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:
Nov. 13, 1990
Filed:
Feb. 23, 1989
Zygmunt Haas, Matawan, NJ (US);
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
With this invention, collisions of optical packets in local area networks are avoided. Briefly, each branch of a local area network topology, such as a star, a ring or a bus is provided with an optical path having two substantially parallel optical fibers which can be selectively configured to form either a direct straight through path or a loop-back path. Prior to advancing a packet to the next occurring branch, a test is made to determine if it is occupied. If it is not occupied, the packet is advanced along one of the opitcal fibers of the optical path. If it is occupied, then the two optical fibers are rapidly configured to form a loop-back path and the packet travels around the loop-back path, again and again as required until the danger of a collison with a preceding packet no longer exists.