초록 ▼

A network of nodes communicates using plural, shared parallel data channels and a separate reservation channel. Access to the data channels is coordinated among the nodes by communicating message requests and corresponding replies on the reservation channel. In addition to a primary transmitter/rece

A network of nodes communicates using plural, shared parallel data channels and a separate reservation channel. Access to the data channels is coordinated among the nodes by communicating message requests and corresponding replies on the reservation channel. In addition to a primary transmitter/receiver (e.g., a modem), each node includes a secondary receiver that permits each node to continuously monitor the reservation channel. When not engaged in a message transfer on one of the data channels, the primary receiver monitors the reservation channel. If the primary becomes engaged in a message transfer, the secondary receiver is activated and monitors the reservation channel. Use of the secondary receiver avoids loss of channel access information resulting from use of a single receiver for both the reservation and data transfer mechanisms. By transmitting requests for channel access on the reservation channel and continuously monitoring the reservation channel, message collisions are dramatically reduced.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A communication node operating in a network whose nodes communicate over plural shared data channels, said communication node comprising:a primary receiver and a secondary receiver, at least one of said primary and secondary receivers being tunable to the plural shared data channels to receive in

1. A communication node operating in a network whose nodes communicate over plural shared data channels, said communication node comprising:a primary receiver and a secondary receiver, at least one of said primary and secondary receivers being tunable to the plural shared data channels to receive information messages from other nodes, and at least one of said primary and secondary receivers being tunable to a reservation channel to monitor channel access reservation messages that are exchanged between nodes on the reservation channel; wherein said communication node continuously monitors the reservation channel during periods when channel access reservation messages are expected by tuning one of the primary receiver and the secondary receiver to the reservation channel, and wherein said communication node maintains an availability status of each neighboring node and each of the plural shared data channels determined from the channel access reservation messages received on the reservation channel by said primary receiver or said secondary receiver; and wherein channel access reservation messages are not expected during transmission of a broadcast message on one of the plural shared data channels, and neither said primary receiver nor said secondary receiver monitors the reservation channel when said primary receiver is engaged in transferring an information message on one of the shared data channels and said secondary receiver is simultaneously receiving the broadcast message on another of the shared data channels.