Patent US4983394A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5295012A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5295012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ring-type communication network
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1992-04-17
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Granted: 1994-03-15
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Expires: 2012-04-17
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber ring network carries data in frames of bit intervals that define a number of independent communication bands each represented by a series of spaced apart bit intervals no more than one of which falls within any given frame. The network serves a collision detection protocol by nodes that communicate with the user devices in accordance with the collision detection protocol but communicates with the ring in accordance with a non-collision type protocol. The network uses light that is amplitude modulated at more than two levels. The data frame boundaries are defined by violations of an alternate mark inversion data encoding technique. Phase synchronization of two streams of frames is accomplished by sampling frames at times governed by a selected one of two frame boundary clocks derived respectively from the two frames.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip D. Wilson
- 👤 Richard D. Serafin
- 👤 Paul W. Kelley
- 👤 Tadeusz Witkowicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/46; H04L12/4637; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/02; H04J3/06; H04J3/0602; H04J3/0614; H04L12/42; H04L12/427; H04L12/433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A network for carrying digital data among a plurality of data generating devices and data using devices, comprising: a plurality of nodes, each said device being associated with one of said nodes, a plurality of optical fiber links interconnecting said nodes to form a continuous ring, said optical fiber links being arranged to carry light modulated in accordance with bit values corresponding to said digital data, said nodes being arranged to cause said bit values to appear on said links in a succession of bit intervals, one bit value per bit interval, said nodes being further arranged to cause said bit intervals to define a plurality of available independent communication bands for carrying said digital data, each said band being represented by a series of spaced apart individual said bit intervals, wherein said nodes are further arranged to organize said bit intervals into a series of frames, each said frame comprising a plurality of successive said bit intervals, no more than one said bit interval for each said band appearing in any said frame, and wherein said nodes are further arranged to group said frames into blocks, each said band comprising one said bit interval in each of more than one said frame of each said block, said different bit intervals of each said band representing different available independent communication channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A network for carrying digital data among a plurality of data generating devices and data using devices, comprising: a plurality of nodes, each said device being associated with one of said nodes, a plurality of optical fiber links interconnecting said nodes to form a continuous ring, said optical fiber links being arranged to carry light modulated in accordance with bit values corresponding to said digital data, said nodes being arranged to cause said bit values to appear on said links in a succession of bit intervals, one bit value per bit interval, said nodes being further arranged to cause said bit intervals to define a plurality of available independent communication bands for carrying said digital data, each said band being represented by a series of spaced apart individual said bit intervals, wherein said nodes are further arranged to organize said bit intervals into a series of frames, each said frame comprising a plurality of successive said bit intervals, no more than one said bit interval for each said band appearing in any said frame, and wherein said nodes are further arranged to group said frames into blocks, each said band comprising one said bit interval in each of more than one said frame of each said block, said different bit intervals of each said band representing different available independent communication channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The network of claim 1 wherein said nodes are further arranged to organize said channels or bands into groups.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network of claim 1 wherein said nodes are further arranged to cause said digital data to be carried according to different communication protocols on different said bands.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network of claim 1 wherein said nodes are further arranged to cause said digital data to be carried according to different communication protocols on different said channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network of claim 4 wherein one said band comprises a network control channel, and said nodes comprise network control circuitry for communicating network control information via said channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The network of claim 5 wherein said network control channel comprises one bit value from each of fewer than all of the frames.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The network of claim 4 wherein one said protocol comprises a token ring protocol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The network of claim 4 wherein one said protocol comprises a protocol in which a request sent by one said device requires a response from another said device within a time critical interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network of claim 8 wherein said time critical interval is shorter than 100 microseconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The network of claim 1 further comprising: a local communication loop separate from said ring, said local loop having data generating devices and data using devices, and a wiring concentrator for passing at least one of said bands to said local loop for serving said local loop devices.
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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) | 1997-03-14 | 1997-09-13 | 1998-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-14 | 2001-09-13 | 2002-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-14 | 2005-09-13 | 2006-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |