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:
Jun. 07, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1990
Marek J Fridrich, San Jose, CA (US);
Glen M Riley, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Robert A Dolin, Jr, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Echelon Systems Corp., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved network for communication of message packets. The network of the present invention implements an improved collision avoidance, detection and backoff system for communication on a media between nodes. The apparatus calculates a time period P after detecting the media is idle using a formula F which is a function of a pseudo-random delay factor T. If the media remains idle during the time period P, the device may transmit a message. The apparatus further has the ability to assign messages as being either priority or non-priority messages. Priority messages may be transmitted during priority message slots preassigned to transmitting nodes. Non-priority message contend for the media during a period of time following the period set for transmission of priority messages.