Distributed intelligence network using time and frequency multiplexing

Claim 1

A method for transmitting boot images to a number of nodes in a network, comprising: the step, performed continuously, of generating a periodic timing mark to define a series of cycles wherein (i) at least one interval within each cycle is designated a signalling packet ("SP") interval, and (ii) a plurality of other intervals within each cycle are designated timeslots; the step, performed by a network boot unit ("NBU"), of transmitting a boot control signalling packet ("BCSP") in a given SP interval, wherein the BCSP (i) contains boot control information signifying that a boot image is to be transmitted, (ii) specifies at least one timeslot in which the boot image is to be transmitted in later cycles, and (iii) contains image descriptor information identifying the boot image; and the steps, performed by the NBU, of transmitting boot packets, each containing a portion of the identified boot image, within the specified timeslot or timeslots for each of a number of cycles subsequent to the frame in which the BCSP was transmitted.

Claim 2

A method for transmitting boot images to a number of nodes in a network, comprising: the step, performed continuously, of generating a periodic timing mark to define a series of cycles wherein (i) at least one interval within each cycle is designated a signalling packet ("SP") interval, and (ii) a plurality of other intervals within each cycle are designated timeslots; the step, performed by a network boot unit ("NBU"), of transmitting a boot control signalling packet ("BCSP") in a given SP interval, wherein the BCSP (i) contains boot control information signifying that a boot image is to be transmitted, (ii) specifies at least one timeslot in which the boot image is to be transmitted in later cycles, and (iii) contains image descriptor information identifying the boot image; and the steps, performed by the NBU, of transmitting boot packets, each containing a portion of the identified boot image, within the specified timeslot or timeslots for each of a number of cycles subsequent to the frame in which the BCSP was transmitted.

Claim 9

A method wherein a plurality of network boot units ("NBU's") in a network determine which NBU is to respond to a boot request signalling packet ("BRSP") specifying a particular boot image, comprising: the step, performed continuously, of generating a periodic timing marks to define a series of cycles wherein (i) at least one interval within each cycle is designated a signalling packet ("SP") interval, and (ii) a plurality of additional intervals within the cycle are designated timeslots; and the steps, performed by each NBU having access to the particular boot image, of transmitting a boot control signalling packet ("BCSP") during the SP interval, the BCSP for each NBU identifying that NBU as the source, testing for the reception of a BCSP, determining if the first BCSP received originated from itself, and assuming the status of master NBU if and only if the first received BCSP did originate from itself.

Claim 10

A method wherein a plurality of network boot units ("NBU's") in a network determine which NBU is to respond to a boot request signalling packet ("BRSP") specifying a particular boot image, comprising: the step, performed continuously, of generating a periodic timing marks to define a series of cycles wherein (i) at least one interval within each cycle is designated a signalling packet ("SP") interval, and (ii) a plurality of additional intervals within the cycle are designated timeslots; and the steps, performed by each NBU having access to the particular boot image, of transmitting a boot control signalling packet ("BCSP") during the SP interval, the BCSP for each NBU identifying that NBU as the source, testing for the reception of a BCSP, determining if the first BCSP received originated from itself, and assuming the status of master NBU if and only if the first received BCSP did originate from itself.

Claim 12

A method for transmitting information from a node in a specified timeslot in a time-division multiplexed communication system having a unidirectional transmitting bus terminating at a head-end and translated at said head-end onto a unidirectional receiving bus originating from said head-end, comprising the steps of: transmitting a test signal on said transmitting bus from said node; receiving said test signal from said receiving bus at said node; calculating the elapsed time between said transmitting and receiving steps; calculating a skew time from said elapsed time; transmitting an information signal an amount of time equal to said skew time prior to a time of arrival of said timeslot at said head-end; generating a periodic timing mark, with the periods between said timing marks being frames, each frame having a plurality of timeslots; transmitting information signals to a second node in said specified timeslot in first frames, said first frames occurring every other frame; and receiving information signals from said second node in said specified timeslot in second frames, said second frames occurring between said first frames.

Claim 13

A method for transmitting information from a node in a specified timeslot in a time-division multiplexed communication system having a unidirectional transmitting bus terminating at a head-end and translated at said head-end onto a unidirectional receiving bus originating from said head-end, comprising the steps of: transmitting a test signal on said transmitting bus from said node; receiving said test signal from said receiving bus at said node; calculating the elapsed time between said transmitting and receiving steps; calculating a skew time from said elapsed time; transmitting an information signal an amount of time equal to said skew time prior to a time of arrival of said timeslot at said head-end; generating a periodic timing mark, with the periods between said timing marks being frames, each frame having a plurality of timeslots; transmitting information signals to a second node in said specified timeslot in first frames, said first frames occurring every other frame; and receiving information signals from said second node in said specified timeslot in second frames, said second frames occurring between said first frames.

