Data transmission system adapted to facilitate detection of safe receipt of a transmitted data frame by a receiving station

Abstract

This invention relates to a loop transmission system which has a plurality of stations connected to a loop transmission path to transmit data among the stations. In the transmission frame to be sent out from the sending station, specific information is included for identifying each frame and this information is held in the sending station. When the transmission frame returns to the sending station after being transmitted through the loop transmission path, the specific information in the frame is received and compared with the information held in the station and, if they coincide, it is decided that the transmission frame has been correctly received by the intended receiving station.

We claim: 
     
       1. A data transmission system comprising a loop transmission path for transmitting signals representing a frame of data and a plurality of data stations connected to the transmission path and having respective addresses within the system, each of said stations comprising: means for generating signals representing a frame of data including a data portion, an answer information portion, a sending-station address portion and a receiving-station address portion;   means for sending out said signals representing the frame of data produced by said generating means to said loop transmission path with said data portion being positioned in advance of said answer portion;   means for receiving signals representing a frame of data transmitted on said loop transmission path and for retransmitting the received signals representing the entire frame of data on said loop transmission path; means for comparing the address of the station with the receiving-station address portion of the received frame of data received in the form of said signals on said loop transmission path to determine whether the frame of data is destined for said station;   means responsive to said comparing means for storing said signals representing at least the data portion of said received frame of data when the receiving-station address portion of said received frame of data coincides with the address of the receiving-station;   checking means connected to said receiving and retransmitting means for checking at least the data portion of said frame of data represented by said received signals to detect abnormalitites therein; and   first means coupled to said checking means for altering said received signals prior to retransmission by setting the answer information portion of the received frame of data to one of a plurality of selected code patterns depending on .[.whether or not said received frame of data has been normally received in said storage.]. .Iadd.results of checking by said checking means.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. A data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein said storing means includes memory means for storing the received signals representing a frame of data. 
     
     
       3. A data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein each station further comprises timer means responsive to said sending means for producing a timing signal a predetermined time after said sending means sends out on said loop transmission line signals representing a frame of data produced by said generating means in the station, said sending means including means responsive to said timing signal for re-sending said generated signals representing a frame of data out on said loop transmission line in response to said timing signal, and said .[.detecting.]. .Iadd.comparing .Iaddend.means including means for comparing the address of the station with the sending-address portion of a frame of data transmitted as signals on said loop transmission line and for resetting said timer means when coincidence is detected between the station address and the sending-address portion of a received frame of data. 
     
     
       4. A data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the frame of data produced by said generating means includes a sequence number portion indicating the position of the frame of data in a plurality of frames of data produced by said generating means and sent out on said loop transmission line by said sending means. 
     
