Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided for transmitting message signals in a high speed local area network which method performs as efficiently during intervals when few stations have messages to transmit as it does during intervals when many stations have messages to transmit. A station wishing to transmit a message first monitors the transmission medium to determine whether it is busy and, if not, initiates transmission of its message signal. If there are not predominant stations attempting to initiate transmission, then the subject station will continue its transmission until the completion thereof. If, however, a predominant station should attempt to initiate transmission at the same time as the subject station, i.e., a collision occurs, the predominant station wins and continues its transmission until the conclusion thereof. The subject station, being pre-empted, monitors a control bit contained in the preamble of each message signal to determine whether the control bit is set. When the subject station receives a message signal preamble having a control bit which is not set, the subject station sets the control bit, thereby reserving the right to transmit the next message signal.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim