No-owner frame and multiple token removal mechanism for token ring networks

Claim 2

A station (11A . . . 11F) for a token-ring network (10, 12A . . . 12F), said station comprising: A. token capturing means (11A . . . 11F, 50, 52, 56) for detecting (50) a token on the network (10, 12A . . . 12F) and removing it; B. originating means (11A . . . 11F, 66, 68, 70) responsive to said token capturing means (11A . . . 11F, 50, 52, 56) for originating (68) a set of one or more purge marker frames and transmitting (68) said purge marker frames onto the network (10, 12A . . . 12F) after said token capturing means (11A . . . 11F, 50, 52, 56) removes (50) the token; C. token transmitting means (11A . . . 11F, 70) for transmitting (70) the token after said purge marker frames are transmitted (68); D. purge marker frame detecting means (11A . . . 11F, 60) for detecting (60) said purge marker frames on the network (10, 12A . . . 12F); and E. purging means (54) for performing purging operations wherein the purging means (54) strips (54) from the network all frames and remnants of frames received by the station (11A . . . 11F) between the beginning of each purging operation and the end of said purging operation, and the purging means (54) begins the purging operation when a token is captured (50) by the token capturing means (11A . . . 11F, 50, 52, 56), and the purging means (54) ends (62) the purging operation when a purge marker frame is detected (60) by the purge marker frame detecting means (11A . . . 11F, 60).

Claim 3

A station for a token-ring network, said station comprising: A. token capturing means for capturing a token from the network; B. purge marker frame transmitting means, responsive to said token capturing means, for transmitting at least one purge marker frame onto the network after said token capturing means captures said token; C. purge marker frame receiving means for receiving a received purge marker frame from the network; and D. purging means for performing a purging operation, said purging means stripping from the network all frames and remnants of frames received by the station, and said purging operation beginning upon capture of said token by said token capturing means, and said purging operation ending upon receipt of at least one of said at least one purge marker frame by said purge marker frame receiving means.

Claim 4

A station for a token-ring network, said station comprising: A. token capturing means for capturing a token from the network; B. purge marker frame transmitting means, responsive to said token capturing means, for transmitting at least one purge marker frame onto the network after said token capturing means captures said token; C. purge marker frame receiving means for receiving a received purge marker frame from the network; and D. purging means for performing a purging operation, said purging means stripping from the network all frames and remnants of frames received by the station, and said purging operation beginning upon capture of said token by said token capturing means, and said purging operation ending upon receipt of at least one of said at least one purge marker frame by said purge marker frame receiving means.

Claim 5

The station of claim 2 further comprising: data transmitting means for transmitting one or more data frames onto the network in response to said token capturing means capturing said token, said data frames being transmitted before said at least one purge marker frame.

Claim 6

The station of claim 2 further comprising: A. incrementing means for incrementing a sequence number in response to said token capturing means capturing said token, to obtain a current sequence number; B. said purge marker frame transmitting means, having means for including said current sequence number in said at least one purge marker frame; C. means, responsive to said purge marker frame receiving means, for reading a received sequence number from said received purge marker frame; D. comparison means for comparing said current sequence number with said received sequence number, and in the event they are not equal, indicating a multiple token condition.

Claim 7

The station of claim 4, further comprising: A. counting means for counting the number of times a multiple token condition is indicated by said comparison means; and B. means for starting a ring initialization if the number of times the multiple token condition is indicated exceeds a predetermined number.

Claim 8

The station of claim 4, further comprising: means for starting a ring initialization in response to the indication of a multiple token condition.

Claim 9

The station of claim 2, said purge marker frame transmitting means further comprising: a station address of said station; means for including said station address in a source address field in said at least one purge marker frame.

Claim 10

The station of claim 7, further comprising: said purging means not stripping from the network a second purge marker frame containing a station address of another station in a source address field of said second purge marker frame.

