Hybrid-token ring: a load sharing local area network

A load sharing network, Hybrid-token ring, which can connect computers and communicating devices for real-time and/or interactive applications, is presented. Hybrid-token ring has a dual channel structure, a token ring and a data channel. The token ring is a modification of ANSI/IEEE LAN standard 802.5. The data channel is a collection of full-duplex data links. With this architecture, an insertion of direct data links not only allow real-time and/or interactive communications between node pairs, but also improves overall network performance in a token ring. A medium access control (MAC) protocol for the network is developed, and specifications for the MAC layer are described. Aso, a finite state machine for data link channel interface is devised. A simulation model has been developed to measure a performance improvement of hybrid-token ring over a pure token ring. Simulation results indicate that a small increase in link cost for data links can greatly improve performance over a pure token ring before the insertion of the data links.