LOOP NETWORK HUB USING LOOP INITIALIZATION INSERTION

摘要

A loop network hub including a hub port (400) with a loop initialization insertion mechanism. The loop initialization insertion mechanism causes a hub port (400) which detects a new node port connection to automatically begin generating loop initialization data. A hub port (400) continues to generate loop initialization data until that hub port (400) receives a loop initialization sequence. The loop initialization data propagates around the loop of the hub, halting ordinary processing. In this way, the entire loop is cleared. Upon receiving a loop initialization sequence, the hub port originating the loop initialization data inserts the new node port into the loop. At this point, loop initialization begins and each node port (408) in the loop network obtains a unique loop network address.