Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-03
2002-12-17
Chin, Wellington (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S466000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06496509
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to network interfacing, and more particularly, to methods and systems for controlling data traffic on high speed network media for a local area network.
BACKGROUND ART
Local area networks use a network cable or other media to link stations on the network. Each local area network architecture uses a Media Access Control (MAC) enabling network interface cards at each station to share access to the media.
The Ethernet protocol ISO/IEC 8802-3 (ANSI/IEEE standard 802.3) defines a half-duplex media access mechanism that permits all stations to access the network channel with equality. Deployment of IEEE 802.3 requires establishment of a physical layer interface capable of transmitting packet data at data rates of at least 10 megabits per second (MB/s). The IEEE 802.3 committee developed a series of specifications for 10 MB/s Ethernet to support different kinds of media. Initially the original Ethernet was only supported over thick coaxial cable. Next came thin coaxial cable, referred to as “Cheapernet”, then Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), and fiber optic cable. A standard was established for optical fiber-based transport at 100 MB/s, referred to as the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) suite of standards. The FDDI standard, while accepted as a technology, required a relatively high cost due to implicit features such as redundancy and sophisticated mandatory management. Hence, FDDI was largely restricted to deployment in backbone applications.
The adoption of IEEE 10BASE-T for 10 MB/s Ethernet over Unshielded Twisted Pair enabled implementation of 10 B/s Ethernet in buildings using relatively inexpensive twisted pair cable. The availability of simple and inexpensive and Ethernet connectivity coincided with the accelerating trend to distribute high-performance computing power to the desk top, resulting in increased bandwidth needs.
Development of a 100BASE-T product resulted in a cost premium over 10 B/s devices. In particular, 10 BASE-T requires only two pairs of category 3 cable to operate, whereas 100 MB/s requires use of category 5 cable, which is substantially more expensive than category 3.
Separate from the development of computer networking technology, the IEEE 1394 high performance serial bus standards referred to as “Fire Wire” was adopted for connecting a consumer electronic device to a personal computer. The IEEE 1394 serial bus is an open standard for connecting computers to a consumer electronic product, for example a television, a vcr, and a camcorder. The IEEE-1394 product standard are currently-being applied to consumer electronic applications. However, IEEE-1394 only describes the physical and data link layer of the OSI protocol model.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
There is a need for an arrangement for increasing the bandwidth and a local area network without the necessity of high cost physical media technologies.
There is also a need for an arrangement to enable an IEEE 1394-compliant medium to be used to connect computers for establishment of a local area network for controlling communication between at least two computers according to a prescribed data protocol.
These and other needs are attained by the present invention, where an interface enables protocol translation between conventional network protocols and the IEEE 1394 high performance serial bus, enabling the IEEE 1394 compliant medium to be used as a high speed serial bus between two networked computers.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a local area network includes an IEEE 1394-compliant medium, and at least two computers. Each network computer includes network software executable by the corresponding computer for controlling communication between the two computers according to prescribed data protocol. Each computer also includes an IEEE 1394 compliant network interface, for establishing the communication between the two computers via the IEEE 1394-compliant medium. The network interface includes a media access control driver, configured as an interface between the network software, and the IEEE 1394-complaint hardware and the network interface. Hence, a relatively high-speed data network can be implemented in a low cost manner.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for transmitting packet data between a first computer and a second computer. The method includes sending a transmit request in the first computer for transmit packet from a network layer controller according to a prescribed media access controller protocol, translating the transmit request from the media access controller protocol for a selected one of asynchronous data transfer protocol and an isochronous data transfer protocol, and outputting the transmit data onto a network medium to the second computer based on the selected one data transfer protocol. The translation of the transmit request enables the first computer to output the transmit data based on a selected data transfer protocol. Hence, conventional network protocols may be used in an enhanced media access protocol that enables the same network to use isochronous data transport for guaranteed delivery of multiple time-critical multi-media data streams, or asynchronous data transport for less critical data transport requirements.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5991520 (1999-11-01), Smyers et al.
patent: 6021158 (2000-02-01), Schurr et al.
patent: 6061746 (2000-05-01), Stanley et al.
patent: 6088364 (2000-07-01), Tokuhiro
patent: 6134662 (2000-10-01), Levy et al.
patent: 6134665 (2000-10-01), Klein et al.
patent: 6154465 (2000-11-01), Pickett
Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
Chin Wellington
Jones Prenell
McDermott & Will & Emery
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