Communications apparatus, system and method with error mitigation

摘要

Data communications are effected over one or more network branches to ensure appropriate receipt of data at different devices on the network. In accordance with an example embodiment, time-based communications are effected for a plurality of different network devices, at least two of which are connected to a common wired network link, with each network device being assigned to communicate during different time slots within a communication cycle. Each communication received on the common wired network link is assessed as being error-indicative or not error-indicative. In response to a received communication on the common wired network link being assessed as being error-indicative, the common wired network link is operated to corrupt data received on the branch, such as by driving the branch during a time slot in which the error-indicative communication is received, therein ensuring that other network devices disregard the data received during that time slot.

主权项

1. For use with time-based communications from a plurality of different network devices, at least three of the network devices connected to a common wired network link, in which each network device is assigned to communicate during different time slots within a communication cycle, an apparatus comprising:
a driver circuit configured and arranged to drive the wired network link; data-logic circuitry configured and arranged to
for communications received on the common wired network link using time slots assigned for the at least three network devices in a communication schedule, assess each received communication as being error-indicative or not error-indicative based on the communication schedule, andin response to the each received communication on the common wired network link being assessed as being error-indicative, operating the driver circuit to drive the common wired network link during a time slot in which the error-indicative communication is received; wherein the at least three of the network devices includes first, second and third network devices, the second network device being connected between the first and third network device on the common wired network link; and the third network device includes the driver circuit and data-logic circuitry and is configured and arranged to
forward, to at least another one of the plurality of network devices, received communications assessed as being not error-indicative; andfor the each communication received from the first network device and delivered error-free to the second network device and assessed as being error-indicative at the third network device, operate the driver circuit to drive the common wired network link and cause the second network device to disregard the error-free communication received at the second network device.