Patent ID: 6587473
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
A method of communicating information packets to and from a CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense multiple Access with Collision Detection) path via communication of information corresponding to the information packets over a bidirectional communications path, the method comprising the steps of:coupling a first end of the bidirectional communications path to the CSMA/CD path via a first modem having a CSMA/CD interface coupled to the CSMA/CD path, wherein the first modem is coupled to the first end of the bidirectional communications path via a first end interface; communicating the information packets between the CSMA/CD path and the first modem via a CSMA/CD interface; coupling a second end of the bidirectional communications path to a second modem, wherein the second modem is coupled to the second end of the bidirectional communications path via a second end interface; communicating information corresponding to the information packets between the first and second modems via the bidirectional communications path using half duplex communications controlled by the first modem, wherein each of the information packets comprises a MAC-layer packet grouping of data that is grouped to fit into one MAC-layer packet of CSMA/CD networks, and wherein the half duplex communications are half-duplex with respect to MAC-layer packet groupings of data; communicating control information for controlling the half duplex communications via the bidirectional communications path from the first modem to the second modem; and changing direction of flow on the bidirectional communications path for the information corresponding to the information packets, the direction of flow changing based at least upon completion of communication associated with conveying information corresponding to at least one MAC-layer packet grouping of data across at least one of the first end interface and the second end interface.