EP0333225A2 — Packet communication exchange including dummy pac…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 160 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (400) comprising: a common communication channel (6) through which a plurality of data packets are communicated; a plurality of input module means (401-1: 401-N, "N" being an integer) coupled to the common communication channel (6), for receiving the data packets and transferring the data packets to the communication channel (6); and, a plurality of output module means (402-1: 402-M, "M" being an integer) coupled to the common communication channel (6), for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the input module means via the communication channel (6), and for generating/sending a dummy packet to the communication channel (6) when an amount of the data packets temporarily stored therein exceeds over a predetermined threshold value (A : B), whereby the input module means detects a packet contention occurring on the communication channel due to the dummy packet supply thereto so as to control the data packet transmission from the input module means to the communication channel.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 160 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (400) comprising: a common communication channel (6) through which a plurality of data packets are communicated; a plurality of input module means (401-1: 401-N, "N" being an integer) coupled to the common communication channel (6), for receiving the data packets and transferring the data packets to the communication channel (6); and, a plurality of output module means (402-1: 402-M, "M" being an integer) coupled to the common communication channel (6), for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the input module means via the communication channel (6), and for generating/sending a dummy packet to the communication channel (6) when an amount of the data packets temporarily stored therein exceeds over a predetermined threshold value (A : B), whereby the input module means detects a packet contention occurring on the communication channel due to the dummy packet supply thereto so as to control the data packet transmission from the input module means to the communication channel.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 75 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input module means includes: a bus monitor (454) for monitoring the packet contention occurring on the communication channel (6) to output a contention result signal (#C); a transmitter controller (452) for receiving the contention result signal (#C) to produce a contention control signal (#B); and, a packet transmitter (450) for controlling the data packet transmission based upon the contention control signal (#B).

