supplemented nodes; wherein each of said nodes has a format set comprised of one or more formats; wherein said formats are defined in terms of data architecture; wherein said data architecture is defined in terms of at least one member of a group consisting of encoding, encryption, compression and protocol; wherein each of said format sets includes at least one default format; wherein said at least one default format is included in the format sets of each of said nodes; wherein the format set of each of said supplemented nodes includes at least one supplemental format in addition to said at least one default format; and wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node and destination node and which is compatible with said communication medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A computer communication system for transferring data between a plurality of nodes comprising: (a) A communication medium, (b) a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium for a transfer of data between said nodes; wherein said transfer of data is a transfer of data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes, and (c) transfer format selection means for selecting a format for the transfer of data from said source node to said destination node; wherein said plurality of nodes is comprised of at least one default node and at least two supplemented nodes; wherein each of said nodes has a format set comprised of one or more formats; wherein said formats are defined in terms of data architecture; wherein said data architecture is defined in terms of at least one member of a group consisting of encoding, encryption, compression and protocol; wherein each of said format sets includes at least one default format; wherein said at least one default format is included in the format sets of each of said nodes; wherein the format set of each of said supplemented nodes includes at least one supplemental format in addition to said at least one default format; and wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node and destination node and which is compatible with said communication medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transfer format selection means is comprised of a source node cache for node format sets and a destination node cache for node format sets; and wherein transfer format selection is made by the source node by searching for the destination node format set in said source node cache and by selecting a format which is included in said destination node format set and the source node format set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said transfer format selection means is further comprised of a means for the source node to conduct an inquiry dialog with the destination node if the search for the destination node format set in the source node cache does not locate the destination node format set; wherein said inquiry dialog is comprised of an inquiry signal transmitted by the source node to the destination node and a response signal from the destination node to the source node; and wherein said response signal includes the destination node format set as an entry for the source node cache.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said communication medium has a communication medium format; wherein the formats in the format set of the source node are compatible with the communication medium format.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said communication medium has a communication medium format set; wherein the source node cache includes an entry for the communication medium format set and wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node, destination node and communication medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said format sets are represented by bit strings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 6 wherein bit positions of said bit strings represent formats.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 6 wherein bit positions of said bit strings represent data transmission characteristics.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said data architecture is defined by encoding and protocol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said supplemented nodes is adapted to transmit attention signals to said communication medium during a transmission of a supplemental format transmission by said supplemented node; and wherein said attention signals indicate to the other nodes coupled to said communication medium that a supplemental format transmission is in progress.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communication system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said attention signals are embedded in said supplemental format transmission.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A communication system in accordance with claim 11 wherein data transmission rates, including a slowest data transmission rate, can be used on the communication system; wherein said supplemental format transmission is comprised of a signal line and wherein said attention signals are embedded in said supplemental format transmission by periodically holding the signal line of said supplemental format transmission in a same state for more than one bit time of the slowest data transmission rate used on the communication system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said communication medium and said nodes form a local area network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said communication medium and said nodes form a local area network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
222 words
A network interface for interfacing with a network having nodes and for supplementing the nodes of the network, said network interface comprising: (a) at least one supplemental format, and (b) transfer format selection means for selecting a format for the transfer of data from a source node to a destination node; wherein said network is comprised of a communication medium and a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium for the transfer of data between nodes; wherein said transfer of data is a transfer of data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes; wherein each of said nodes has a format set comprised of at least one default format common to each format set; wherein said network interface is adapted to supplement a node selected from said nodes by adding said at least one supplemental format to the format set of said selected node; wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node and destination node and which is compatible with said communication medium; and wherein said formats are defined in terms of data architecture; wherein said data architecture is defined in terms of at least one member of the group consisting of encoding, encryption, compression and protocol.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
222 words