Claim 22

A method for claiming a timeslot for voice transmissions at one node in a network over a medium, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a periodic timing mark on said medium, each timing mark being followed by a plurality of timeslots; (b) monitoring, at each node, timeslots following said timing mark for the presence of messages; (c) storing in a memory at each node a list of occupied timeslots; (d) transmitting, at an originating node a dummy message in a claimed, random one of the unoccupied timeslots as determined from said memory list; (e) monitoring said medium for reception of said transmitted dummy message; (f) comparing a received dummy message to the transmitted dummy message; (g) repeating steps (a) through (f) if the transmitted and received dummy messages are not substantially similar; (h) transmitting a series of dummy messages in said claimed timeslot to keep the claimed timeslot occupied; (i) updating said memory list in other nodes to indicate said claimed timeslot as being occupied; (j) transmitting a signalling packet from said originating node having a destination address, an originating address, and the location of said claimed timeslot; (k) monitoring said medium for a response to said signalling packet; (l) receiving a responsive signalling packet designating a claimed response timeslot; and (m) transmitting voice data in said claimed timeslot and converting voice data in said response timeslot into voice signals.

Claim 28

A method for claiming a timeslot for voice transmissions at one node in a network over a medium, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a periodic timing mark on said medium, each timing mark being followed by a plurality of timeslots; (b) monitoring, at each node, timeslots following said timing mark for the presence of messages; (c) storing in a memory at each node a list of occupied timeslots; (d) transmitting, at an originating node a dummy message in a claimed, random one of the unoccupied timeslots as determined from said memory list; (e) monitoring said medium for reception of said transmitted dummy message; (f) comparing a received dummy message to the transmitted dummy message; (g) repeating steps (a) through (f) if the transmitted and received dummy messages are not substantially similar; (h) transmitting a series of dummy messages in said claimed timeslot to keep the claimed timeslot occupied; (i) updating said memory list in other nodes to indicate said claimed timeslot as being occupied; (j) transmitting a signalling packet from said originating node having a destination address, an originating address, and the location of said claimed timeslot; (k) monitoring said medium for a response to said signalling packet; (l) receiving a responsive signalling packet designating a claimed response timeslot; and (m) transmitting voice data in said claimed timeslot and converting voice data in said return timeslot into voice signals. (n) receiving, at a receiving node, said signalling packet addressed to said receiving node; (o) transmitting a second dummy message in a response timeslot having a predetermined relationship to said claimed timeslot; (p) monitoring said medium for reception of said transmitted second dummy message; (q) receiving said second dummy message; (r) comparing said received second dummy message to the transmitted second dummy message; (s) repeating steps (o) through (r) if said stored second dummy message and received dummy message are not substantially similar; (t) transmitting a signalling packet addressed to said originating node indicating that said response timeslot has been claimed; (u) transmitting a series of second dummy messages in said response timeslot to keep said response timeslot occupied; (v) sending voice transmissions in said response timeslot; (w) determining whether said receiving node is busy with another transmission; (x) sending a signalling packet to said originating node indicating that said receiving node is busy if said receiving node is busy; (y) determining whether said originating node is on the same channel as said receiving node; (z) transmitting a signalling packet to an additional node when said receiving and originating nodes are on different channels and said receiving node is busy, said signalling package indicating that said receiving node is busy; (aa) retransmitting, at said additional node, said signalling packet from said receiving node to said originating node on the frequency channel of said originating node.

Claim 29

A method for establishing and maintaining a voice communication between nodes in a network, each node having at least one associated telephone characterized by address information, comprising: the step, performed repetitively and continuously, of generating periodic timing marks to define a series of cycles wherein (i) at least one interval within each cycle is designated a signalling packet ("SP") interval, (ii) a plurality of other intervals within each cycle are designated voice time slots ("VTS"), and (iii) pairs of VTS's in each cycle define a voice circuit ("VC"); the step, performed by a first node receiving signals from its associated telephone, of claiming a first VTS of an unused VC;. the step, performed between the first node and a second node addressed by the first node of exchanging SP's between the first and second nodes; claiming the second VTS of the VC for the second node; and the steps, performed by each of the first and second nodes, of inserting voice data in their respective claimed VTS's, each node generating the voice data on the basis of signals received from its associated telephone for transmission to the other node and applying voice data as received from the other node to its associated phone.

