Importance

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Abstract

A hybrid ring network is disclosed having stations capable of transmitting and receiving packet and isochronous data. The ring stations include a latency adjustment buffer (LAB) which stores arriving packet data in one random access memory (PBUF) and both arriving packet and isochronous data in a separate random access memory (IBUF). For retransmission over the ring, packet data is read out only from the PBUF in accordance with the packet's retransmission priority. A LAB may be employed at a slave station and may be pre-programmed with a sufficient latency to compensate for an anticipated insertion or removal of a lobe, without changing the total latency of the ring. When a LAB is employed at a cycle master station the latency of the LAB is controlled by the total ring delay.

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First Claim