A network interface for interfacing with a network having nodes and for supplementing the nodes of the network, said network interface comprising: (a) at least one supplemental format, and (b) transfer format selection means for selecting a format for the transfer of data from a source node to a destination node; wherein said network is comprised of a communication medium and a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium for the transfer of data between nodes; wherein said transfer of data is a transfer of data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes; wherein each of said nodes has a format set comprised of at least one default format common to each format set; wherein said network interface is adapted to supplement a node selected from said nodes by adding said at least one supplemental format to the format set of said selected node; wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node and destination node and which is compatible with said communication medium; and wherein said formats are defined in terms of data architecture; wherein said data architecture is defined in terms of at least one member of the group consisting of encoding, encryption, compression and protocol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A network interface in accordance with claim 15 wherein said transfer format selection means is comprised of a source node cache for node format sets; and wherein transfer format selection is made by the source node by searching for the destination node format set in said source node cache and by selecting a format which is included in said destination node format set and the source node format set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A network interface in accordance with claim 16 wherein said format sets are represented by bit strings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A network interface in accordance with claim 17 wherein bit positions of said bit strings represent formats.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A network interface in accordance with claim 17 wherein bit positions of said bit strings represent data transmission characteristics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
208 words
A computer communication system for transferring data between a plurality of nodes comprising: (a) a communication medium, (b) a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium for a transfer of data between said nodes; wherein said transfer of data is a transfer of data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes, and (c) transfer format selection means for selecting a format for the transfer of data from said source node to said destination node; wherein said plurality of nodes is comprised of at least one default node and at least two supplemented nodes; wherein each of said nodes has a format set comprised of one or more formats; wherein each of said format sets includes at least one default format; wherein said at least one default format is included in the format sets of each of said nodes; wherein the format set of each of said supplemented nodes includes at least two supplemental formats in addition to said at least one default format; and wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node and destination node and which is compatible with said communication medium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
208 words
A computer communication system for transferring data between a plurality of nodes comprising: (a) a communication medium, (b) a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium for a transfer of data between said nodes; wherein said transfer of data is a transfer of data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes, and (c) transfer format selection means for selecting a format for the transfer of data from said source node to said destination node; wherein said plurality of nodes is comprised of at least one default node and at least two supplemented nodes; wherein each of said nodes has a format set comprised of one or more formats; wherein each of said format sets includes at least one default format; wherein said at least one default format is included in the format sets of each of said nodes; wherein the format set of each of said supplemented nodes includes at least two supplemental formats in addition to said at least one default format; and wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node and destination node and which is compatible with said communication medium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 20 wherein said transfer format selection means is comprised of a source node cache for node format sets and a destination node cache for node format sets; and wherein transfer format selection is made by the source node by searching for the destination node format set in said source node cache and by selecting a format which is included in said destination node format set and the source node format set.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said transfer format selection means is further comprised of a means for the source node to conduct an inquiry dialogue with the destination node if a search for the destination node format set in the source node cache does not locate the destination node format set; wherein said inquiry dialogue is comprised of an inquiry signal transmitted by the source node to the destination node and a response signal from the destination node to the source node; and wherein said response signal includes the destination node format set as an entry for the source node cache.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said communication medium has a communication medium format; and wherein the formats in the format set of the source node are compatible with the communication medium format.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said communication medium has a communication medium format set; wherein the source node cache includes an entry for the communication medium format set and wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node, destination node and communication medium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said format sets are represented by bit strings.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 25 wherein bit positions of said bit strings represent formats.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 25 wherein bit positions of said bit strings represent data transmission characteristics.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 21 wherein each of said supplemented nodes is adapted to transmit attention signals to said communication medium during a transmission of a supplemental format transmission by said supplemented node; and wherein said attention signals indicate to the other nodes coupled to said communication medium that a supplemental format transmission is in progress.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 28 wherein said attention signals are embedded in said supplemental format transmission.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 29 wherein data transmission rates, including a slowest data transmission rate, can be used on the communication system; wherein said supplemental format transmission is comprised of a signal line and wherein said attention signals are embedded into said supplemental format transmission by periodically holding the signal line of said supplemental format transmission in a same state for more than one bit time of the slowest data transmission rate used on the communication system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 30 wherein spacing between attention signals is less than a minimum Inter-Dialogue Gap used on the communication system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said communication medium and said nodes form a local area network.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
256 words
