Patent US4355746A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5095381A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5095381A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Passive tap network
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
•
Filing: 1990-01-11
•
Granted: 1992-03-10
•
Expires: 2010-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A communications network is implemented utilizing a transmission medium and a plurality of Network Interface Units passively coupled thereto. Communications among a first set of Network Interface Units is implemented on a predetermined channel in a first portion of the transmission medium. Simultaneous communications among a second set of Network Interface Units is implemented using the same predetermined channel in a second portion of the transmission medium. Interference between communications in the first and second portions does not occur because the passive couplers disposed between the portions attenuate the signal from each portion to a value less than a predetermined Network Interface Unit sensitivity level before the signal reaches the other portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark J. Karol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:10
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04J; H04J14/00; H04J14/02; H04J14/0227; H04J14/0228; H04J14/0241; H04J14/0242; H04J14/0245; H04J14/0246; H04J14/0247; H04J14/0249; H04J14/025; H04J14/0252; H04J14/0278; H04J14/028; H04J14/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A communications network comprising: a transmission medium; a plurality of Network Interface Units disposed along said transmission medium, each of said plurality of Network Interface Units being passively coupled to said transmission medium for receiving data, at least a first one of said Network Interface Units arranged to transmit data signals to at least a second one of said Network Interface Units along a first portion of said transmission medium or a predetermined channel, at least a third one of said Network Interface Units arranged to transmit data signals to at least a fourth one of said Network Interface Units along a second portion of said transmission medium on said predetermined channel, said first and second portions being nonoverlapping, and passive coupler means disposed between said first and second portions for attenuating energy in data signals transmitted from said first one of said Network Interface Units to a value less than a predetermined Network Interface detection sensitivity before reaching said second portion of said transmission medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A communications network comprising: a transmission medium; a plurality of Network Interface Units disposed along said transmission medium, each of said plurality of Network Interface Units being passively coupled to said transmission medium for receiving data, at least a first one of said Network Interface Units arranged to transmit data signals to at least a second one of said Network Interface Units along a first portion of said transmission medium or a predetermined channel, at least a third one of said Network Interface Units arranged to transmit data signals to at least a fourth one of said Network Interface Units along a second portion of said transmission medium on said predetermined channel, said first and second portions being nonoverlapping, and passive coupler means disposed between said first and second portions for attenuating energy in data signals transmitted from said first one of said Network Interface Units to a value less than a predetermined Network Interface detection sensitivity before reaching said second portion of said transmission medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A communications network according to claim 1 wherein said means for attenuating includes at least one passive coupler.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A communications network according to claim 2 wherein each Network Interface Unit of a subset of said Network Interface Units is arranged to transmit data on a separate wavelength.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communications network as set forth in claim 3 wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one optical waveguide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communications network as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one optical waveguide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A communications network according to claim 2 wherein each Network Interface Unit of a subset of said Network Interface Units is arranged to transmit data during a different time slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communications network as set forth in claim 6 wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one optical waveguide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A communications network according to claim 1 wherein each Network Interface Unit of a subset of said Network Interface Units is arranged to transmit data on a separate wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communications network as set forth in claim 8 wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one optical waveguide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A communications network according to claim 1 wherein each Network Interface Unit of a subset of said Network Interface Units is arranged to transmit data during a different time slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communications network as set forth in claim 10 wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one optical waveguide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communications network as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one optical waveguide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4630256A
Cited
US4730301A
Cited
US4754452A
Cited
US4901306A
Cited
US4914648A
Cited
US4797879A
Cited
US4930117A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-10 | 1995-09-09 | 1996-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-10 | 1999-09-09 | 2000-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-10 | 2003-09-09 | 2004-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |