Segmentable addressable modular communication network hubs
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJames J. Allen, Thomas J. Prorock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Stackable communication network repeater hub capable of performing segmentation while retaining full stack management. Each hub in a stack can control the stack so that if a hub or group of hubs is segmented, one of the hubs is automatically allocated as the master hub. The master hub supplies a synchronizing signal, interprets network commands, and provides control signals for executing the commands.
Claims15
In an addressable communications network having a network bus, a control bus, and a plurality of data terminals adapted to communicate over the network bus, hub apparatus for selectively connecting the plurality of data terminals to the network bus, the hub apparatus comprising:
- a controller that receives a control signal from the control bus and connects the plurality of data terminals to the network bus by generating a controller output signal based on the state of the network;
- control logic coupled to said controller output signal that generates a logic output signal in response to said controller output signal;
- a repeater that passes data between the network bus and the plurality of data terminals, said repeater having a repeater input that receives data from the network bus and a repeater output coupled to the plurality of data terminals;
- and
- a logic gate having a gate input coupled to the network bus, a gate output coupled to said repeater input, and an enable input coupled to said logic output signal for controllably connecting the gate input to the gate output, so that when the controller receives the control signal from the control bus, the logic output signal activates the logic gate to connect the plurality of data terminals to the network bus.
In a communication network having a network bus for connecting a plurality of hub modules, and a control bus for connecting a centralized management station to said plurality of hub modules, a system for dynamically segmenting one of said plurality of hub modules from the network bus to create an independent collision domain while maintaining communications between the centralized management station and the plurality of hub modules over the control bus, the system comprising:
- a cable that electrically interconnects said plurality of hub modules, and
- each of said hub modules having:
- a controller that receives a control signal from the control bus and connects the plurality of data terminals to the network bus by generating a controller output signal based on the state of the network;
- control logic coupled to said controller output signal that generates a logic output signal in response to said controller output signal;
- a repeater that passes data between the network bus and the plurality of data terminals, said repeater having a repeater input that receives data from the network bus and a repeater output coupled to the plurality of data terminals;
- and
- a logic gate having a gate input coupled to said network bus, having a gate output coupled to said repeater input, and having an enable input coupled to said logic output signal for controllably connecting the gate input to the gate output, so that when the controller receives the control signal from the control bus, the logic output signal activates the logic gate to connect the plurality of data terminals to the network bus.
In a communication network having a network bus for connecting a plurality of hub modules, and a control bus for connecting a centralized management station to said plurality of hub modules, a method for dynamically segmenting one of said plurality of hub modules from the network bus to create an independent collision domain while maintaining communications between the centralized management station and the plurality of hub modules over the control bus, the method comprising the steps of:
- compiling network information of the network bus in real-time;
- periodically monitoring in the centralized management station the network information related to each one of said plurality of hub modules;
- determining in the centralized management station that one of said plurality of hub modules should be segmented from the network bus based on the network information;
- serially transmitting a segment signal through the control bus from the centralized management station directing one of said plurality of hub modules to disconnect from the network bus;
- segmenting from the network bus said one of said plurality of hub modules responsive to said segment signal, thereby creating a segmented hub module;
- and
- arbitrating within the segmented hub module communications between a plurality of electronic devices connected thereto, thereby creating an independent collision domain in the segmented hub module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.