A computer communication system for transferring data between a plurality of nodes comprising: (a) a communication medium (b) a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium for a transfer of data between said nodes; wherein said transfer of data is a transfer of data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes and (c) transfer format selection means for selecting a format for the transfer of data from said source node to said destination node; wherein said plurality of nodes is comprised of at least one default node and at least two supplemented nodes; wherein each of said nodes has a format set comprised of one or more formats; wherein each of said format sets includes at least one default format; wherein said at least one default format is included in the format sets of each of said nodes; wherein the format set of each of said supplemented nodes includes at least one supplemental format in addition to said at least one default format; wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node and destination node and which is compatible with said communication medium; and wherein each of said supplemented nodes is adapted to transmit attention signals to said communication medium during transmission by it of a supplemental format transmission; and wherein said attention signals indicate to the other nodes coupled to said communication medium that a supplemental format transmission is in progress.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
256 words
A computer communication system for transferring data between a plurality of nodes comprising: (a) a communication medium (b) a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium for a transfer of data between said nodes; wherein said transfer of data is a transfer of data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes and (c) transfer format selection means for selecting a format for the transfer of data from said source node to said destination node; wherein said plurality of nodes is comprised of at least one default node and at least two supplemented nodes; wherein each of said nodes has a format set comprised of one or more formats; wherein each of said format sets includes at least one default format; wherein said at least one default format is included in the format sets of each of said nodes; wherein the format set of each of said supplemented nodes includes at least one supplemental format in addition to said at least one default format; wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node and destination node and which is compatible with said communication medium; and wherein each of said supplemented nodes is adapted to transmit attention signals to said communication medium during transmission by it of a supplemental format transmission; and wherein said attention signals indicate to the other nodes coupled to said communication medium that a supplemental format transmission is in progress.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communication system in accordance with claim 33 wherein said attention signals are embedded in said supplemental format transmission.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
68 words
A communication system in accordance with claim 34 wherein data transmission rates, including a slowest data transmission rate, can be used on the communication system; wherein said attention signals are embedded into said supplemental format transmission by periodically holding a signal line of said supplemental format transmission in a same state for more than one bit time of the slowest data transmission rate used on the communication system.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 35 wherein spacing between attention signals is less than a minimum Inter-Dialogue Gap used on the communication system.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
79 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 33 wherein said transfer format selection means is comprised of a source node cache for node format sets and a destination node cache for node format sets; and wherein transfer format selection is made by the source node by searching for the destination node format set in said source node cache and by selecting a format which is included in said destination node format set and the source node format set.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 37 wherein said transfer format selection means is further comprised of a means for the source node to conduct an inquiry dialogue with the destination node if a search for the destination node format set in the source node cache does not locate the destination node format set; wherein said inquiry dialogue is comprised of an inquiry signal transmitted by the source node to the destination node and a response signal from the destination node to the source node; and wherein said response signal includes the destination node format set as an entry for the source node cache.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 37 wherein the one or more formats in the format set of the source node are compatible with a communication medium format of the communication medium.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 37 wherein the source node cache includes an entry for the communication medium format set and wherein said transfer format selection means is adapted to select a format which is common to the format sets of the source node, destination node and communication medium.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 33 wherein said communication medium and said nodes form a local area network.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer communication system in accordance with claim 36 wherein said communication medium and said nodes form a local area network.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a computer communication system comprising a communication medium and a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium, a method for transferring data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes comprising transmitting attention signals from said source node to said communication medium during transmission of said data; wherein said data is in a supplemental format; and wherein said attention signals indicate to the other nodes coupled to said communication medium that a supplemental format transmission is in progress.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a computer communication system comprising a communication medium and a plurality of nodes coupled to said communication medium, a method for transferring data from a source node selected from said nodes to a destination node selected from said nodes comprising transmitting attention signals from said source node to said communication medium during transmission of said data; wherein said data is in a supplemental format; and wherein said attention signals indicate to the other nodes coupled to said communication medium that a supplemental format transmission is in progress.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claims 43 wherein said attention signals are embedded in said supplemental format transmission.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method in accordance with claim 44 wherein said communication system has a slowest data transmission rate; wherein said supplemental format transmission is comprised of a signal line; and wherein said attention signals are embedded into said supplemental format transmission by periodically holding the signal line of said supplemental format transmission in a same state for more than one bit time of the slowest data transmission rate used on the communication system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4777595A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-03 | 1998-06-04 | 1998-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-03 | 2002-06-04 | 2002-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |