Hub and interface for isochronous token ring

In a data transmission system having first and second transmission networks employing first and second signalling protocols each having a maximum signalling frequency, respectively, and at least one node connected to both the said transmission networks and to a remote station via a transmission link having frequency and distance characteristics designed for transporting data signals from only one of the networks to the station, a method including the following steps:

• at said station generating a periodic multiplex frame including in each period data for transmission over the said first and second networks, respectively, using a third signalling protocol having a maximum frequency no greater than the maximum frequency of the greater of the first and second signalling protocols;
• transmitting said multiplex frame via said transmission link to the said node;
• at said node demultiplexing the received frame into a first data stream including the data to be transmitted over the first network and a second data stream including the data to be transmitted over the second network;
• and,
• transmitting the said first and second data streams over the said first and second networks using the said first and second signalling protocols, respectively.

A communication hub for simultaneously connecting a plurality of stations to first and second communication networks each employing a different signalling protocol including:

• a plurality of ports each adapted for connection to one station;
• means for receiving signals from the said first and second networks and for deriving clocking signals from the received signals;
• means responsive to the said derived clock signals for adjusting the phase of one signal to correspond to the other and for providing timing control signals;
• means responsive to the signals from the first and second networks, the timing control signals, the adjusted phase clock signal and the other clock signal for generating a periodic multiplex frame having a frame frequency corresponding to the frequency of the phase adjusted clock signal and including a plurality of sub-frames each including a fixed number of signalling elements from each network;
• and,
• means responsive to the periodic frame for encoding the multiplex frame using a third signalling protocol different than the signalling protocols used in the said first and second communication networks, said third signalling protocol having a minimum pulse duration substantially equal to the shorter of the pulse durations generated by the signalling protocols used in either of the said first or second communication networks, and for connecting the frame to one port.

A communication hub for simultaneously connecting a plurality of stations to first and second communication networks each employing a different signalling protocol, at least one of which is an isochronous protocol, including:

• at least one port for receiving from a connected station a frame having a frame period corresponding to the said at least one isochronous protocol and a plurality of sub-frames included therein, each of which includes a fixed number of signal elements for each of said first and second communication networks and is encoded using a third signalling protocol different from the signalling protocols used on the said first and second communication networks and having a minimum pulse duration substantially equal to the shorter of the pulse durations produced by either one of the signalling protocols used on the said first or second networks;
• means responsive to the received periodic frame for demultiplexing the signals into a first and a second signal stream for transmission over the said first and second networks, respectively;
• means for converting the two streams into a protocol suitable for transmission over the said first and second networks;
• and,
• means for connecting the protocol converted signal streams to their respective network media.

In a data transmission network a method of combining isochronous data signals transmitted in a first signalling protocol on a first network and synchronous data signals transmitted in a second signalling protocol on a second network into multiplexed data signals in a third signalling protocol suitable for transmission over a link to a station including the following steps:

• deriving clocking signals from the signals on the first and second networks;
• resynchronizing the isochronous clock signals with the synchronous clock signals;
• converting the signals on the first and second networks to a third signalling protocol having a minimum pulse duration substantially equal to the shorter of the pulse durations produced by either the said first or second signalling protocols;
• and,
• generating a periodic frame having a frame frequency corresponding to a frequency component of the isochronous data signals and including a plurality of subframes each of which includes a fixed number of signal elements from each of said first and second networks in the said third signaling protocol.