Importance

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Abstract

Ethernet collision control systems and methods for an ethernet network are provided which utilize a media access controller (MAC) which inserts a counter code in the inter-frame gap (IFG) between frame units when transmitting data of a data size which exceeds the capacity of a single frame of the ethernet protocol. The counter code provides a clock signal which may be received by other hosts on the network when they monitor the network to determine whether they are able to make transmissions. First, by recognizing the counter code between frames as distinguished from an idle period signal, the hosts seeking to transmit are notified that additional frames are expected in the next time window from the currently transmitting host. In addition, a counter is provided on each host which generates a count value from the received counter code received during inter-frame gaps and generates a retransmission criterion for controlling transmissions based on the received counter code. Accordingly, a counter code may be used to prioritize access to the network based upon the sequence with which additional hosts wishing to transmit data access the network responsive to an internally generated transmission request.

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First Claim