Patent ID: 8385740
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of arbitrating data transmissions to prevent data collisions in an optical data interconnect system comprising a transmitting node, a plurality of receiving nodes, and a plurality of remaining nodes, comprising: transmitting a transmission request signal from the transmitting node over an arbitration channel corresponding to the transmitting node and operatively connected to the plurality of remaining nodes, wherein the transmitting node comprises an arbiter module; monitoring, at the arbiter module of the transmitting node, a plurality of arbitration channels each respectively corresponding to one of the plurality of remaining nodes for a predetermined period of time; determining, by the arbiter module of the transmitting node, a start time for a data transmission from the transmitting node based on the monitored signals to prevent a data collision; initiating, at the determined start time, a data transmission of a data signal from the transmitting node over a first optical data channel operatively connected to the plurality of remaining nodes and an optical splitter; and splitting, using the optical splitter, the data signal over a second optical channel operatively connected to the plurality of receiving nodes, wherein the optical splitter operatively connects the first optical data channel and the second optical data channel.