Patent ID: 6115756
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A computer system comprising:a first ring configured to communicate frames among at least two modules coupled to said first ring;a second ring; anda first bridge module coupled to said first ring and to said second ring, wherein said first bridge module is configured to transmit a first frame received from said first ring to said second ring if a first address within said first frame indicates a destination external to said first ring, and wherein said first bridge module is configured to transmit a second frame received from said second ring upon said first ring if a second address within said second frame indicates one of said at least two modules coupled to said first ring, and wherein said first ring and said second ring both employ a particular protocol for transmitting frames;wherein said protocol comprises time division multiplexing in which a first ring transit time corresponding to said first ring is divided into a first plurality of time slots, and wherein each of said first plurality of time slots is statically assigned to an owner, and wherein said owner is either one of said at least two modules or said first bridge module, and wherein said owner of a first one of said first plurality of time slots is configured to allow another module to use said first one of said first plurality of time slots by marking said first one of said first plurality of time slots not owned, and wherein said owner of said first one of said first plurality of time slots is further configured to reclaim said first one of said first plurality of time slots by marking said first one of said first plurality of time slots owned, and wherein only said owner of said first one of said first plurality of time slots is configured to mark said first one of said first plurality of time slots as either owned or not owned, and wherein said owner of said first one of said first plurality of time slots is further configured to reclaim said first one of said first plurality of time slots as owned even if said first one of said first plurality of time slots is transmitting a second frame corresponding to said another module.