     
       5. A method of transmitting signals representing a frame of data on a loop transmission path between a plurality of data stations connected to the transmission path, the steps comprising: generating signals representing a frame of data including a data portion, an answer information portion, a sending-station address portion and a receiving-station address portion in a first station;   sending out said signals representing the frame of data generated in said first station to said loop transmission path from said first station;   receiving in a second one of said stations signals representing a frame of data transmitted on said loop transmission path and immediately retransmitting the received signals representing the entire frame of data on said loop transmission path;   comparing in said second station the address of the station with the receiving-station address portion of the frame of data received on said loop transmission path in the form of said signals to determine whether the frame of data is to be received by said second station;   storing in said second station the signals representing said frame of data received on said loop transmission path when said comparing step indicates that the frame of data is to be received by said second station;   checking at least the data portion of said frame of data represented by said received signals to detect abnormalities therein; and   altering said received signals prior to retransmission by setting the answer information portion of the received frame of data to a selected code pattern indicating whether or not said received frame of data has been normally received in said second station .[.in response to.]. .Iadd.depending on .Iaddend.the result of said checking step.   
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said altering step comprises changing the answer information portion of the received signals to one of at least three code patterns representing receipt of a correct data frame, receipt of an erroneous data frame and inability of the second station to process the received signals. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  A data transmission system comprising a loop transmission path for transmitting signals representing a frame of data and a plurality of data stations connected to the transmission path and having respective addresses within the system, each of said stations comprising: means for generating signals representing a frame of data including a data portion, an answer information portion, a sending station address portion and a receiving-station address portion;   means for sending out said signals representing the frame of data produced by said generating means to said loop transmission path with said data portion being positioned in advance of said answer portion;   means for receiving signals representing a frame of data transmitted on said loop transmission path and for retransmitting the received signals representing the entire frame of data on said loop transmission path;   means for comparing the address of the station with the receiving-station address portion of the received frame of data received in the form of said signals on said loop transmission path to determine whether the frame of data is destined for said station;   means responsive to said comparing means for storing said signals representing at least the data portion of said received frame of data when the receiving-station address portion of said received frame of data coincides with the address of the receiving-station; and   means connected to said receiving and retransmitting means for altering said received signals prior to the retransmission by setting the answer information portion of the received frame of data to one of a plurality of selected code patterns depending on at least the result of comparison by said comparing means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       8.  A data transmission system according to claim 7, wherein said comparing means includes means for enabling said altering means to set a predetermined code pattern in said answer information portion when correspondence between said receiving-station address portion and the station address is detected. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. A data transmission system according to claim 7, wherein said altering means includes means responsive to said storing means being not in a state to store signals of said received frame even though said comparing means detects coincidence between the receiving station address portion of the received frame and the station address for setting a predetermined code in said answer information portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A data transmission system comprising a loop transmission path for transmitting signals representing a frame of data and a plurality of data stations connected to the transmission path and having respective addresses within the system, each of said stations comprising: means for generating signals representing a frame of data including a data portion, a station modifiable portion, a sending station address portion and a receiving-station address portion;   means for sending out said signals representing the frame of data produced by said generating means to said loop transmission path with said data portion being positioned in advance of said station modifiable portion;   means for receiving signals representing a frame of data transmitted on said loop transmission path and for retransmitting the received signals representing the entire frame of data on said loop transmission path;   means for comparing the address of the station with the receiving-station address portion of the received frame of data received in the form of said signals on said loop transmission path to determine whether the frame of data is destined for said station;   means responsive to said comparing means for storing said signals representing at least the data portion of said received frame of data when the receiving-station address portion of said received frame of data coincides with the address of the receiving-station;   checking means connected to said receiving and retransmitting means for checking at least the data portion of said frame of data represented by said received signals to detect abnormalities therein; and   first means coupled to said checking means for setting the station modifiable portion of the received frame of data to one of a plurality of selected code patterns prior to retransmission depending on results of comparison by said comparing means and checking by said checking means.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.11.  A data transmission system according to claim 10, wherein said comparing means includes means for enabling said setting means to set a predetermined code pattern in said station modifiable portion when correspondence between said receiving-station address portion and the station address is detected. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A data transmission system according to claim 10, wherein said setting means includes means responsive to said storing means being not in a state to store signals of said received frame even though said comparing means detects coincidence between the receiving station address portion of the received frame and the station address for setting a predetermined code in said station modifiable portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A method of transmitting signals representing a frame of data on a loop transmission path between a plurality of data stations connected to the transmission path, the steps comprising: generating signals representing a frame of data including a data portion, an answer information portion, a sending-station address portion and a receiving-station address portion in a first station;   sending out said signals representing the frame of data generated in said first station to said loop transmission path from said first station;   receiving in a second station the signals representing a frame of data transmitted on said loop transmission path and immediately retransmitting the received signals representing the entire frame of data on said loop transmission path;   comparing in said second station the address of the station with the receiving-station address portion of the frame of data received on said loop transmission path in the form of said signals to determine whether the frame of data is to be received by said second station;   storing in said second station the signals representing said frame of data received on said loop transmission path when said comparing step indicates that the frame of data is to be received by said second station; and   altering said received signals prior to retransmission by setting the answer information portion of the received frame of data to a selected code pattern indicating whether or not said received frame of data has been normally received in said second station. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said altering step comprises changing the answer information portion of the received signals to one of at least three code patterns representing receipt of a correct data frame by said second station, inability of the second station to store the data frame when that stations's storage facility is fully occupied and failure of the second station to receive the data frame. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A method of transmitting signals representing a frame of data on a loop transmission path between a plurality of data stations connected to the transmission path, the steps comprising:   generating signals representing a frame of data including a data portion, a station modifiable portion, a sending-station address portion and a receiving-station address portion in a first station;   sending out said signals representing the frame of data generated in said first station to said loop transmission path from said first station;   receiving in a second one of said station signals representing a frame of data transmitted on said loop transmission path and immediately retransmitting the received signals representing the entire frame of data on said loop transmission path;   comparing in said second station the address of the station with the receiving-station address portion of the frame of data received on said loop transmission path in the form of said signals to determine whether the frame of data is to be received by said second station;   storing in said second station the signals representing said frame of data received on said loop transmission path when said comparing step indicates that the frame of data is to be received by said second station;   checking at least the data portion of said frame of data represented by said received signals to detect abnormalities therein; and   setting the station modifiable portion of the received frame of data prior to retransmission to a selected code pattern indicating whether or not said received frame of data has been normally received in said second station in response to the result of said checking step. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said setting step comprises setting the station modifiable portion of the received signals to one of at least three code patterns representing receipt of a correct data frame by said second station, inability of the second station to store the data frame when that station's storage facility is fully occupied and failure of the second station to receive the data frame   
     
     
        normally. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.  A data transmission system comprising a loop transmission path for transmitting a data frame including a sending station address field, a receiving station address field, a data field and an answer field positioned after said data field and a plurality of processors having respective addresses within the system and being connected to said transmission path and acting as either a sending side device or receiving side device, selectively, each of said processors comprising: means operative, when the processor acts as a sending side device, for sending out on the transmission path a data frame with an answer field having a predetermined first code pattern;   means for receiving a data frame transmitted through the transmission path and for sending out the received data frame to the transmission path with its answer field unchanged when the processor is down;   memory means for allowing a received data frame to be stored therein under certain conditions;   means for comparing the address field of the received data frame with the address of the processor; and   means for sending out the received data frame with its answer field changed to a predetermined second code pattern different from said first code pattern, when said comparing means indicates coincidence between the address field of the received data frame and the address of the processor and said received data frame is not allowed to be stored in said memory means, and changed to a predetermined third code pattern different from any of said first and second code patterns, when the said comparing means indicates coincidence between the address field of the received data frame and the address of the processor and said received data frame is allowed to be stored in said memory means. .Iaddend.