| 摘要 |
A communications system is described in which a large number of endpoints communicate among one another in an orderly and protocol independent manner. The system is based on a short, fixed format packet which is switched among stations and within equipment in a contention-free manner without the use of general purpose processors. The system is distance independent, employs serial or parallel data paths, can use various media and can transport and switch data and digitized voice and video information in the same format and with the same equipment and transmission media. The effect of the system is to enable the construction of large metropolitan area networks which provide complete protocol conversion of all terminal types as well as transmission of data, voice, video and encrypted information.
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