Method to perform central control, a line terminator and an element controller realizing such a method and a tree-like network including such a line terminator and an element controller

A line terminator perform central control of a plurality of in-line elements in a tree-like network, said line terminator comprises:

• determining means to determine a first plurality of bits according to an identification of a selected element and a second plurality of bits according to an identification of a locally predefined function, said selected element being selected out of said plurality of in-line elements to execute said locally predefined function;
• including means coupled to said determining means to include said first plurality of bits and said second plurality of bits in a grant message;
• and
• forwarding means coupled to said including means to forward said grant message to said selected element forcing execution of said locally predefined function according to said second plurality of bits upon said selected element according to said first plurality of bits (A),
• wherein said tree-like network comprises a plurality of network terminators being coupled via said plurality of in-line elements to said line terminator by dedicated branches and a common branch, respectively.

A tree-like network comprising:

• a line terminator;
• a common branch;
• a plurality of dedicated branch;
• a plurality of in-line elements;
• a plurality of network terminators being coupled via said plurality of in-line elements to said line terminator by said dedicated branches and said common branch, respectively;
• and
• an element controller associated to a selected element of said plurality in-line elements forcing execution of a locally predefined function upon said selected element under a central control of the line terminator, said element controller comprises:
• recognizing means being coupled to an input of said element controller to receive a grant message transmitted by said line terminator, said grant message including a first plurality of bits being determined by said line terminator according to an identification of said selected element and a second plurality of bits being determined according to an identification of a locally predefined function of said selected element, and said recognizing means also recognizes in said grant message said first plurality of bits and said second plurality of bits and upon said recognition, generates a control signal for the selected element forcing execution of said locally predefined function upon said selected element, said element controller is coupled in a downstream direction to said line terminator,
• wherein said line terminator comprises:
• a determining means to determine the first plurality of bits and the second plurality of bits,
• including means coupled to said determining means to include said first plurality of bits and said second plurality of bits in said grant message, and
• forwarding means coupled to said including means to forward said grant message to the element controller.