Patents by Inventor Thomas F. McIntosh

Thomas F. McIntosh has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5150246
    Abstract: A network ring topology includes a plurality of entry and exit interfaces (100,110) disposed in administrative locations such as in an equipment room (53) and in riser and satellite closets (51, 57), and at stations. Interconnections between ports of sets of ports of the interfaces are made in the closets by jumpers (120--120) and either in a direct or in an inverted manner, the direct being between corresponding ports of corresponding sets of ports in interfaces. Inverted connections are made between two exit or between two entry interfaces in which input and output ports of corresponding rings are connected by jumpers. The interfaces are color coded and may be either entry or exit type to denote the arrangement of the ports. The interfaces and the color coding arrangement allow a craftperson to make connections in an administrative location without having to follow signals through the ring. For a dual ring counter rotating network, each interface necessarily include two sets of ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Robert M. Kimball, Thomas F. McIntosh