Claim 11

The station of claim 2, said station further comprising: A. incrementing means for incrementing a sequence number in response to said token capturing means capturing said token, to obtain a current sequence number; B. said purge marker frame transmitting means having means for including said current sequence number in said at least one purge marker frame; C. a station address of said station; D. said purge marker frame transmitting means having means for including said station address in a source address field in said at least one purge marker frame; E. said purge marker frame receiving means having means for reading a received sequence number from said received purge marker frame; F. said purge marker frame receiving means having means for reading a received source address from said received purge marker frame; G. a first comparison means for determining whether said received source address is equal to said station address; H. a second comparison means, for determining whether said received sequence number is equal to said current sequence number; and I. multiple token detecting means, for detecting a multiple token condition when

Claim 12

said received source address is equal to said station address, and 2. said current sequence number is not equal to said received sequence number.

Claim 13

said received source address is equal to said station address, and 2. said current sequence number is not equal to said received sequence number.

Claim 14

A station (11A . . . 11F) for a computer network (10, 12A . . . 12F), said station comprising: A. token capturing means (50) for capturing (50) a token from the network (10, 12A . . . 12F); B. data transmitting means (66) for transmitting one or more data frames onto the network (12A . . . 12F) in response to said token capturing means (50) capturing (50) said token; C. incrementing means (65) for incrementing (65) a sequence number in response to said token capturing means (50) capturing said token, to obtain a current sequence number; D. purge marker frame transmitting means (68) responsive to said data transmitting means (66) and said token capturing means (50), said token capturing means (50) having captured a token, for transmitting at least one purge marker frame containing the station address of said station in the source address field (43B), and said current sequence number, onto the network (10, 12A . . . 12F) either after said token capturing means (50) captures (50) said token or at the end of the transmission of said one or more data frames; E. purge marker frame receiving means (60) for receiving (60) a received purge marker frame from the network (10, 12A . . . 12F); F. means (60), responsive to said purge marker receiving means (60), for reading a received source address from a source address field (43B) of said received purge marker frame; G. means (59), responsive to said purge marker receiving means (60), for reading a received sequence number from said received purge marker frame; H. a first comparison means (60) for determining whether said received source address is equal to the station address of said station; I. a second comparison means (59), responsive to said first comparison means (60), for determining whether said received sequence number is equal to said current sequence number only if said received source address is equal to the station address of said station; J. purging means (54), responsive to said token capturing means (50) and said purge marker frame receiving means (60), for stripping from the network all frames and remnants of frames received, except a token or a purge marker frame containing the station address of another station in the source address field of said purge marker frame, after said token is captured and before either an error-free purge marker frame or a second token is captured by said token capturing means; K. multiple token detecting means (64) for detecting a multiple token condition in response to:

Claim 15

A station (11A . . . 11F) for a computer network (10, 12A . . . 12F), said station comprising: A. token capturing means (50) for capturing (50) a token from the network (10, 12A . . . 12F); B. data transmitting means (66) for transmitting one or more data frames onto the network (12A . . . 12F) in response to said token capturing means (50) capturing (50) said token; C. incrementing means (65) for incrementing (65) a sequence number in response to said token capturing means (50) capturing said token, to obtain a current sequence number; D. purge marker frame transmitting means (68) responsive to said data transmitting means (66) and said token capturing means (50), said token capturing means (50) having captured a token, for transmitting at least one purge marker frame containing the station address of said station in the source address field (43B), and said current sequence number, onto the network (10, 12A . . . 12F) either after said token capturing means (50) captures (50) said token or at the end of the transmission of said one or more data frames; E. purge marker frame receiving means (60) for receiving (60) a received purge marker frame from the network (10, 12A . . . 12F); F. means (60), responsive to said purge marker receiving means (60), for reading a received source address from a source address field (43B) of said received purge marker frame; G. means (59), responsive to said purge marker receiving means (60), for reading a received sequence number from said received purge marker frame; H. a first comparison means (60) for determining whether said received source address is equal to the station address of said station; I. a second comparison means (59), responsive to said first comparison means (60), for determining whether said received sequence number is equal to said current sequence number only if said received source address is equal to the station address of said station; J. purging means (54), responsive to said token capturing means (50) and said purge marker frame receiving means (60), for stripping from the network all frames and remnants of frames received, except a token or a purge marker frame containing the station address of another station in the source address field of said purge marker frame, after said token is captured and before either an error-free purge marker frame or a second token is captured by said token capturing means; K. multiple token detecting means (64) for detecting a multiple token condition in response to:

Claim 16

said second comparison means (59) determining that said received sequence number and said current sequence number are not equal; or 2. said token capturing means (50) capturing a second token before at least one of said at least one purge marker frame containing the station address of said station in the source address field of said purge marker frame is received; L. counting means (64) for counting the number of times a multiple token condition is detected; and M. means (64) for performing a ring initialization if the number of times the multiple token condition is detected exceeds a pre-determined value.