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 108 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output module means includes: a buffer memory (20) for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the input module means via the communication channel (6); a queue packet monitor unit (8) for monitoring an amount of queue data packets temporarily stored in the buffer memory (20) so as to produce a contention control signal (54) when said queue packet amount exceeds over said threshold value; and, a dummy packet generator/transmitter (30) for generating the dummy packet in response to the contention control signal (54) and for transmitting the dummy packet to the communication channel (6).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 97 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the queue packet monitor unit (8) includes; a counter (30) for counting a quantity of the queue data packets temporarily stored in the buffer memory (20) by receiving a packet reception signal (32) and a packet transmission signal (34) derived from the buffer memory (20); a reference memory (40) for previously storing the threshold value (A : B); and, a comparator (50) for comparing the quantity of the queue data packets with the threshold value so as to output the said contention control signal (54).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common communication channel is a data bus (6).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common communication channel is a wireless communication path.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said packet contention on the communication channel (6) is caused by both the data packets and dummy packet.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said packet contention on the communication channel (6) is caused by a plurality of dummy packets only.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 162 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (100) comprising: a data bus (6) through which a plurality of data packets are communicated; a plurality of terminal interface module means (1-1: 1-N, "N" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for receiving the data packets and transferring the data packets to the data bus (6); and, a plurality of trunk interface module means (2-1: 2-M, "M" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the terminal interface module means via the data bus (6), and for generating/supplying a dummy packet to the data bus (6) when an amount of the data packets temporarily stored therein exceeds over a predetermined threshold value (A : B), whereby the terminal interface module means detects a packet contention occurring on the data bus due to the dummy packet supply thereto so as to control the data packet transmission from the terminal interface module means to the data bus.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 162 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (100) comprising: a data bus (6) through which a plurality of data packets are communicated; a plurality of terminal interface module means (1-1: 1-N, "N" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for receiving the data packets and transferring the data packets to the data bus (6); and, a plurality of trunk interface module means (2-1: 2-M, "M" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the terminal interface module means via the data bus (6), and for generating/supplying a dummy packet to the data bus (6) when an amount of the data packets temporarily stored therein exceeds over a predetermined threshold value (A : B), whereby the terminal interface module means detects a packet contention occurring on the data bus due to the dummy packet supply thereto so as to control the data packet transmission from the terminal interface module means to the data bus.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 79 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said terminal interface module means includes: a bus monitor (11) for monitoring the packet contention occurring on the data bus (6) to output a contention result signal (14); a transmitter controller (10) for receiving the contention result signal (14) to produce a packet transmission control signal (16); and, a packet transmitting unit (9) for controlling the data packet transmission based upon the packet transmission control signal (16).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 110 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the trunk interface module means includes: a buffer memory (20) for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the terminal interface module means via the data bus (6); a queue packet monitor unit (8) for monitoring an amount of queue data packets temporarily stored in the buffer memory (20) so as to produce a contention control signal (54) when said queue packet amount exceeds over said threshold value; and, a dummy packet generator/transmitter (30) for generating the dummy packet in response to the contention control signal (54) and for transmitting the dummy packet to the data bus (6).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 98 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the queue packet monitor unit (8) includes; a counter (30) for counting a quantity of the queue data packets temporarily stored in the buffer memory (20) by receiving a packet reception signal (32) and a packet transmission signal (34) derived from the buffer memory (20); a reference memory (40) for previously storing the threshold value (A : B); and, a first comparator (50) for comparing the quantity of the queue data packets with the threshold value so as to output the said contention control signal (54).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said threshold value is determined by four different levels (A : D).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transmission controlling unit (10) is constructed of a second comparator (10A).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said packet contention on the communication channel (6) is caused by both the data packets and dummy packet.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said packet contention on the communication channel (6) is caused by a plurality of dummy packets only.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 207 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (200) comprising: a data bus (6) through which a plurality of data packets are communicated; a plurality of terminal interface module means (1-1: 1-N, "N" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for receiving the data packets and transferring the data packets to the data bus (6); a plurality of trunk interface means (2-1: 2-M, "M" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the terminal interface module means via the data bus (6), and for generating/sending a dummy packet to the data bus (6) when an amount of the data packets temporarily stored therein exceeds over a predetermined threshold value (A : B); and a control signal channel (7) interconnected to both the terminal interface module means (1-1) and trunk interface module means (2-1), for announcing a control information signal on the terminal interface module means (1-1) to the trunk interface module means (2-1) whereby the terminal interface module means detects a packet contention occurring on the data bus due to the dummy packet supply thereto so as to control the data packet transmission from the terminal interface module means to the data bus in response to the control information.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 207 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (200) comprising: a data bus (6) through which a plurality of data packets are communicated; a plurality of terminal interface module means (1-1: 1-N, "N" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for receiving the data packets and transferring the data packets to the data bus (6); a plurality of trunk interface means (2-1: 2-M, "M" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the terminal interface module means via the data bus (6), and for generating/sending a dummy packet to the data bus (6) when an amount of the data packets temporarily stored therein exceeds over a predetermined threshold value (A : B); and a control signal channel (7) interconnected to both the terminal interface module means (1-1) and trunk interface module means (2-1), for announcing a control information signal on the terminal interface module means (1-1) to the trunk interface module means (2-1) whereby the terminal interface module means detects a packet contention occurring on the data bus due to the dummy packet supply thereto so as to control the data packet transmission from the terminal interface module means to the data bus in response to the control information.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 96 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 17, wherein said terminal interface module means includes: a bus monitor (11) for monitoring the packet contention occurring on the data bus (6) to output a contention result signal; a transmitter controller (110) for receiving the contention result signal to produce a contention control signal and also the control information signal, said control information signal being sent via the control signal channel (7) to the trunk interface module means; and, a packet transmitter (9) for controlling the data packet transmission based upon the contention control signal.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 108 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the trunk interface module means includes: a buffer memory (20) for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the terminal interface module means via the data bus (6); a queue packet monitor unit (18) for monitoring an amount of queue data packets temporarily stored in the buffer memory (20) so as to produce the control information signal when said queue packet amount exceeds over said threshold value; and, a dummy packet generator/transmitter (30) for generating the dummy packet in response to the control information signal and for transmitting the dummy packet to the data bus (6).

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 98 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the queue packet monitor unit (18) includes; a counter (30) for counting a quantity of the queue data packets temporarily stored in the buffer memory (20) by receiving a packet reception signal (32) and a packet transmission signal (34) derived from the buffer memory (20); a reference memory (40) for previously storing the threshold value (A : B); and, a first comparator (50) for comparing the quantity of the queue data packets with the threshold value so as to output the said contention control signal (54).

