# US 6,724,763 B1 · Network system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 6,724,763 B1
- Document ID: US6724763B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/259,685
- Filed: 1999-03-01
- Granted: 2004-04-20
- Earliest claimed: 1998-03-06
- Assignees: Sony Corporation
- Inventors: Hisaki Hiraiwa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6724763B1

## CPC

- H04L 12/462: {LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone}
- H04L 12/40091: {Bus bridging (LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; single bridge functionality H04L12/462)}
- H04L 49/90: Buffering arrangements
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A packet passed to an IEEE 1394 bus is received by a packet receiver (421) and stored into a packet buffer (422). Source and destination IDs from the packet buffer (422) are supplied to a comparison/calculation circuit (428) which are also supplied with ID values from a subnetwork routing register (425), bus routing register (426) and node IDs register (427). The comparison/calculation circuit (428) will judge, based on such signals, whether the packet is to be transferred, and when it decides that the packet is to be transferred, will activate the output signal and open a gate (423) to transmit the packet to an inner fabric (401).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A network system comprising:
a plurality of subnetworks each formed from at least one bus in which at least one node is connected via a common transmission control signal channel;
a first bridge holding first flags for the buses in the plurality of subnetworks and second flags representing a number of the plurality of subnetworks; and
a second bridge connecting the plurality of subnetworks and holding the second flags for the number of subnetworks,
wherein the second bridge includes comparing means for comparing a destination ID of the input packet data with the first and second flags, and acquisition means for acquiring the input packet data into the second bridge corresponding to a result of the comparison from the comparing means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The network system as- set forth in claim 1, wherein the first bridge judges, based on the first and second flags, whether a packet data from the node is to be transferred to any other bus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The network system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first bridge comprises:
comparing means for comparing a destination ID of the packet data and the first and second flags; and
outputting means for outputting the packet data corresponding to a result of the comparison from the comparing means.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second bridge judges, based on the first and second flags, whether a packet data from the node is to be transferred to any other subnetwork.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The network system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second bridge comprises:
comparing means for comparing a destination ID of the packet data and the first and second flags; and
outputting means for outputting the packet data corresponding to a result of the comparison from the comparing means.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first bridge comprises two input/output means for connection to one bus and any other bus, respectively.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second bridge comprises two input/output means for connection to one subnetwork and any other subnetwork, respectively.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second bridge carries the second flags for the number of subnetworks to judge whether an input packet data is to be transferred to any other subnetwork and to judge whether the input packet data entered into the second bridge is to be output.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the comparing means is formed of first comparing means and the second bridge further comprises:
second comparing means for comparing the destination ID of the input packet data acquired into the second bridge by the acquisition means with the first and second flags; and
transferring means for transferring the input packet data from the input/output means corresponding to a result of the comparison from the second comparing means.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second bridge comprises at least four input/output means for connecting at least four of the plurality of subnetworks.