Claim 17

said second comparison means (59) determining that said received sequence number and said current sequence number are not equal; or 2. said token capturing means (50) capturing a second token before at least one of said at least one purge marker frame containing the station address of said station in the source address field of said purge marker frame is received; L. counting means (64) for counting the number of times a multiple token condition is detected; and M. means (64) for performing a ring initialization if the number of times the multiple token condition is detected exceeds a pre-determined value.

Claim 20

A station for a token-ring, said station comprising: A. detecting means for detecting a network initialization; B. hello frame originating means, responsive to said detecting means, for periodically transmitting purger hello frames containing a source address equal to the station address of said station onto the network in response to a network initialization; C. purger hello frame receiving means for receiving a received purger hello frame; D. comparison means, responsive to said purger hello frame receiving means, for comparing the source address contained in said received purger hello frame and the station address of said station; E. means, responsive to said comparison means, for refraining from originating purger hello frames if the address in the detected purger hello frame is numerically lower than the station address of said station; and F. means, responsive to said detecting means and said comparison means, for becoming a purging station in response to a ring re-initialization, and for remaining a purging station until said station receives a purger hello frame containing a source address which is numerically lower than the station address of said station.

Claim 21

A station for a token-ring, said station comprising: A. detecting means for detecting a network initialization; B. hello frame originating means, responsive to said detecting means, for periodically transmitting purger hello frames containing a source address equal to the station address of said station onto the network in response to a network initialization; C. purger hello frame receiving means for receiving a received purger hello frame; D. comparison means, responsive to said purger hello frame receiving means, for comparing the source address contained in said received purger hello frame and the station address of said station; E. means, responsive to said comparison means, for refraining from originating purger hello frames if the address in the detected purger hello frame is numerically lower than the station address of said station; and F. means, responsive to said detecting means and said comparison means, for becoming a purging station in response to a ring re-initialization, and for remaining a purging station until said station receives a purger hello frame containing a source address which is numerically lower than the station address of said station.

Claim 22

The station of claim 12, wherein said station includes means for refraining from originating purger hello frames if the station receives, before the expiration of a purger hello frame received timer, a purger hello frame containing an address which is numerically lower than its own address.

Claim 25

A network containing a plurality of stations, said stations comprising: A. token capturing means for capturing a token from the network; B. data transmitting means for transmitting one or more data frames onto the network in response to said token capturing means capturing said token; C. purge marker frame transmitting means responsive to said transmitting means and said token capturing means, for transmitting at least one purge marker frame containing the station address of said station in the source address field onto the network either in response to said token capturing means capturing said token or at the end of the transmission of said one or more data frames; D. purge marker frame receiving means for receiving a received purge marker frame from the network; and E. purging means responsive to said token capturing means and said purge marker frame detecting means, for stripping from the network all frames and remnants of frames received, except a token or a purge marker frame containing the station address of another station in the source address field of said purge marker frame, after said token is captured and before at least one of said at least one purge marker frame is received, or a second token is captured by said token capturing means.

Claim 26

A network containing a plurality of stations, said stations comprising: A. token capturing means for capturing a token from the network; B. data transmitting means for transmitting one or more data frames onto the network in response to said token capturing means capturing said token; C. purge marker frame transmitting means responsive to said transmitting means and said token capturing means, for transmitting at least one purge marker frame containing the station address of said station in the source address field onto the network either in response to said token capturing means capturing said token or at the end of the transmission of said one or more data frames; D. purge marker frame receiving means for receiving a received purge marker frame from the network; and E. purging means responsive to said token capturing means and said purge marker frame detecting means, for stripping from the network all frames and remnants of frames received, except a token or a purge marker frame containing the station address of another station in the source address field of said purge marker frame, after said token is captured and before at least one of said at least one purge marker frame is received, or a second token is captured by said token capturing means.

