Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
In a network system in which end nodes (71-81) are connected to a plurality of cascaded hubs (60-63), a method for providing for a two priority protocol, the method comprising the steps of: (a) when at least one end node (71-81) in the network system has a normal priority network packet (111,112) to send and no end nodes (71-81) have a high priority network packet (98-100) to send, acknowledging in turn each end node (71-81) with a normal priority network packet (111,112), including the following substep (a.1) acknowledging in turn, by a root hub (60), each second level hub (61-63) which is connected to an end node (71-81) which has a normal priority network packet (111,112) to send, each second level hub (61-63), when acknowledged, proceeding to acknowledge in turn, each end node (71-81) which is connected to the second level hub (61-63) and which has a normal priority network packet (111,112), each end node (71-81), when acknowledged, sending the normal priority network packet (111,112); (b) when during performance of substep (a.1), the root hub (60) receives a request for an end node (71-81) to send a high priority packet, performing the following substeps, (b.1) signaling by the root hub (60) to the second level hub (61-63) that a high priority request has been received, (b.2) ceasing from acknowledging in turn, by the second level hub (61-63), each end node (71-81) which is connected to the second level hub (61-63) and which has a normal priority network packet (111,112); and, (c) while at least one end node (71-81) in the network system has a high priority network packet (98-100) to send, acknowledging in turn each end node (71-81) with a high priority network packet (98-100), each end node (71-81), when acknowledged, sending the high priority network packet (98-100).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein step (c) includes the substep of: (c.1) acknowledging in turn, by a root hub (60), each second level hub (61-63) which is connected to an end node (71-81) which has a high priority network packet (98-100) to send, each second level hub (61-63), when acknowledged, proceeding to acknowledge in turn, each end node (71-81) which is connected to the second level hub (61-63) and which has a high priority network packet (98-100), each end node (71-81), when acknowledged, sending the high priority network packet (98-100).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein in substep (b.1) the root hub (60) signals the second level hub (61-63) by forwarding a preempt signal from the root hub (60) to the second level hub (61-63) during an interpacket gap between transmission of network packets (98,99,100,111,112).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein in step (a) and step (c), during transmission of network packets (98,99,100,111,112) between the second level hub (61-63) and the root hub (60), a link between the second level hub (61-63) and the root hub (60) acts as a half duplex link and during the interpacket gap between transmission of network packets (98,99,100,111,112), the link between the second level hub (61-63) and the root hub (60) acts as a dual simplex link.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
129 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein in substep (b.2) when the signaling by root hub (60) in substep (b.1) occurs in the same interpacket gap as the second level hub (61-63) acknowledging a first end node (71-81), performing the following substeps: (b.2.1) sending a first normal priority packet by the first end node (71-81) to the second level hub (61-63); (b.2.2) forwarding the first normal priority packet by the second level hub (61-63) to the root hub (60); and, (b.2.3) in the interpacket gap after the second level hub (61-63) forwards the first normal priority packet to the root hub (60), sending a first signal by the second level hub (61-63) to the root hub (60) in response to the signaling by root hub (60) in substep (b.1).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein during the interpacket gaps, the second level hub (61-63) and the root hub (60) signal to each other using tones which are transmitted at a transmission frequency which is lower than a transmission frequency used to transmit the network packets (98,99,100,111,112).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein in step (a) and step (c), during transmission of network packets (98,99,100,111,112) between the second level hub (61-63) and the root hub (60), a link between the second level hub (61-63) and the root hub (60) acts as a half duplex link and during the interpacket gap between transmission of network packets (98,99,100,111,112), the link between the second level hub (61-63) and the root hub (60) acts as a dual simplex link.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein each link between hubs is formed by a plurality of twisted wire pairs and wherein in step (a) and step (c) during transmission of network packets (98,99,100,111,112) between the second level hub (61-63) and the root hub (60), the plurality of twisted wire pairs are used as a half duplex link and during the interpacket gap between transmission of network packets (98,99,100,111,112), half the twisted wire pairs are used to forward signals from the second level hub (61-63) to the root hub (60) and half the twisted wire pairs are used to forward signals from the root hub (60) to the second level hub (61-63).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein a first plurality of links between hubs are dual simplex and a second plurality of links between hubs are each formed by a plurality of twisted wire pairs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein in substep (a.1) the root hub (60) signals the second level hub (61-63) by silence during an interpacket gap between transmission of network packets (98,99,100,111,112).