| 摘要 |
<p>A communications system capable of providing enhanced data integrity and reliability through redundant buses (107R, 107L, 107LB), and a network interface controller for use therewith are disclosed. Redundant conductors (107) conforming to well-known ethernet standards interconnect electronics components. Each component communicates with the conductors (107) through a single network interface card (NIC). Each NIC comprises an ethernet compliant transceiver (101A-C) for each ethernet conductor (107) in communication with the component. Microcontrollers (112) embedded in each NIC synchronously and deterministically place data on the ethernet conductors (107) according to a timing scheme stored in a non-volatile memory (113) means. A heartbit/power monitor (114) is also provided to ensure that data cannot be transmitted in the event of a microcontroller (112) failure. Through the inventive elements presented herein, the communications system provides a high degree of redundancy and fault-tolerance and is therefore well-suited to critical applications in avionics communication.</p> |
