Patent ID: 6693905
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A data exchange unit for communicating with a counterpart unit through a transmission line using, as a unit, a packet including header and data fields, the exchange unit comprising:a transmission buffer; a reception buffer; a transmission-reception buffer; a transmission filter for selectively storing a packet to be transmitted on either the transmission buffer or the transmission-reception buffer depending on the contents of the packet to be transmitted; a reception filter for selectively storing a received packet on either the reception buffer or the transmission-reception buffer depending on the contents of the received packet; a packet processor for making a packet containing information to be transmitted or fetching necessary information from the received packet; a transceiver for converting the packet that has been stored on the transmission buffer or the transmission-reception buffer into an electrical signal to be transmitted through the transmission line or converting another electrical signal received through the transmission line into the packet that will be stored on the reception buffer or the transmission-reception buffer; and a central processing unit for activating the packet processor, wherein if a response packet paired with a request packet has been received, then the reception filter stores the response packet received on the transmission-reception buffer and informs the packet processor of response detected, and wherein if any other response packet has been received in response to the request packet, then the reception filter stores the received packet on the reception buffer and issues a suspension instruction to the packet processor.