DATA COMMUNICATION BUS AND DATA COMMUNICATING METHOD

摘要

@ A data communication bus having two paths, each one of which is reconditioned at every other port connected to the bus. Each coupler, connecting a corresponding port to the bus, permits one of the two paths to directly pass therethrough for continued data flow along the bus. The coupler also accomplishes a T-connection on this path to bring the data into the connected port. For the second path the coupler directs the data into the port where it becomes reconditioned before returning to the bus. The coupler thus permits each port to select data from either path and each port reconditions the data for transmission to a subsequent coupler. Data is normally accepted by the port from coupled data first arriving at the port. However, if a path has a fault, the port will still receive coupled data through the other path. This same port will recondition the received data and restore subsequent sections of the bus to normal dual path communication.