First come only served communications network

Claim 1

A first come only served communications network comprising in combination: a plurality of nodes arranged in a grid matrix configuration, adjacent nodes of said plurality of nodes being operatively connected to each other by a branch, each node of said plurality of nodes being connected to at least 2 branches, each of said branches comprising a separate input cable and a separate output cable, each node comprising a first come only served logic control unit which receives and processes all incoming signals at its respective node to determine which signal of a plurality of signals is the first to arrive at that node, said first come only served logic control unit including a bus cable which is operatively connected to each branch at that node, said first come only served logic control unit enabling the first signal to arrive to be applied to said bus cable and thereby be transmitted out of said node on all of the branches connected thereto; means for transmitting signals between any node of said plurality of nodes, said signal transmitting means being operatively connected to any node of said plurality of nodes, any number of said signal transmitting means being utilized in said grid matrix and in any configuration; and means for receiving signals, said signal receiving means being operatively connected to any node of said plurality of nodes, said signal receiving means receiving a message from any signal transmitting means in said matrix; said first come only served logic control unit comprising in combination: means for carrier detection operatively connected respectively to each branch to receive a signal therefrom, means for latching operatively connected respectively to said carrier detection means to receive a signal therefrom, said latching means providing a latch signal, means for counting operatively connected respectively to said latching means to receive said latch signal, said counting means to stop counting upon receipt of said latch signal, said counting means providing a time of arrival count, a latch reset means is operatively connected respectively to said carrier detection means to reset said latching means when no signal is present in said carrier detection means, and a comparator means operatively connected to said counting means to compare time of arrival counts to determine the first arrived signal, said comparator means providing an enable signal in response to the first arrived signal determination.