Abstract: Dynamic address assignment and reconfiguration of serially connected addressable device components of a network system using interchangeable cables terminated by plugs. Successive pairs of the devices are coupled with identical cables having the same offset cross-connected wiring between the terminating plugs, but which establish a unique address for the device to which connected depending on the position of the device in a chain of connected devices without requiring changes to the devices per se, e.g., jumpers or switches. The bus structure requires only a single port per device and removal, failure, or replacement of a device does not affect nor impair the proper operation of the other devices.

Abstract: A multiport access and reconfiguration unit for use in a dual token ring network is provided with three adapters and, depending on error conditions, can assume one of a plurality of recovery states in which a reconfigured single network is formed and at least one state in which an isolated single ring is formed in addition to the reconfigured ring.