Patent ID: 7047319

Claim:
A method over a collision LAN that comprises a plurality of stations physically connected over a shared transmission medium, for enabling a collision-free protocol for concurrently transmitting frames between all or part of the plurality of stations, the method comprising the steps of: forming a logical ring among all or part of the plurality of physically connected stations, the forming step including: upon starting insertion of said joining station, issuing an RIR (Ring Insert Request) message towards an assumed RM (Ring Manager); starting an RIT (Ring Insert Timer); checking whether an RIG (Ring Insert Granted) message is received or not; if said RIG is received, inserting said joining station in said logical ring to complete said insertion of said joining station in said logical ring; if said RIG is not received, checking whether an RID (Ring Insert Denied) message is received, if said RID is received, restarting insertion of said joining station; if said RID is not received, checking whether said RIT has elapsed; if said RIT has not elapsed, resuming at checking RIG step; and if said RIT has elapsed, issuing said RID message, self-electing said joining station to play the role of RM; circulating a token between stations of the logical ring; and transmitting from any one station that is part of the logical ring only while holding the token, to prevent collisions from happening upon transmitting over the shared transmission medium.