Abstract: It is designed to connect a duplicated LAN to a network terminal such as a controller having a standard serial or parallel interface, a computer having only one LAN interface, or a computer having only one communication line interface.The network interface apparatus for connecting a network terminal and a duplicated LAN comprises a device for controlling interfaces with the network terminal and the LAN transmission line of each of the duplicated LAN, a buffer, and a sending device to both, and the data from the network terminal is buffered in the buffer, and when the buffered data reaches a fixed amount, the data is sent to both LANs of the duplicated LAN. On the other hand, with respect to the data received from each LAN transmission line of the duplicated LAN, only the data which is judged as earlier arrival data is sent to the network terminal.

Abstract: A plurality of different fault locating functions are provided in a communication system comprising a plurality of terminals connected to a data transmission channel. The functions are at different levels, respectively, ranging from a level for rapid fault location to a level for reliable and sure fault location. Upon detection of an occurrence of a fault, one fault locating function is performed. If the fault is not located accurately located, another fault locating function of a level for more reliable is performed, thus the functions are performed sequentially in the order from the level for rapid location to the level for more deliberate and reliable location. Preferably, the channel is reconfigured to avoid the fault, according to the fault located by the functions of the respective levels. With this arrangement, a fault which does most possibly occur can be located quickly, while another fault difficult to locate can be located accurately.

Abstract: A data transmission method and system of a token passing type capable of periodically transmitting cyclic data produced in a station to other stations while enabling a packet data communication with high efficiency and without disturbing the periodicity of the cyclic communication. A token circulation time is set to be shorter than a cycle time for production of the cyclic data where no packet data to be transmitted. Also each station will pass an acquired token immediately to the next station if the station has no data to be transmitted. Thus, at least one station can have a token at least two times during the cycle time to transmit the cyclic data and the packet data. Upper limits may be set to capacities of the cyclic data and the packet data which are capable of being transmitted each time the token is acquired.

Abstract: A data transmission method and system of a token passing type capable of periodically transmitting cyclic data produced in a station to other stations while enabling a packet data communication with high efficiency and without disturbing the periodicity of the cyclic communication. A token circulation time is set to be shorter than a cycle time for production of the cyclic data where no packet data is to be transmitted. Also each station will pass an acquired token immediately to the next station if the station has no data to be transmitted. Thus, at least one station can receives a token at least two times during the cycle time to transmit the cyclic data and the packet data. Upper limits may be set to capacities of the cyclic data and the packet data which are capable of being transmitted each time the token is acquired.

Abstract: A ring network data transmission system includes a plurality of transmission apparatuses, at least one terminal connected to each of the transmission apparatuses and double ring transmission paths interconnecting the transmission apparatuses in a ring-like system configuration so that terminals can communicate with one another through the associated transmission apparatuses. When a transmission fault occurs in the network, the transmission apparatus which can serve as the master station issues to all of the other transmission apparatuses a command for searching the fault location. In response to the reception of the command, each of the other transmission apparatuses sends out a monitor signal containing its own address and at the same time checks monitor signal received.

Abstract: A looped data transmission system has a pair of looped transmission lines forming two transmission systems having different transmission directions, and a plurality of stations including at least one control station connected to said transmission lines of the two transmission systems. If a fault occurs in the two transmission lines of the two transmission systems in the same section, a loopback configuration is established such that stations adjacent to the faulty section send signals from one system back to the other system. With the loopback configuration being established, the stations which have received supervisory signals sent from a loopback end station send them back to the transmission line of the other system. When one of the loopback end stations has received a supervisory signal from the direction of the faulty section, it is judged that a portion of the faulty section is recovered, and the result of the judgement is communicated to the control station.