Claim 27

The network of claim 15, said station further comprising: A. incrementing means for incrementing a sequence number in response to said token capturing means capturing said token, to obtain a current sequence number; B. means for including said current sequence number in said at least one purge marker frame; C. a station address of said station; D. means, responsive to said purge marker receiving means, for reading a received sequence number from said received purge marker frame; E. means, responsive to said purge marker receiving means, for reading a received source address from a source address field of said received purge marker frame; F. a first comparison means for determining whether said received source is equal to said station address of said station; G. a second comparison means, responsive to said first comparison means, for determining whether said received sequence number is equal to said current sequence number, only if said received source address is equal to said station address of said station; and H. multiple token detecting means, responsive to said second comparison means, for detecting multiple tokens in response to said second comparison means determining that said received sequence number and said current sequence number are not equal.

Claim 28

The network of claim 16, said multiple token detecting means further comprising: counting means for counting the number of times multiple tokens are detected and if the number exceeds a predetermined value starting a ring initialization to eliminate the multiple tokens.

Claim 29

The network of claim 16, said multiple token detecting means further comprising: means for starting a ring initialization to eliminate the multiple tokens after a multiple token is detected.

Claim 30

A station on a network, said station comprising: A. detecting means for detecting a network initialization; B. means, responsive to said detecting means, for setting a purger election timer; C. candidate hello frame transmitting means, responsive to said detecting means, for periodically transmitting candidate hello frames, said candidate hello frames containing a source address equal to the station address of said station, on to the network; D. candidate hello frame receiving means for receiving a received candidate hello frame from said network; E. a first comparison means, responsive to said candidate hello frame receiving means, for comparing the source address contained in said received candidate hello frame and the station address of said station; F. means, responsive to said first comparison means, for disabling said candidate hello frame transmitting means to prevent said transmitting of said candidate hello frames if the source address in said received candidate hello frame is numerically lower than the station address of said station; and G. means for declaring said station a network purging station if said purger election timer expires before a candidate hello frame with a lower source address than the station address of said station is received by said station.

Claim 31

A station on a network, said station comprising: A. detecting means for detecting a network initialization; B. means, responsive to said detecting means, for setting a purger election timer; C. candidate hello frame transmitting means, responsive to said detecting means, for periodically transmitting candidate hello frames, said candidate hello frames containing a source address equal to the station address of said station, on to the network; D. candidate hello frame receiving means for receiving a received candidate hello frame from said network; E. a first comparison means, responsive to said candidate hello frame receiving means, for comparing the source address contained in said received candidate hello frame and the station address of said station; F. means, responsive to said first comparison means, for disabling said candidate hello frame transmitting means to prevent said transmitting of said candidate hello frames if the source address in said received candidate hello frame is numerically lower than the station address of said station; and G. means for declaring said station a network purging station if said purger election timer expires before a candidate hello frame with a lower source address than the station address of said station is received by said station.

Claim 34

The method of claim 20, said purging operation also ending upon capture of a second token.

Claim 35

The method of claim 20, further comprising: transmitting one or more data frames onto the network in response to capturing said token, said data frames being transmitted before said at least one purge marker frame.

Claim 36

The method of claim 20, further comprising: A. incrementing a sequence number in response to capturing said token, to obtain a current sequence number; B. including said current sequence number in said at least one purge marker frame; C. reading a received sequence number from said received purge marker frame; D. comparing said current sequence number with said received sequence number, and in the event they are not equal, indicating a multiple token condition.

Claim 37

The method of claim 23, further comprising: A. counting the number of times a multiple token condition is indicated; and B. starting a ring initialization if the number of times the multiple token condition is indicated exceeds a predetermined number.

Claim 38

The method of claim 23, further comprising: starting a ring initialization in response to the indication of a multiple token condition.

Claim 39

The method of claim 20, further comprising: including the station address of said station in a source address field in said at least one purge marker frame.

Claim 40

The method of claim 26, further comprising: not stripping from the network a second purge marker frame containing a station address of another station in a source address field of said second purge marker frame.

