Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for use in a digital communications multi-station ring network employing at least one ring token and having at least one server transmitting server frames at a predetermined priority and a plurality of client stations, comprising generating unrequested bandwidth reservation acknowledgement frames by one of said client stations; transmitting, by said one of said client stations, said acknowledgement frames onto said ring at a non-zero priority less than said predetermined to and received by no said client stations on said ring; and inhibiting said server from transmitting a request for or confirmation of said acknowledgement frames.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for use in a digital communications multi-station ring network employing at least one ring token and having at least one server transmitting server frames at a predetermined priority and a plurality of client stations, comprising generating unrequested bandwidth reservation acknowledgement frames by one of said client stations; transmitting, by said one of said client stations, said acknowledgement frames onto said ring at a non-zero priority less than said predetermined to and received by no said client stations on said ring; and inhibiting said server from transmitting a request for or confirmation of said acknowledgement frames.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitted acknowledgement frames are unsolicited.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said server frames are comprised of multimedia data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said server frames is received by said one of said client stations, and each of said acknowledgement frames is transmitted by said one of said client stations in response to said each of said server frames received.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said each of said acknowledgement frames is addressed to no said client station on said ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the total of each of said acknowledgement frames transmitted by said one of said client stations in response to said each of said server frames received is configurable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the size of each of said acknowledgement frames transmitted by said one of said client stations in response to said server each of said frames received is configurable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said acknowledgement frames is transmitted only when said ring is congested.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said acknowledgement frames is transmitted only when access control fields of corresponding server frames transmitted by said at least one server are set, and wherein said transmitting of each of said acknowledgement frames is for a predetermined amount of time or for a predetermined number of server frames received by said one of said client stations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said server frames transmitted by said server are multimedia frames; and wherein said ring token is retained, in order, by said at least one server while said server is transmitting said multimedia frames, by said one of said client stations during said transmitting of said acknowledgement frames, and by said server during a next transmission of said multimedia frames.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for use in a digital communications multi-station ring network employing at least one ring token and having at least one server transmitting server frames at a predetermined priority and a plurality of client stations, comprising means for generating unrequested bandwidth reservation acknowledgement frames by one of said client stations; and means for transmitting, by said one of said client stations, said acknowledgement frames onto said ring at a non-zero priority less than said predetermined priority, said acknowledgement frames being addressed to no said client stations on said ring; and means for inhibiting said server from transmitting a request for or confirmation of said acknowledgement frames.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for use in a digital communications multi-station ring network employing at least one ring token and having at least one server transmitting server frames at a predetermined priority and a plurality of client stations, comprising means for generating unrequested bandwidth reservation acknowledgement frames by one of said client stations; and means for transmitting, by said one of said client stations, said acknowledgement frames onto said ring at a non-zero priority less than said predetermined priority, said acknowledgement frames being addressed to no said client stations on said ring; and means for inhibiting said server from transmitting a request for or confirmation of said acknowledgement frames.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said transmitted acknowledgement frames are unsolicited.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said server frames are comprised of multimedia data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of said server frames is received by said one of said client stations, and each of said acknowledgement frames is transmitted by said one, of said client stations in response to said each of said frames received.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said each of said acknowledgement frames is addressed to no said client station on said ring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 15 including means for configuring the number of said acknowledgement frames transmitted by said one of said client stations in response to said each of said server frames received.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 16 including means for configuring the size of said acknowledgement frames transmitted by said one of said client stations in response to said each of said server frames received.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for transmitting transmits said acknowledgement frames only when said ring is congested.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for transmitting transmits said acknowledgement frames only when access control fields of corresponding server frames transmitted by said at least one server are set, and wherein said means for transmitting transmits said acknowledgement frames for a predetermined amount of time or for a predetermined number of server frames received by said one of said client stations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said server frames transmitted by said server are multimedia frames; and wherein said apparatus further includes means for retaining said ring token by said at least one server while said server is transmitting said multimedia frames, by said one of said client stations during said transmitting of said acknowledgement frame, and by said server during a next transmission of said multimedia frames.