EP0334569A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of and system for transmitting information
Assignee: First Pacific Networks Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A network has a single medium (12) with a transmitting channel which is translated at a head end (16) to a receiving channel. All the nodes (30) of the system are coupled to both the transmitting channel and the receiving channel in a logical bus system with a physical tree-type layout. Time slots are defined by a timing mark generator, with each node detecting the timing marks on only the receiving channel. The time between each timing mark defines a frame, with each frame consisting of a plurality of time slots. Each node determines a skew time necessary for that node to transmit in a specified timeslot when it only receives the timing marks on the receive line and not on the transmit line. Each node (30) is a different physical distance from the head end (16), resulting in each node transmitting at a different time relative to the received timing mark due to the differences in transmission time to the head end and back. Accordingly, each node transmits a test signal and measures the time after the transmission until it receives the test signal. This time, designated a skew time, is used for transmissions of information. Each node transmits at a time equal to the skew time in advance of the beginning of the timeslot following a timing mark.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert P. Mcnamara
- 👤 Donald G. Marquart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/02; H04J3/06; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2801; H04J3/0635; H04J3/0682
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of transmitting information from a node (30) in a specified timeslot in a time-division multiplexed communication system having a unidirectional transmitting bus (12) terminating at a head end (16) and translated at the head end onto a unidirectional receiving bus originating from the head end, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a test signal on the transmitting bus from the node; receiving the test signal from the receiving bus at the node; calculating the elapsed time between the transmitting and receiving steps; and transmitting an information signal an amount of time equal to the elapsed time prior to a time of arrival of the timeslot on the receiving bus at the node.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of transmitting information from a node (30) in a specified timeslot in a time-division multiplexed communication system having a unidirectional transmitting bus (12) terminating at a head end (16) and translated at the head end onto a unidirectional receiving bus originating from the head end, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a test signal on the transmitting bus from the node; receiving the test signal from the receiving bus at the node; calculating the elapsed time between the transmitting and receiving steps; and transmitting an information signal an amount of time equal to the elapsed time prior to a time of arrival of the timeslot on the receiving bus at the node.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the steps of digitizing a voice signal to produce the information signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the step of transmitting an information signal step includes asynchronously transmitting the information within the timeslot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 comprising the steps of: generating a periodic timing mark, with the periods between the timing marks being frames, each frame having a plurality of timeslots; transmitting information signals to a second node in the specified timeslot in first frames, the first frames occurring every other frame; and receiving information signals from the second node in the specified timeslot in second frames, the second frames occurring between the first frames.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of generating a periodic timing mark includes receiving a timing signal from a public switched network and using the public switched network timing signal to produce the timing marks.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of transmitting information between first and second nodes (30) in a multichannel communications system, comprising the steps of: transmitting a call signal from the first node to the second node on a first channel; and transmitting information from the first node to the second node on a second channel in response to a reply signal from the second node, the reply signal being one of an instruction to switch to the second channel or an acknowledgment of an instruction from the first node to switch to the second channel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of transmitting information between first and second nodes (30) in a multichannel communications system, comprising the steps of: transmitting a call signal from the first node to the second node on a first channel; and transmitting information from the first node to the second node on a second channel in response to a reply signal from the second node, the reply signal being one of an instruction to switch to the second channel or an acknowledgment of an instruction from the first node to switch to the second channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
A communication system for exchanging information between a plurality of nodes (30), comprising: a unidirectional transmitting medium (12) coupling each of the nodes to a head end (1 6) of the transmitting medium; a unidirectional receiving medium (12) extending from an originating end to each of the nodes; head end translating means for transferring signals received at the head end of the transmitting medium; means for generating a periodic timing mark on the receiving medium, each interval between a pair of timing marks being a frame, each frame defining a plurality of timeslots; means for transmitting a test signal from a first node on the transmitting medium; means for receiving the test signal at the first node on the receiving medium; means for calculating an elapsed skew time between the transmitting and receiving of the test signal; and means for transmitting information for a specified timeslot an amount of time equal to the skew time prior to the arrival of the specified timeslot at the receiving means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
A communication system for exchanging information between a plurality of nodes (30), comprising: a unidirectional transmitting medium (12) coupling each of the nodes to a head end (1 6) of the transmitting medium; a unidirectional receiving medium (12) extending from an originating end to each of the nodes; head end translating means for transferring signals received at the head end of the transmitting medium; means for generating a periodic timing mark on the receiving medium, each interval between a pair of timing marks being a frame, each frame defining a plurality of timeslots; means for transmitting a test signal from a first node on the transmitting medium; means for receiving the test signal at the first node on the receiving medium; means for calculating an elapsed skew time between the transmitting and receiving of the test signal; and means for transmitting information for a specified timeslot an amount of time equal to the skew time prior to the arrival of the specified timeslot at the receiving means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 7 comprising means coupled to the first node for digitizing a voice signal to produce the information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the transmitting medium and the receiving medium are separate frequency channels on a single physical medium and the translating means is a frequency translator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 9 comprising a plurality of means for digitizing voice signals, each digitizing means being coupled to one of the nodes (30), each of the nodes having a separate address, and a plurality of memories, each coupled to one of the nodes for storing the addresses of the nodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 9 or 10 comprising a plurality of transmitting and receiving channels on the physical medium, each of the nodes having means for transmitting and receiving on more than one channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
A time-division multiplexed communication system having a unidirectional transmitting bus terminating at a head end, a unidirectional receiving bus originating from the head end, translating means at the head end for transferring signals received on the transmitting bus onto the receiving bus, and means for transmitting information from a node (30) in a specified time slot comprising means for transmitting a test signal on the transmitting bus from the node, means for receiving the test signal from the receiving bus at the node, means for calculating the elapsed time between the transmitting and receiving steps; and means for transmitting the information an amount of time equal to the elapsed time prior to a time of arrival of the timeslot on the receiving bus at the node.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
126 words
A time-division multiplexed communication system having a unidirectional transmitting bus terminating at a head end, a unidirectional receiving bus originating from the head end, translating means at the head end for transferring signals received on the transmitting bus onto the receiving bus, and means for transmitting information from a node (30) in a specified time slot comprising means for transmitting a test signal on the transmitting bus from the node, means for receiving the test signal from the receiving bus at the node, means for calculating the elapsed time between the transmitting and receiving steps; and means for transmitting the information an amount of time equal to the elapsed time prior to a time of arrival of the timeslot on the receiving bus at the node.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
A multichannel communications system having first and second nodes (30) and means for transmitting information between the first and second nodes comprising means for transmitting a call signal from the first node to the second node on a first channel; and means for transmitting information from the first node to the second node on a second channel in response to a reply signal from the second node, the reply signal being one of an instruction to switch to the second channel or an acknowledgment of an instruction from the first node to switch to the second channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
97 words
A multichannel communications system having first and second nodes (30) and means for transmitting information between the first and second nodes comprising means for transmitting a call signal from the first node to the second node on a first channel; and means for transmitting information from the first node to the second node on a second channel in response to a reply signal from the second node, the reply signal being one of an instruction to switch to the second channel or an acknowledgment of an instruction from the first node to switch to the second channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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