Abstract: A scalable networking protocol that allows multiple nodes to communicate via a multi-channel network medium is described. The networking protocol allows any node on the network to assign itself as the active network server. The active network server polls client nodes based on a lineup card. The lineup card includes a high priority queue for low-latency devices, and a low priority queue for devices that can tolerate higher latencies. Network information is sent on the channels as fragments. The protocol provides bad-channel detection and retransmission of fragments in a fragment-by-fragment basis. Support for streaming data or asynchronous data is provided by allocating time slots on the network and allowing two intelligent nodes to talk directly to each other during count-limited token sessions, as arbitrated by the active network server.

Abstract: A multi-channel transmission system that provides dynamic mapping of data to channels is described. In one embodiment, a packet of data to be transmitted is broken up into a number of fragments. Fragments are loaded into transmit buffers. Active buffers are indicated by bits in an active-fragment register and active channels are indicated by bits in an active-channel register. A transmit buffer to channel mapping is provided by multiplexers. The multiplexers are controlled by a channel mapping table that uses the data in the active-fragment register and the active-channel register to decide which transmit buffers are mapped to which channels. Each transmit buffer can be simultaneously mapped to more than one channel in order to allow the same data to be simultaneously transmitted on more than one channel, thereby increasing the likelihood that the data will be successfully transmitted even if some of the channels are rendered inoperative.

Abstract: A multi-channel transmission system that provides dynamic mapping of data to channels is described. In one embodiment, a packet of data to be transmitted is broken up into a number of fragments. Fragments are loaded into transmit buffers. Active buffers are indicated by bits in an active-fragment register and active channels are indicated by bits in an active-channel register. A transmit buffer to channel mapping is provided by multiplexers. The multiplexers are controlled by a channel mapping table that uses the data in the active-fragment register and the active-channel register to decide which transmit buffers are mapped to which channels. Each transmit buffer can be simultaneously mapped to more than one channel in order to allow the same data to be simultaneously transmitted on more than one channel, thereby increasing the likelihood that the data will be successfully transmitted even if some of the channels are rendered inoperative.