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US 5,400,323 AGranted
Method for controlling the insertion of stations into FDDI network
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJames F. Frenzel, III, Brian A. Youngman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A concentrator which couples stations to a communications network includes internal devices connected to form a primary loop which merges with the communications network if the concentrator is connected to said communications network. The internal devices include a Station MAC which communicates with stations outside of the concentrator. A local ring including a Roving MAC and at least one Concentrator Configuration Element (CCE) is also provided. A microprocessor, with an output bus interconnecting the Roving MAC, the CCE, and the Station MAC, is also provided. The concentrator insert/de-insert in the communications network without disrupting data already on the network.
Claims11
An improved FDDI concentrator comprising:
- a first set of connector means for attaching said concentrator to a transmission medium of an FDDI network:
- a second set of connector means for attaching said concentrator to end users' terminals;
- a first circuit arrangement means coupled to the first set of connector means and operable to communicate with terminals connected to the transmission medium;
- a second circuit arrangement means for capturing a token circulating on a local ring formed with the end users terminals connected to said concentrator;
- a third circuit arrangement means for switching the end users terminal connected to said concentrator into the local ring or into the transmission medium of the FDDI network;
- said third circuit arrangements means having a (CCE) Concentrator Configuration Element logic means for generating a plurality of control signals;
- a first input port for receiving network data;
- a first output port for outputting said network data;
- a second input port for receiving local data;
- a second output port for outputting local data;
- a token detect means for monitoring the network data and outputting a TOK-DET monitoring signal when a token is sensed;
- a scrub logic means for removing selected frames circulating on the local ring coupled to said CCE logic means;
- a first transmission link interconnecting the first input port and the first output port;
- a second transmission link interconnecting the second input port and the second output port;
- a device switching means coupled to the first transmission link and the second transmission link;
- said device switching means responsive to one of the plurality of control signals to pass data from the first or the second transmission link;
- a third transmission link for interconnecting a user terminal to the scrub logic means;
- a local path switching means coupled to the second transmission link and the third transmission link;
- said local path switching means responsive to a second one of the control signals for passing data from the second or third transmission link;
- and
- a primary path switching means coupled to the first transmission link and the scrub logic means;
- said primary path switching means responsive to a third one of the control signals for passing data from the first transmission link or the scrub logic means;
- a controller means for controlling the concentrator;
- and
- a bus means for interconnecting the first circuit arrangement means, the second circuit arrangement means, the third circuit arrangement means and the controller means.
22 more elements
A Concentrator Configuration Element (CCE) comprising:
- a CCE logic means for generating a plurality of control signals;
- a first input port for receiving network data;
- a first output port for outputting said network data;
- a second input port for receiving local data;
- a second output port for outputting local data;
- a token detect means for monitoring the network data and outputting a TOK-DET monitoring signal when a token is sensed;
- a scrub logic means for removing selected frames circulating on a local ring coupled to said CCE logic means;
- a first transmission link interconnecting the first input port and the first output port;
- a second transmission link interconnecting the second input port and the second output port;
- a device switching means coupled to the first transmission link and the second transmission link;
- said device switching means responsive to one of the plurality of control signals to pass data from the first or the second transmission link;
- a third transmission link for interconnecting a user terminal to the scrub logic means;
- a local path switching means coupled to the second transmission link and the third transmission link;
- said local path switching means responsive to a second one of the control signals for passing data from the second or third transmission link;
- and
- a primary path switching means coupled to the first transmission link and the scrub logic means;
- said primary path switching means responsive to a third one of the control signals for passing data from the first transmission link or the scrub logic means.
14 more elements
A Concentrator Configuration Element (CCE) for attaching an end user station to a communications network comprising:
- first means for providing a primary transmission path upon which network data is transmitted;
- second means for providing a local transmission path upon which local data is transmitted;
- token detection means coupled to the first means;
- said token detection means generating a TOK-DET signal if a token is sensed on said first means;
- a control logic means coupled to the token detection means;
- said control logic means generating a plurality of control signals;
- a scrub logic means for deleting selected frames from a local transmissions path coupled to the control logic means;
- a transmission link for interconnecting the scrub logic means to the end user stations;
- a first switching means responsive to one of the control signals for passing data from the primary transmission path to an attached station or the local transmission path;
- a second switching means responsive to another of the control signals for passing data from the second means or the transmission link to a local Path;
- and
- a third switch means responsive to a third of the control signals for passing data from the first means or the scrub logic means to the communications network.
9 more elements
An improved FDDI concentrator comprising:
- a first set of connector means for attaching said concentrator to a transmission medium of an FDDI network;
- a second set of connector means for attaching said concentrator to end users' terminals;
- a first circuit arrangement means coupled to the first set of connector means and operable to communicate with terminals connected to the transmission medium;
- a second circuit arrangement means for capturing a token circulating on a local ring formed with the end users' terminals connected to said concentrator;
- a third circuit arrangement means for switching the end users' terminals connected to said concentrator into or out of the local ring;
- a controller means for controlling the concentrator;
- and
- a bus means for interconnecting the first circuit arrangement means, the second circuit arrangement means, the third circuit arrangement means and the controller means.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.