International Business Machines Corporation

Andre Albano

Jean-Francois Le Pennec

Patrick Michel

Alain Benayoun

Jacques Fieschi

Rene Chuniaud

The invention relates to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) with two wireless communication hubs (USB hubs). One of these hubs is connected to a first host computer, and both USB hubs are connected to a plurality of I/O devices. Each USB hub includes a wireless adapter and an antenna connected to the wireless adapter. The wireless adapter of each USB hub comprises a transmitting/receiving unit for transmitting data via the antenna to the wireless adapter of the other USB hub or receiving data via the antenna from the wireless adapter of the other USB hub. The wireless adapter also comprises a wireless dual port, which is automatically configured upstream or downstream when the first host computer is connected to one of the USB hubs.

Universal serial bus (USB) with wireless communication hubs

An adapter device for transmitting data from a local data-handling unit to a remote data-handling unit via an AC power line includes processing facilities that receive digital data from the local data-handling unit and transform the digital data into ISDN data. The adapter device also includes a burst transceiver circuit (BTC) that converts the ISDN data into low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals on a U interface. A transformer of the adapter device transforms the low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals into high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals and transmits the high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals via the AC power line. Such an adapter device may also be used for receiving the data from the local data-handling unit at the remote data-handling unit.

Adapter device for the transmission of digital data over an AC power line

In a token ring network a periodic recirculating frame having a plurality of information carrying slots and a header section is used for enabling a plurality of telephone stations to exchange information carrying signals. The header is provided with a token which can assume one of three states. In the first state FF, a telephone station wanting to make a call, changes the token to the second state 00 and inserts call establishment information in the header. A server station also connected in the ring detects the second state as a request to establish a connection from and to a station specified in the header. The server changes the token to the third state AA and inserts a slot assignment in the header. All stations receiving a frame with a token in the third state examine the header. The calling station implies confirmation of the requested connection and the called station is made aware of the call and the identity of the caller. When this frame returns to the server the token state is set to FF and another station on the ring can request a slot for communication with another station.

Time division multiplex frame slot assignment system and method for

A token ring interconnects a plurality of telephone stations and a ring server station. All communication is conducted via a TDM frame which includes a START field, a TOKEN field which can have any one of three states (free, busy or dedicated to communication by the ring server station), calling and called station address fields, a field for data to be sent to the ring server station and a plurality of data slots via which the telephone stations exchange data once the slots are allocated. When a connection is desired by a station it seizes a free token by making it busy, inserts pertinent field data and send the TDM frame on to the ring server station which establishes the connection via an answer frame.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Laurent du Var, France

Andre Albano