In band connection establishment for a multiple multi-drop network

摘要

A system for establishing connections between processors in a distributed system of processors connected by a multiple multi-drop network. No wires are needed in addition to those already present in an existing network. In such a network connecting n processors, each processor is connected to all others by n identical multi-drop links. Links are assigned to processors on a one-to-one basis and a processor may transmit messages only on its assigned link. Processors may receive messages on any of these links, thereby enabling a processor to communicate with all others. The advantage of such a network over a single multi-drop link is that there is no contention for a shared link since each processor has a unique transmit line. In addition, no central control means is required for the network, as completely distributed control is utilized.