Claim 33

A method for establishing and maintaining a voice communication between nodes in a network, each node having at least one associated telephone characterized by address information, comprising: the step, performed repetitively and continuously, of generating periodic timing marks to define a series of cycles wherein (i) at least one interval within each cycle is designated a signalling packet ("SP") interval, (ii) a plurality of other intervals within each cycle are designated voice time slots ("VTS"), and (iii) pairs of VTS's in each cycle define a voice circuit ("VC"); the step, performed by a first node in response to signals from its associated telephone indicating an off-hook condition and a combination of keystrokes indicating a call to be placed to a second node, of claiming a first VTS of an unused VC; the step, performed by the first node in response to successfully claiming the first VTS, of transmitting a Call Request SP to the second node; the step, performed by the second node in response to receiving the Call Request SP, of sending an Accept SP or a Busy SP to the first node; the steps, performed by the first node in response to receiving the Accept SP, of transmitting an ACK SP to the second node, and applying a ringback signal or a busy signal to its own associated phone; the step, performed by the second node in response to receiving the ACK SP, of causing its own associated phone to ring; the step, carried out by the second node in response to signals from its associated phone indicating an off-hook condition, of claiming the second VTS of the VC; the step, performed by the second node in response to successfully claiming the second VTS, of sending an Answer SP to the first node; the step, performed by the first node in response to receiving the Answer SP, of sending an ACK SP to the second node; and the steps, carried out by each of the first and second nodes, of inserting voice data in their respective claimed VTS's, each node generating the voice data on the basis of signals received from its associated telephone for transmission to the other node and applying voice data as received from the other node to its associated phone.

Claim 37

A system for transmitting messages to and from nodes over a network broadband medium, comprising: a plurality of head-end means, coupled to one end of said network medium, for receiving said messages in a first frequency band and retransmitting said messages over said network medium in a second frequency band, said first and second frequency bands being a channel, each of said head-end means operating on a different channel; a timing mark generator coupled to said network medium for simultaneously producing periodic timing marks on all of said channels; a plurality of clock generators, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for producing the clock signals for said head-end means; a plurality of phase lock loops, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for phase lock synchronizing said clock signals to a master clock; a plurality of digital phase lock loop means, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for producing a fractional offset of the bits of a message in a timeslot following one of said timing marks to synchronize said message with said clock signals; and means, coupled to said head-end means, for examining the contents of each timeslot and inserting a bit patterns for synchronization in the absence of a message.

Claim 38

A system for transmitting messages to and from nodes over a network broadband medium, comprising: a plurality of head-end means, coupled to one end of said network medium, for receiving said messages in a first frequency band and retransmitting said messages over said network medium in a second frequency band, said first and second frequency bands being a channel, each of said head-end means operating on a different channel; a timing mark generator coupled to said network medium for simultaneously producing periodic timing marks on all of said channels; a plurality of clock generators, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for producing the clock signals for said head-end means; a plurality of phase lock loops, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for phase lock synchronizing said clock signals to a master clock; a plurality of digital phase lock loop means, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for producing a fractional offset of the bits of a message in a timeslot following one of said timing marks to synchronize said message with said clock signals; and means, coupled to said head-end means, for examining the contents of each timeslot and inserting a bit patterns for synchronization in the absence of a message.

Claim 41

A system for transmitting messages to and from nodes over a network broadband medium, comprising: a plurality of head-end means, coupled to one end of said network medium, for receiving said messages in a first frequency band and retransmitting said messages over said network medium in a second frequency band, said first and second frequency bands being a channel, each of said head-end means operating on a different channel; a timing mark generator coupled to said network medium for simultaneously producing periodic timing marks on all of said channels; a plurality of clock generators, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for producing the clock signals for said head-end means; a plurality of phase lock loops, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for phase lock synchronizing said clock signals to a master clock; a plurality of digital phase lock loop means, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for producing a fractional offset of the bits of a message in a timeslot following one of said timing marks to synchronize said message with said clock signals; means, coupled to said head-end means, for examining the contents of each timeslot and inserting a bit pattern for synchronization in the absence of a massage; a plurality of second phase lock loops, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for phase synchronizing each said clock generator to an external clock; logic means for selecting one of the outputs of said second phase lock loops as said master clock; and wherein a first or last portion of each said timeslot contains no data to allow said digital phase lock loop means to reset.

Claim 42

A system for transmitting messages to and from nodes over a network broadband medium, comprising: a plurality of head-end means, coupled to one end of said network medium, for receiving said messages in a first frequency band and retransmitting said messages over said network medium in a second frequency band, said first and second frequency bands being a channel, each of said head-end means operating on a different channel; a timing mark generator coupled to said network medium for simultaneously producing periodic timing marks on all of said channels; a plurality of clock generators, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for producing the clock signals for said head-end means; a plurality of phase lock loops, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for phase lock synchronizing said clock signals to a master clock; a plurality of digital phase lock loop means, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for producing a fractional offset of the bits of a message in a timeslot following one of said timing marks to synchronize said message with said clock signals; means, coupled to said head-end means, for examining the contents of each timeslot and inserting a bit pattern for synchronization in the absence of a massage; a plurality of second phase lock loops, each coupled to a different one of said head-end means, for phase synchronizing each said clock generator to an external clock; logic means for selecting one of the outputs of said second phase lock loops as said master clock; and wherein a first or last portion of each said timeslot contains no data to allow said digital phase lock loop means to reset.