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. 28, 1995
Filed:
Jun. 04, 1993
Christopher Grobicki, Andover, MA (US);
Cynthia Mazza, Lynn, MA (US);
Edward O'Connell, N. Andover, MA (US);
John Ulm, Pepperell, MA (US);
Gerard White, Tyngsborough, MA (US);
LANcity Corporation, Andover, MA (US);
Abstract
A communications highway network system for the interactive communication of digital and analog information that incorporates LAN, MAN, and CATV technology to provide an information pathway of metropolitan size that has a spanning tree topology. The system is multiple drop that operates according a network protocol. The network protocol is based on modified TDM techniques, compensation for round trip loop delay, dynamic allocation of time slots on the network bus, and global synchronization. The protocol also permits concatenation of data packets to reduce overhead. Access to the network bus is controlled by a system allocator operating according to the network protocol. The allocator may allocate network bus bandwidth to simultaneously provide three levels of service for the system nodes to access the network bus, namely, isochronous, demand-based dedicated, and contention bandwidth allocation. This allocation method incorporates fairness to give all nodes sufficient bus access opportunities.