Method and apparatus for a dynamic, multi-speed bus architecture in which an exchange of speed messages occurs independent of the data signal transfers

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, further comprising sending said data message at said data transmission rate to a third node which is coupled to said bus and adapted to receive data signals at said data transmission rate wherein said particular node is said third node.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1, including a step of receiving said data message from a transmitting node on said bus.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1, including a step of generating said data message at said first node.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 5, wherein said first node includes a local host which generates said data message and designates said transmission rate for transmission of said data message from said first node.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 5, wherein a third node is coupled to a port of said first node, further including the steps of receiving at said first node a transmission speed message indicative of said transmission rate from said third node, and receiving said data message at said first node from said third node.

Claim 10

A node in a data processing system for communicating signals to a second node in the system by way of a bus, comprising: an input/output port for connection to said second node by way of communication lines forming said bus; a speed signal transceiver coupled to said input/output port for exchanging speed signals with said second node, including receiving a speed capability signal indicative of a maximum reception rate of said second node, and sending a transmission speed signal indicative of a transmission rate associated with a data message to be transmitted from said node; a speed control logic circuit coupled to the speed signal transceiver for comparing the maximum reception rate of said second node with the transmission rate associated with said data message; and a first data signal transceiver coupled to said speed control logic circuit and said input/output port for transmitting said data message to said second node at said transmission rate, if said transmission rate does not exceed said maximum reception rate, and otherwise transmitting a mock data message to said second node at a mock signal rate not greater than said maximum reception rate.

Claim 11

A node in a data processing system for communicating signals to a second node in the system by way of a bus, comprising: an input/output port for connection to said second node by way of communication lines forming said bus; a speed signal transceiver coupled to said input/output port for exchanging speed signals with said second node, including receiving a speed capability signal indicative of a maximum reception rate of said second node, and sending a transmission speed signal indicative of a transmission rate associated with a data message to be transmitted from said node; a speed control logic circuit coupled to the speed signal transceiver for comparing the maximum reception rate of said second node with the transmission rate associated with said data message; and a first data signal transceiver coupled to said speed control logic circuit and said input/output port for transmitting said data message to said second node at said transmission rate, if said transmission rate does not exceed said maximum reception rate, and otherwise transmitting a mock data message to said second node at a mock signal rate not greater than said maximum reception rate.

Claim 12

A node as claimed in claim 8, wherein said speed control logic circuit is adapted to control said first data signal transceiver such that a transmission duration of said mock data message at said mock signal rate is equal to a duration of said data message at said transmission rate.

Claim 13

A node as claimed in claim 9, including a second input/output port for connection to a third node by way of respective communication lines, and a second data signal transceiver coupled to said second input/output port and to said first data signal transceiver by way of an internal node bus, to enable said data message to be received from said third node through said second input/output port and passed to said second node by way of said internal node bus and said input/output port.

Claim 14

A node as claimed in claim 10, including a local host coupled to said first data signal transceiver for generating said data message and passing said data message to said first data signal transceiver.

Claim 15

A node as claimed in claim 8, wherein said input/output port is adapted for passing both differential and common mode signals, and wherein said data signal transceiver is a differential transceiver, and said speed signal transceiver is a common mode transceiver.

Claim 16

A nodal network forming a multi-speed bus for transferring data, comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by way of point-to-point communication links, wherein each node comprises: first and second communication ports coupled to respective other nodes in the network by way of respective communication links; a transmission speed receiver means coupled to the first communication port for receiving a speed signal indicative of a data message transmission rate; a speed capability transmitter coupled to the first communication port for transmitting a first speed capability signal indicative of a first maximum data reception rate for the node; a data message receiver coupled to the first communication port for receiving a data message at said data message transmission rate if said data message transmission rate does not exceed said first maximum data reception rate; a transmission speed transmitter coupled to the second communication port for transmitting said speed signal; a speed capability receiver coupled to the second communication port for receiving a second speed capability signal indicative of a second maximum data reception rate for the respective node coupled to the second communication port; and a data message transmitter coupled to the second communication port for transmitting said data message at said data message transmission rate if said data message transmission rate does not exceed said second maximum data reception rate, and for otherwise transmitting a mock data message at a mock transmission rate not greater than said second maximum data reception rate, such that a transmission duration of said mock data message at said mock transmission rate is equal to a duration of said data message at said transmission rate.

Claim 17

A nodal network forming a multi-speed bus for transferring data, comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by way of point-to-point communication links, wherein each node comprises: first and second communication ports coupled to respective other nodes in the network by way of respective communication links; a transmission speed receiver means coupled to the first communication port for receiving a speed signal indicative of a data message transmission rate; a speed capability transmitter coupled to the first communication port for transmitting a first speed capability signal indicative of a first maximum data reception rate for the node; a data message receiver coupled to the first communication port for receiving a data message at said data message transmission rate if said data message transmission rate does not exceed said first maximum data reception rate; a transmission speed transmitter coupled to the second communication port for transmitting said speed signal; a speed capability receiver coupled to the second communication port for receiving a second speed capability signal indicative of a second maximum data reception rate for the respective node coupled to the second communication port; and a data message transmitter coupled to the second communication port for transmitting said data message at said data message transmission rate if said data message transmission rate does not exceed said second maximum data reception rate, and for otherwise transmitting a mock data message at a mock transmission rate not greater than said second maximum data reception rate, such that a transmission duration of said mock data message at said mock transmission rate is equal to a duration of said data message at said transmission rate.