Patent ID: 6661804
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A network to communicate data, the network comprising:a plurality of devices to generate data for transmission on said network; and a plurality of device adapters each including: a device interface to couple the device adapter with one or more of said devices and to receive said data generated thereby; a network interface to couple the device adapter with said network; and a processor coupled with said device interface and said network interface, the processor to transmit data received at said device interface to said network interface; said plurality of device adapters configurable to transmit data to the network according to a time frame, said time frame having a plurality of time phases; each of said device adapters capable of having at least one of said time phases assigned uniquely thereto and configurable to transmit data received at said device interface to said network during said assigned time phase; said plurality of time phases including a free-access phase during which each of said device adapters is able to contend for access to the network to transmit data.