The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 1986
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1983
Michael E Cope, Farmers Branch, TX (US);
Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation, Livingston, NJ (US);
Abstract
In a distributed computer control system in which remote stations are interconnected by a communications link, the remote stations take turns having supervisory control over the communications link. Each remote is numbered in sequence in a predetermined succession order and takes its turn having control of the communications link in accordance with this succession order. When a remote station has completed its turn of having supervisory control, it transmits a first control message over the communications link. The next remote station in the succession order then takes control over the communications link by transmitting a second control message over the communications link. Each remote station has two variable timers which are set in response to the first control message and the second control message, respectively, and have time out intervals depending upon the offset of the receiving remote station from the remote station which transmitted the control message. If and when any of these variable timers times out in a given remote station, then that remote station will assume control of the communications link by transmitting the second control message on the communications link.