US3732374A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication system and method
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1970-12-31
•
Granted: 1973-05-08
•
Expires: 1990-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A multi-loop multiplex communication system is disclosed wherein a plurality of remote transmitting terminals are connected via a loop to a system controller and wherein a plurality of remote receivers are connected via a second loop to the same system controller. In operation, all communications between devices associated with the first loop, the second loop and the system controller are carried out via assigned time slots in a system time frame. Under control of the system controller, all communications between devices associated with the first loop and devices associated with the second loop are carried out via nonassigned time slots in the system time frame. When device-todevice communications are being carried out, means are provided at the system controller for connecting the first and second loop in series converting the two loops from their essentially parallel operation when devices associated with either loop interact with the system controller. In one embodiment, a variable time delay is provided at the system controller called a compensation delay which, regardless of the loop lengths, in conjunction with the propagation delay, makes the total delay a constant value. This permits the use of the same assigned time slot by the transmitter and receiver associated with a given device and which are connected to different loops. In another embodiment, the delay arrangement is eliminated by providing a third cable which is in parallel with both loops and which provides a bit, byte and frame synchronization for all devices associated with both loops. In the latter arrangement, however, device-to-device communication is still carried out using nonassigned time slots while device-to-system controller and system controller-to-device communications are still carried out on assigned time slots. A controller switching arrangement is shown along with an example of a typical terminal device and, further, a method for operating the multi-loop multiplex communication system is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 E Rocher
- 👤 S Schuster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M9/00; H04M9/02; H04M9/022; H04M9/025; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/24; H04J3/245; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/42; H04L12/427; H04L12/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A multiplex communication system comprising: a system controller including means for generating time frames, at least first and second communications loops, a plurality of loop interface devices including a transmitter and a receiver connected in parallel with said first and second loops, respectively, and, means connected to said loops for interconnecting said loops during a portion of said time frames.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A multiplex communication system comprising: a system controller including means for generating time frames, at least first and second communications loops, a plurality of loop interface devices including a transmitter and a receiver connected in parallel with said first and second loops, respectively, and, means connected to said loops for interconnecting said loops during a portion of said time frames.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 1 wherein said means for interconnecting said loops includes: switching means for serially connecting said first and second loops during said portion of said time frame and for maintaining said loops in substantially parallel relationship during portions other than said portion of said time frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 1 wherein said means for generating time frames is connected directly to said first loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 1 further including a separate sync loop connected in parallel with at least said first loop to which said means for generating time frames is connected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 1 further including a data handling device connected to each of said loop interface devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 4 wherein said sync loop is connected in parallel with said loop interface devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A multiplex communication system comprising: a system controller including means for generating time frames, at least first and second communication loops, a plurality of transceivers connected in parallel with said first loop, a plurality of receivers connected in parallel with said second loop, and, means connected to said loops for interconnecting said loops during a portion of said time frAme.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A multiplex communication system comprising: a system controller including means for generating time frames, at least first and second communication loops, a plurality of transceivers connected in parallel with said first loop, a plurality of receivers connected in parallel with said second loop, and, means connected to said loops for interconnecting said loops during a portion of said time frAme.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 7 wherein said means for generating time frames includes means for generating assigned time slots one per tranceiver and a plurality of non-assigned time slots.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 7 wherein said means for interconnecting said loops during a portion of said time frame includes: switching means for serially connecting said first and second loops during said portion of said time frame and for maintaining said loops in substantially parallel relationship during portions other than said portion of said time frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 7 wherein said means for generating time frames is connected directly to said first loop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 7 further including a separate sync loop connected in parallel with at least said first loop to which said means for generating time frames is connected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 7 further including a separate sync loop connected in parallel with said first and second loops to which said means for generating time frames is connected.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 7 further including a data handling device connected to each said tranceiver and each said receiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 8 wherein said assigned time slots are the same length and said non-assigned time slots are of a length equal to or greater than said assigned time slots.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 9 further including delay means electrically interconnected with said switching means, the amount of delay provided plus the propagation delay in said first loop being a constant value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 11 wherein said sync loop is connected in parallel with said tranceivers and said receivers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 12 wherein said sync loop is connected in parallel with said tranceivers and said receivers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 13 wherein said data handling device is one of a central processing unit, a data storage device and a data terminal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
A multiplex communication system comprising: a system controller, a first loop to which a plurality of transmitters is connected for carrying information between said transmitters and said system controller, a second loop to which a plurality of receivers is connected for carrying information between said system controller and said receivers and, a third loop including said first and second loops for carrying information between said transmitters and said receivers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
69 words
A multiplex communication system comprising: a system controller, a first loop to which a plurality of transmitters is connected for carrying information between said transmitters and said system controller, a second loop to which a plurality of receivers is connected for carrying information between said system controller and said receivers and, a third loop including said first and second loops for carrying information between said transmitters and said receivers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 19 further including switching means for serially interconnecting said first and second loops to form said third loop when information is being directly passed from a transmitter to a receiver and vice versa.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 19 further including means for generating time frames connected to said loops.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 19 further including a data handling device connected to a receiver and a transmitter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 19 further including means for generating time frames connected directly to said first loop.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A multiplex communication system according to claim 19 further including a separate sync loop connected in parallel with said at least said first loop.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for communicating among a system controller and a plurality of remote transmitters and receivers which are connected to first and second communications loops, respectively, comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of time frames in said system controller having a plurality of assigned and nonassigned time slots, communicating information beTween said system controller and said transmitters and receivers via said assigned time slots, and, communicating information between said transmitters and said receivers via non-assigned time slots.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for communicating among a system controller and a plurality of remote transmitters and receivers which are connected to first and second communications loops, respectively, comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of time frames in said system controller having a plurality of assigned and nonassigned time slots, communicating information beTween said system controller and said transmitters and receivers via said assigned time slots, and, communicating information between said transmitters and said receivers via non-assigned time slots.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for communicating according to claim 25 wherein the step of communicating between said transmitters and said receivers includes the step of: switching said first and second loops into a single series loop.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for communicating according to claim 25 further including the step of: independently supplying timing information via a sync loop to said plurality of remote receivers and transmitters.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method for communicating according to claim 25 further including the step of: applying timing information directly to said first loop.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for communicating according to claim 25 further including the step of: electrically connecting a data handling device to a transmitter and a receiver.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for communicating according to claim 26 further including the step of: introducing a delay between said first and second loops to delay the appearance of said assigned and nonassigned time slots on said second loop by a fixed amount.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |