Abstract: A node for use with asynchronous and synchronous communication networks to interconnect data systems with networks having transmission paths interconnecting network nodes. Apparatus interconnects pulse controlled components of the node with network transmission paths and synchronizes a flow of data incoming to and outgoing from the node on the network transmission paths within the node at an unsynchronized clock pulse rate independent of the data transfer rate on the transmission paths and independent of a master network clock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating work requests among a plurality of processors attached to a data ring. Each processor has an interface for communicating with the data ring. The interface for each work request accepting processor has a memory defining a plurality of destination addresses for which the associated processor will accept work requests. Each type of work request has several destination addresses corresponding to different priority levels. If that processor becomes too heavily loaded, it will delete one or more of the destination addresses for which the interface will accept work requests. Such a deletion results in the processor only accepting higher priority requests for a type of work request. Work request generating processors detect work request messages which have not been accepted when they return on the ring. Such messages are then retransmitted at a higher priority, and with a longer delay between consecutive transmissions of the work request message.

Abstract: A network for data transmission between nodes interconnected by transmission paths on which a predefined data signal is continuously transmitted to sequentially reach each node. Data traffic is controlled by apparatus responsive to receiving the predefined data signal a predetermined number of times and generating node signals each varying in time in accordance with data traffic on the network to control node access thereto. Multiple nodes are enabled to mutually write data onto the network proportional to the communication network data traffic independent of the network location of the predefined data signal.

Abstract: A data communication network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnecting transmission paths in a ring structure arranged to propagate data messages between data systems coupled to the network by the nodes in opposite directions around the network ring structure. An executive node having ring interface units interconnecting ones of the transmission paths is arranged to selectively couple a network control processor with various sectors of the transmission paths to enable the network control processor to control the traffic flow of data messages on the data communication network.

Abstract: A data communication network comprising ring transmission paths (0,1) interconnecting ring interface nodes (2) arranged to propagate data along the ring transmission paths between data systems (6) coupled with the ring interface nodes. Each node has apparatus (210) coupled with ones of the ring transmission paths and data systems for receiving and temporarily storing bytes of data. Receiving structure (211) of the node enabled by predefined ones of data bytes appearing at an input of the receiving and temporarily storing apparatus derives information defining node dispose of the data and generates a disposition available signal.