Abstract: Apparatus for mounting and interconnecting optical devices. The apparatus comprises generally rectangular members constructed of optical transparent material formed with recesses having sides positioned at angles with respect to a line perpendicular to a surface of the apparatus. Reflective material is selectively coated on ones of the recess sides such that a parallel coherent light beam emitted by one optical device mounted on the surface of the apparatus is reflected by the light reflective material of one recess side internally through the apparatus to the light reflective material of another recess side whereat it is reflected to optical devices mounted on the apparatus surface.

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 (RI1, RI2, RI3) coupled with a node processor and data systems and arranged to propagate data messages along the ring transmission paths between the data systems. Each node is arranged to detect failure of the node to propagate a data message to another node and to flush the data communication network by force reading data messages off the ring transmission paths into the blocked node processor. A node is arranged to automatically maintain and restore operation of the data communication network by loop connecting ones of the ring transmission paths together to isolate segments of the network experiencing trouble and to transfer maintenance and diagnostic data messages between ones of the looped ring transmission paths to restore ring transmission paths and nodes located in isolated segments of the network to service.

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.