Inventors:
Joseph L. Katz - Bedford MA
Edward C. Grund - Burlington MA
Richard P. Cope - Woburn MA
Alvin L. Glick - Lexington MA
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air
Force - Washington DC
International Classification:
H04Q 900
Abstract:
Enhanced availability and survivability of communications between geographically remote locations with a minimum of redundancy of transmission facilities and media is provided by a survivable bus network capable of providing continued interprocessor or other communications in the event of multiple bus outages. It consists of multiple busses, bus isolation device (BIDs) and two types of network interface processors (NIPs). The BIDs electrically isolate bus segments on either side of a connection so that if a fault occurs only the segment containing the fault will be affected. The first type of NIP connects to one bus and performs the usual function of providing an electrical and software interface between the network and one or more subscriber processors. The second type is a bridge which performs these same functions but connects to two busses and has the capability to transfer traffic as it appears on either bus to the other. The network provides increased survivability in the event of failed segments but does not entail the expense of a fully redundant system.