Claim 41

The method of claim 20, further comprising: A. incrementing a sequence number in response to capturing said token, to obtain a current sequence number; B. including said current sequence number in said at least one purge marker frame; C. including the station address of the transmitting station in a source address field in said at least one purge marker frame; D. reading a received sequence number from said received purge marker frame; E. reading a received source address from said received purge marker frame; F. determining whether said received source address is equal to the station address of the receiving station; G. determining whether said received sequence number is equal to said current sequence number; and H. detecting a multiple token condition when

Claim 42

said received source address is equal to the station address the receiving station, and 2. said current sequence number is not equal to said received sequence number.

Claim 43

said received source address is equal to the station address the receiving station, and 2. said current sequence number is not equal to said received sequence number.

Claim 46

determining that said received sequence number and said current sequence number are not equal; or 2. capturing a second token before at least one of said at least one purge marker frame containing the station address of the receiving station in the source address field of said purge marker frame is received; L. counting the number of times a multiple token condition is detected; and M. performing a ring initialization if the number of times the multiple token condition is detected exceeds a pre-determined value.

Claim 47

determining that said received sequence number and said current sequence number are not equal; or 2. capturing a second token before at least one of said at least one purge marker frame containing the station address of the receiving station in the source address field of said purge marker frame is received; L. counting the number of times a multiple token condition is detected; and M. performing a ring initialization if the number of times the multiple token condition is detected exceeds a pre-determined value.

Claim 48

The station of claim 9, said second comparison means determining whether said received sequence number is equal to said current sequence only if said received source address is equal to the station address of the station, dependent claim on claim 9.

Claim 49

A station for a token-ring, said station comprising: A. detecting means for detecting a network initialization; B. hello frame originating means, responsive to said detecting means, for periodically transmitting purger hello frames containing a source address equal to the station address of said station onto the network in response to a network initialization; C. purger hello frame receiving means for receiving a received purger hello frame; D. comparison means, responsive to said purger hello frame receiving means, for comparing the source address contained in said received purger hello frame and the station address of said station; E. means, responsive to said comparison means, for refraining from originating purger hello frames if the address in the detected purger hello frame has a predetermined numerical relationship to the station address of said station; and F. means, responsive to said detecting means and said comparison means, for becoming a purging station in response to a ring re-initialization, and for remaining a purging station until said station receives a purger hello frame containing a source address which as said predetermined numerical relationship to the station address of said station.

Claim 50

A station for a token-ring, said station comprising: A. detecting means for detecting a network initialization; B. hello frame originating means, responsive to said detecting means, for periodically transmitting purger hello frames containing a source address equal to the station address of said station onto the network in response to a network initialization; C. purger hello frame receiving means for receiving a received purger hello frame; D. comparison means, responsive to said purger hello frame receiving means, for comparing the source address contained in said received purger hello frame and the station address of said station; E. means, responsive to said comparison means, for refraining from originating purger hello frames if the address in the detected purger hello frame has a predetermined numerical relationship to the station address of said station; and F. means, responsive to said detecting means and said comparison means, for becoming a purging station in response to a ring re-initialization, and for remaining a purging station until said station receives a purger hello frame containing a source address which as said predetermined numerical relationship to the station address of said station.

Claim 51

The network of claim 15, said purging means stripping from the network all frames and remnants of frames received, except a token or a purge marker frame containing the station address of another station in the source address field of said purge marker frame, after said token is captured and before an error-free purge marker frame or a second token is captured by said token capturing means.

Claim 52

The station as in claim 19, further comprising: A. means for periodically transmitting a purger hello frame having a current sequence; B. means for receiving a received purger hello frame; and C. means for determining if said received purger hello frame were transmitted by said purging station and is of said current sequence, and if it is not, said purging station ceasing to be a purging station.

Claim 53

The station as in claim 19, wherein said station was not a purging station, further comprising: A. means for receiving a purger hello frame transmitted by said purging station; and B. means for re-initializing said ring in the event that said purger hello frame is not received within a predetermined time period.

Claim 56

The method of claim 35, further comprising: A. periodically transmitting a purger hello frame having a current sequence; and B. receiving a received purger hello frame; and C. determining if said received purger hello frame were transmitted by said purging station and is of said current sequence, and if it is not, said purging station ceasing to be a purging station.

Claim 57

The method of claim 35, wherein said station was not a purging station, further comprising: A. receiving a purger hello frame transmitted by said purging station; and B. re-initializing said ring in the event that said purger hello frame is not received within a predetermined time period.

