US5796738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multiport repeater with collision detection and jam signal generation
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1995-03-13
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Granted: 1998-08-18
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Expires: 2015-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A network (10) includes several local networks (32, 34, 36). Each local network (32, 34, 36) includes a repeater (12, 16, 20) coupled to data devices (14, 18, 22). The combination of the repeater (12, 16, 20) and the data devices (14, 18, 22) form a collision domain for managing communications within the local network (32, 34, 36). Uplink modules (40, 44) manage communications between the local networks (32, 34, 36) by isolating collision domains and generating collision indications when messages cannot be transmitted. The uplink modules (40, 44) may also implement bridging, routing, or filtering capabilities that inhibit transmission of an intra-network message beyond its local network (32, 34, 36).
Inventors
- 👤 Craig M. Scott
- 👤 Li Tung Wang
- 👤 Arthur T. Bennett
- 👤 Ahmad Nouri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/46; H04L12/44; H04L49/00; H04L49/25; H04L49/35; H04L49/351
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for communicating data comprising: a transmitting data device operable to generate a message for transmission to a receiving data device; a first repeater coupled to the transmitting data device, the first repeater comprising an uplink module having a buffer disposed between the transmitting data device and the receiving data device, the buffer operable to store message data for transmission to the receiving data device, the first repeater operable to detect a saturated condition of the buffer, the first repeater operable to transmit, in response to the saturated condition, a collision indication to the transmitting data device without storing the message in the buffer; a second repeater coupled to the uplink module of the first repeater, the second repeater coupled to the receiving data device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for communicating data comprising: a transmitting data device operable to generate a message for transmission to a receiving data device; a first repeater coupled to the transmitting data device, the first repeater comprising an uplink module having a buffer disposed between the transmitting data device and the receiving data device, the buffer operable to store message data for transmission to the receiving data device, the first repeater operable to detect a saturated condition of the buffer, the first repeater operable to transmit, in response to the saturated condition, a collision indication to the transmitting data device without storing the message in the buffer; a second repeater coupled to the uplink module of the first repeater, the second repeater coupled to the receiving data device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the uplink module comprises a controller operable to generate a collision signal in response to the saturated condition of the buffer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the uplink module comprises an interface to generate a jam signal for transmission to the transmitting data device in response to the saturated condition of the buffer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the uplink module comprises: a controller operable to generate a collision signal in response to the saturated condition of the buffer; a first interface coupled to the buffer and the transmitting data device, the first interface operable to receive message data generated by the transmitting data device; and a second interface coupled to the buffer and the second repeater, the second interface operable to transmit message data stored in the buffer to the second repeater.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the uplink module is further operable to read a destination address from message data stored in the buffer and to inhibit transmission of message data stored in the buffer to the second repeater in response to the destination address.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the uplink module comprises a controller operable to generate a collision signal in response to the saturated condition of the buffer, and further comprising a port transceiver coupled to the controller, the port transceiver operable to receive the collision signal generated by the controller and to generate a jam signal for transmission to the transmitting data device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the first repeater comprises: a multiport repeater having a plurality of ports, the multiport repeater operable to receive message data at one of the ports and transmit message data to the remaining ports; and the uplink module coupled to one of the ports of the multiport repeater.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the first repeater comprises: a multiport repeater having a plurality of ports, the multiport repeater operable to receive message data at one of the ports and transmit message data to the remaining ports; a plurality of port transceivers coupled to ports of the multiport repeater, the port transceivers operable to communicate message data between the multiport repeater and a plurality of data devices; and the uplink module coupled to one of the ports of the multiport repeater.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the second repeater comprises an uplink module having a buffer disposed between the transmitting data device and the receiving data device, wherein the uplink modules of the first repeater and the second repeater are coupled using a duplex inter-repeater link.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the duplex inter-repeater link comprises fiber optic cabling.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for detecting a data collision in a network of data devices, comprising: initiating transmission of a message from a data device; generating a collision indication at a repeater in response to a saturated condition of a buffer at the repeater; and informing the data device of the collision indication without storing the message in the buffer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for detecting a data collision in a network of data devices, comprising: initiating transmission of a message from a data device; generating a collision indication at a repeater in response to a saturated condition of a buffer at the repeater; and informing the data device of the collision indication without storing the message in the buffer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 11, wherein: the step of generating a collision indication comprises generating a collision signal in response to the saturated condition or the buffer; and the step of informing the data device of the collision indication comprises generating a jam signal at a port transceiver in response to the collision signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of informing the data device comprises: transmitting the collision indication as a jam signal to a multiport repeater; and transmitting the jam signal to the data device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of informing the data device comprises: transmitting the collision indication to a port transceiver; generating a jam signal at the port transceiver; and transmitting the jam signal to the data device.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for communicating data comprising: a transmitting data device operable to generate a message for transmission to a receiving data device; and a first repeater coupled to the transmitting data device, the first repeater comprising an uplink module having a buffer disposed between the transmitting data device and the receiving data device, the buffer operable to store message data for transmission to the receiving data device, the first repeater operable to detect a saturated condition of the buffer, the first repeater operable to transmit, in response to the saturated condition, a collision indication to the transmitting data device without storing the message in the buffer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for communicating data comprising: a transmitting data device operable to generate a message for transmission to a receiving data device; and a first repeater coupled to the transmitting data device, the first repeater comprising an uplink module having a buffer disposed between the transmitting data device and the receiving data device, the buffer operable to store message data for transmission to the receiving data device, the first repeater operable to detect a saturated condition of the buffer, the first repeater operable to transmit, in response to the saturated condition, a collision indication to the transmitting data device without storing the message in the buffer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the uplink module comprises a controller operable to generate a collision signal in response to the saturated condition of the buffer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the uplink module comprises an interface to generate a jam signal for transmission to the transmitting data device in response to the saturated condition of the buffer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
116 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the uplink module comprises: a controller operable to generate a collision signal in response to the saturated condition of the buffer; a first interface coupled to the buffer and the transmitting data device, the first interface operable to receive message data generated by the transmitting data device; a second interface coupled to the buffer and the second repeater, the second interface operable to transmit message data stored in the buffer to the second repeater; and is operable to read a destination address from message data stored in the buffer and to inhibit transmission of message data stored in the buffer to the second repeater in response to the destination address.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the uplink module comprises a controller operable to generate a collision signal in response to the saturated condition of the buffer, and further comprising a port transceiver coupled to the controller, the port transceiver operable to receive the collision signal generated by the controller and to generate a jam signal for transmission to the transmitting data device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the first repeater comprises: a multiport repeater having a plurality of ports, the multiport repeater operable to receive message data at one of the ports and transmit message data to the remaining ports; and the uplink module coupled to one of the ports of the multiport repeater.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the first repeater comprises: a multiport repeater having a plurality of ports, the multiport repeater operable to received message data at one of the ports and transmit message data to the remaining ports; a plurality of port transceivers coupled to ports of the multiport repeater, the port transceivers operable to communicate message data between the multiport repeater and a plurality of data devices; and the uplink module coupled to one of the ports of the multiport repeater.
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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) | 2001-08-17 | 2002-02-16 | 2002-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-17 | 2006-02-16 | 2006-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-17 | 2010-02-16 | 2010-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |