Patent ID: 6061730
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An addressed packet network with separate packet assembly and packet broadcast channels comprising:a) a plurality of computers, each having a unique address, being capable of generating addressed data packets intended for delivery to another computer on the network, each computer including:(1) a packet assembly input for receiving addressed data packets from another computer;(2) a packet assembly output for delivering addressed data packets to another computer;(3) a packet broadcast input for receiving addressed data packets; and(4) an interface connected to said packet assembly input, said packet assembly Output, and said packet broadcast input, said interface for:(a) merging addressed data packets received at said packet assembly input with addressed data packets generated by the computer into a merged stream of addressed data packets;(b) delivering said merged stream of addressed data packets to said packet assembly output;(c) detecting addressed data packets from said packet broadcast input which bear the unique address of the computer;(d) delivering the detected packets to the computer for further processing;b) a packet assembly channel for assembling addressed data packets generated by all of said computers, said packet assembly channel connecting each of said computers together in a sequential chain beginning with a first of said computers and ending with a last of said computers, said chain being formed by connecting the packet assembly output of each of said computers, except the last of said computers, to the packet assembly input of the next computer in sequence through a packet communication connection; andc) a packet broadcast channel consisting of a packet communication connection between the packet assembly output of the last of said computers and the packet broadcast inputs of all of said computers.