Claim 58

The station as in claim 33, further comprising: A. a current sequence number register; B. means (132) for including the station address of said station in the source address field of said periodically transmitted purger hello frame; C. means (132) for including the contents of said current sequence number register in said periodically transmitted purger hello frame as said current sequence; D. a purger id register; E. means (144), responsive to said means for receiving a received purger hello frame, for initializing the contents of said purger id register to a predetermined number, and for initializing said current sequence number register to a predetermined value, upon receipt of said received purger hello frame; F. means (148) for receiving a second received purger hello frame; G. a first comparison means (152) for determining whether the contents of said purger id register is equal to said predetermined value; and H. means (154, 156), responsive to said means for receiving a second received purger hello frame and said first comparison means, for storing the contents of the source address field of said second received purger hello frame in said purger id register, and storing the current sequence of said second received purger hello frame in said current sequence number register, upon receipt of said second received purger hello frame, when the contents of said purger id register is equal to said predetermined value.

Claim 59

The station of claim 38, further comprising: A. a second comparison means (160), responsive to said first comparison means (152) indicating said purger id value is equal to said predetermined value, for determining whether the contents of the source address field in said second received purger hello frame is lower than the station address of said station; and B. means (154, 156), responsive to said second comparison means (160) indicating that the source address field in said second received purger hello frame is lower than the station address of said station, for storing the contents of the source address field of said second received purger hello frame in said purger id register, and storing the current sequence of said second received purger hello frame in said current sequence number register.

Claim 60

The station of claim 34, further comprising: A. said means (146, 150, 151) for re-initializing said ring having a purger hello received timer, said purger hello received timer expiring said predetermined time period after being started or reset, said means for re-initializing said ring re-initializing said ring upon expiration of said purger hello frame received timer; B. means (146), responsive to said means for receiving a purger hello frame transmitted by said purging station, for starting said purger hello received timer upon receipt of said received purger hello frame; C. means (148) for receiving a second received purger hello frame; D. means (158), responsive to said means for receiving a second purger hello frame, for resetting said purger hello received timer upon receipt of said second received purger hello frame.

Claim 61

The station of claim 40, further comprising: A. comparison means (160), responsive to said means for receiving a second received purger hello frame, for determining whether the source address of said second received purger hello frame is lower than the station address of said station; and B. means (158), responsive to said comparison means, for resetting said purger hello received timer only when the source address of said second received purger hello frame is lower than the station address of said station.

Claim 62

The method of claim 36, further comprising: A. including (132) the station address of said station in the source address field of said periodically transmitted purger hello frame; B. including (132) the contents of a current sequence number register in said periodically transmitted purger hello frame as said current sequence; C. initializing (144) the contents of a purger id register to a predetermined number and initializing (144) said current sequence number register to a predetermined value, upon receipt of said received purger hello frame; D. receiving (148) a second received purger hello frame; and E. determining (152) whether the contents of said purger id register is equal to said predetermined value; F. storing (154) the contents of the source address field of said second received purger hello frame in said purger id register, and storing (156) the current sequence of said second received purger hello frame in said current sequence number register, when said second received purger hello frame is received and the contents of said purger id register is equal to said predetermined value.

Claim 63

The method of claim 42, further comprising: A. determining (160) if the contents of the source address field in said second received purger hello frame is lower than the contents of said purger id register when the contents of said purger id register is not equal to said predetermined value; B. storing (154) the contents of the source address field of said second received purger hello frame in said purger id register, and storing (156) the current sequence of said second received purger hello frame in said current sequence number register, when said second received purger hello frame is received, and the contents of the source address field in said second received purger hello frame is lower than the contents of said purger id register.

Claim 64

The method of claim 35, further comprising: A. starting (146) a purger hello received timer when said purger hello frame is received; B. receiving (148) a second received purger hello frame; C. resetting (158) said purger hello received timer upon receipt of said second purger hello frame; D. said purger hello received timer expiring said predetermined time period after being started or reset; and E. re-initializing (151) said ring upon expiration of a purger hello received timer.

