Secure interconnection system for shared data transmission - uses local auxiliary buses for connection of processors and peripherals through couplers to bus-loop

摘要

A functional unit comprises a processor card and two peripheral cards while a second functional unit comprises a processor card and a peripheral card. These are interconnected by a general bus and in order to prevent failure of a card from blocking the bus a safety interconnection circuit is used. This comprises an auxiliary bus to which processor cards are connected through a bus coupler. A second coupler type is used for peripheral cards. Couplers of the same functional unit are connected to a local auxiliary bus. A local repeater connects the local auxiliary buses to an auxiliary bus loop which interconnects all local repeaters through loop repeaters. The auxiliary bus permits reconfiguration of the system and allows a faulty card to be disconnected.