Abstract: A method of communicating is disclosed in which the receiving device acknowledges the receipt of a valid transmission and awaits the receipt of an abort message from the transmitting device before accepting the transmitted data. The transmitting device awaits the receipt of a valid acknowledgement and, if it fails to receive such an acknowledgement within a predetermined time-period, transmits an abort message to the receiving device. In multinodal, peer network communication systems, the acknowledgement and abort message may be transmitted during brief, dedicated time-periods following the transmission of data.

Abstract: A multinodal data communication network permits the sharing of remote resources by a wide variety of computing devices. Data or messages generated at one device may be sent to any or all the other devices sharing a common transmission medium. Message handling capability of the network is increased by the use of a plurality of transmission media connected to the computing devices through interface stages. Both priority message transmission and improved acknowledgement protocols are implemented.

Abstract: A method of communicating is disclosed in which the receiving device acknowledges the receipt of a valid transmission and awaits the receipt of an abort message from the transmitting device before accepting the transmitted data. The transmitting device awaits the receipt of a valid acknowledgment and, if it fails to receive such an acknowledgment within a predetermined time-period, transmits an abort message to the receiving device. In multinodal, peer network communication systems, the acknowledgment and abort message may be transmitted during brief, dedicated time-periods following the transmission of data.