Claim 65

The method of claim 44, further comprising: A. determining (152) whether the contents of said purger id register is equal to said predetermined value; B. determining (160) whether the source address of said second received purger hello frame is lower than the contents of purger id register; and C. resetting (158) said purger hello received timer only when either the contents of said purger id register is equal to said predetermined value or the source address of said second received purger hello frame is lower than the contents of said purger id register.

Claim 66

A station on a network, said station comprising: A. detecting means for detecting a network initialization; B. means, responsive to said detecting means, for setting a purger election timer; C. candidate hello frame transmitting means, responsive to said detecting means, for periodically transmitting candidate hello frames, said candidate hello frames containing the station address of said station; D. candidate hello frame receiving means, for receiving a received candidate hello frame from said network; E. a first comparison means, responsive to said candidate hello frame receiving means, for comparing the station address contained in said received candidate hello frame and the station address of said station; F. means, responsive to said first comparison means, for disabling said candidate hello frame transmitting means to prevent said transmitting of said candidate hello frames if the station address in said received candidate hello frame is numerically lower than the station address of said station; and G. means for declaring said station a network purging station if said purger election timer expires before a candidate hello frame with a lower station address than the station address of said station is received by said station.

Claim 67

A station on a network, said station comprising: A. detecting means for detecting a network initialization; B. means, responsive to said detecting means, for setting a purger election timer; C. candidate hello frame transmitting means, responsive to said detecting means, for periodically transmitting candidate hello frames, said candidate hello frames containing the station address of said station; D. candidate hello frame receiving means, for receiving a received candidate hello frame from said network; E. a first comparison means, responsive to said candidate hello frame receiving means, for comparing the station address contained in said received candidate hello frame and the station address of said station; F. means, responsive to said first comparison means, for disabling said candidate hello frame transmitting means to prevent said transmitting of said candidate hello frames if the station address in said received candidate hello frame is numerically lower than the station address of said station; and G. means for declaring said station a network purging station if said purger election timer expires before a candidate hello frame with a lower station address than the station address of said station is received by said station.

Claim 68

The station as in claim 19, further comprising: A. means for receiving a purger hello frame transmitted by said purging station; and B. means for re-initializing said ring in the event that said purger hello frame is not received within a predetermined time period.

Claim 69

A station for a token-ring network said station comprising: A. a first detecting means (110) for detecting a network initialization; B. a second detecting means (112), responsive to said first detecting means, for detecting whether said station was the claim token winner following a network initialization; and C. means (130), responsive to said second detecting means indicating that said station was the claim token winner, for said station to become a purger station.

Claim 70

The station as in claim 48, further comprising: purger hello frame transmitting means (132) for periodically transmitting purger hello frames.

Claim 71

The station as in claim 48, further comprising: candidate hello frame transmitting means (116), responsive to said second detecting means (112) indicating that said station was not the claim token winner, for periodically (124) transmitting candidate hello frames.

Claim 72

The station of claim 50, further comprising: A. token capturing means for capturing a token; and B. purge marker frame transmitting means (114), responsive to said second detecting means indicating that said station was not the claim token winner, and responsive to said token capturing means capturing a token, for turning on purge mode (114) and for transmitting one or more purge marker frames in responsive to capture of a token.

Claim 73

The station as in claim 51, further comprising: A. candidate hello frame receiving means (118) for receiving a received candidate hello frame; B. comparison means (118), responsive to said candidate hello frame receiving means, for determining whether said received candidate hello frame contains an address lower than the station address of said station; C. purger hello frame receiving means (120) for receiving a received purger hello frame, and providing indication when said received purger hello frame is received; and D. means (122, 130), responsive to said candidate hello frame receiving means, said comparison means, and said purger hello frame receiving means, for becoming (130) a purger station when no received candidate hello frame with a lower address than the station address, and no received purger hello frame, is received within a predetermined time period.

Claim 74

The station as in claim 51, further comprising: A. means for including the station address of said station in said one or more purge marker frames; B. purge marker frame receiving means for receiving a received purge marker frame from said network; C. comparison means (117), for comparing the station address in said received purge marker frame with the station address of said station; and D. means (119) for ceasing to transmit purge marker frames when the station address in said received purge marker frame is not equal to the station address of said station.

Claim 75

The station of claim 2, said purging operation also ending upon capture of a second token by said token capturing means.