3com Corporation

Inter-tel, Inc.

Apollo Computer Inc.

Synernetics Inc.

R Bruce McClure

Christopher P Lawler

Shannon Q Hill

David E Williams

William P Lane

A network interface for connecting a first network utilizing a first medium access control protocol to a plurality of relatively slower networks utilizing a second medium access control protocol. The network interface includes memory in which a table of addresses of nodes on the plurality of second networks is maintained. The network interface passes data from a data packet received from the first network to one of the plurality of second networks only if the destination address of the data packet matches one of the node addresses within the table of node addresses. The network interface passes data from a data packet received from one of the plurality of second networks to the first network only if the destination address of the data packet does not match a node address in the table of node addresses. The network interface passes data from a data packet received from one of the plurality of second networks to another of plurality of second networks only if the destination address of the data packet matches a node address in the table of node addresses.

Network multiplexer

Wall mounted connectors are provided in a communications ring network. The connectors join signal carrying lines until a communications node is connected into the network at the connector. When a plug from the node is inserted into the connector socket and rotated, plug contacts on the node plug are brought into contact with fixed, line contacts within the connector. Also, an electrical path through line closing conductors in the connector is broken. When the plug is rotated back and removed from the connector, the ring is again completed through the line closing conductors. The line closing conductors are mounted to a wheel which is driven by the plug. The rotor is positioned within a shielded enclosure formed by two pairs of upper and lower plates connected to the outer conductors of respective coaxial signal lines. A pawl pivoted on a biasing wheel drives the wheel back to the nonrotated position unless the wheel is rotated through half of a full rotation. From that point, the wheel is driven forward to ensure proper connection of the node into the network. In a plug associated with the connector, shielding of the inner conductors of node coaxial wire is enhanced by maintaining an integral length of wire between connections to the inner and outer conductor of the wire.

Connector for automatically maintaining the integrity of a

A communications unit that allows alternate voice and digital data transmissions over a single telephone line. A communications unit, at each of two locations that connect through telephones, includes a trunk signal path that connects to a telephone line and a telephone signal path that connects to the telephone. A digital data signal path connects to digital data processing equipment, usually in the form of an input/output unit in a digital data processing system. A monostable switch interconnects the telephone line and trunk signal paths in a stable conduction to enable voice communications. When the digital data signal path is used, a control automatically shifts the monostable switching means to its astable state thereby to isolate the telephone signal path and to interconnect the trunk signal path and the digital data signal path to allow data communications. When the data communications end, the control automatically allows the switching means to return to its stable state thereby to again enable voice communications. A testing and monitoring unit connects to the telephone signal path, the digital data signal path, and the control means to enable selective testing and monitoring of the communications unit.

Communications unit for voice and data

Growing community of inventors

Harvard, MA, United States of America

R Bruce McClure