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 17, wherein said threshold value is determined by four different levels (A : D).

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 17 wherein said transmission controlling unit (10) is constructed of a second comparator (10A).

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 17, wherein said packet contention on the communication channel (6) is caused by both the data packets and dummy packet.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 17, wherein said packet contention on the communication channel (6) is caused by a plurality of dummy packets only.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 184 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (300) comprising: a data bus (6) through which a plurality of data packets are communicated; a plurality of terminal interface module means (301-1: 301-N, "N" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for receiving the data packets by a first buffer (301A-1) and transferring the data packets from a second buffer (301B-1) to the data bus (6); and, a plurality of trunk interface module means (302-1: 302-M, "M" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the terminal interface module means via the communication channel (6) into a third buffer, and for generatinga dummy packet and sending the same stored in a fourth buffer to the data bus (6) when an amount of the data packets temporarily stored therein exceeds over a predetermined threshold value (A : B), whereby the terminal interface module means detects a packet contention occurring on the data bus due to the dummy packet supply thereto so as to control the data packet transmission from the terminal interface module means to the data bus.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 184 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (300) comprising: a data bus (6) through which a plurality of data packets are communicated; a plurality of terminal interface module means (301-1: 301-N, "N" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for receiving the data packets by a first buffer (301A-1) and transferring the data packets from a second buffer (301B-1) to the data bus (6); and, a plurality of trunk interface module means (302-1: 302-M, "M" being an integer) coupled to the data bus (6), for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the terminal interface module means via the communication channel (6) into a third buffer, and for generatinga dummy packet and sending the same stored in a fourth buffer to the data bus (6) when an amount of the data packets temporarily stored therein exceeds over a predetermined threshold value (A : B), whereby the terminal interface module means detects a packet contention occurring on the data bus due to the dummy packet supply thereto so as to control the data packet transmission from the terminal interface module means to the data bus.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 117 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (300) as claimed in claim 25, wherein said terminal interface module means includes: a bus monitor (354) for monitoring the packet contention occurring on the data bus (6) to output a bus monitoring result signal (#c) and also a destination address signal (#d) of the data packet on the data bus; a transmitter controller (352) for receiving the bus monitoring result signal (#c) to produce a contention control signal (#b) and a packet fetch control signal (#e); a packet transmitter (350) for controlling the data packet transmission based upon the contention control signal (#b); and a packet receiver (356) for receiving the data packets based upon the packet fetch control signal (#e).

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 109 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (300) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the terminal interface module means includes: a buffer memory (20) for temporarily storing the data packets sent from the terminal module means via the communication channel (6); a queue packet monitor unit (8) for monitoring an amount of queue data packets temporarily stored in the buffer memory (20) so as to produce a contention control signal (54) when said queue packet amount exceeds over said threshold value; and, a dummy packet generator/transmitter (30) for generating the dummy packet in response to the contention control signal (54) and for transmitting the dummy packet to the data bus (6).

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 98 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (300) as claimed in claim 27, wherein the queue packet monitor unit (8) includes; a counter (30) for counting a quantity of the queue data packets temporarily stored in the buffer memory (20) by receiving a packet reception signal (32) and a packet transmission signal (34) derived from the buffer memory (20); a reference memory (40) for previously storing the threshold value (A : B); and, a first comparator (50) for comparing the quantity of the queue data packets with the threshold value so as to output the said contention control signal (54).

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 24 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (300) as claimed in claim 25, wherein said threshold value is determined by four different levels (A : D).

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 24 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (300) as claimed in claim 25, wherein said transmission controlling unit (10) is constructed of a second comparator (10A).

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 30 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (300) as claimed in claim 25, wherein said packet contention on the communication channel (6) is caused by both the data packets and dummy packet.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 29 words

A packet communication exchanging apparatus (300) as claimed in claim 25, wherein said packet contention on the communication channel (6) is caused by a plurality of dummy packets only.

Packet communication exchange including dummy packet transmission

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