Token device for distributed time scheduling in a data processing system
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/295,453 filed on Jan. 10, 1989 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In many of today&#39;s data processing systems, including Local Area Networks (LAN&#39;s), it is often desirable to have devices manufactured by different vendors communicate to each other within the network. Typically, each device is connected to a transmission medium such as a main bus of the network, either directly or through an interface component. Before transmission, outgoing messages from a sending device are formatted in a manner which is acceptable by the receiving device. Upon receipt of the transferred data, the receiving device disassembles the message and acknowledges that the message has been successfully transferred. 
     In order to achieve such communications however, it is necessary for the devices to follow the same communications throughout the network, or at least throughout the shared bus. Currently there exists several Media Access Control protocols (MAC&#39;s) for device transmission or communication over a shared network bus. One such protocol requires the device to listen for no activity across the bus before transmitting signals on the bus. After transmission, the device listens for responses to the transmission to determine the failure or success of the transmission. Failure may occur where two or more devices attempt to transmit simultaneously. 
     Another protocol, employed by Ethernet (TM), follows the access method known as Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD). The CSMA/CD method uses the principle of &#34;listen before transmitting, listen while transmitting&#34; to gain access to the network. Each device on the network listens to the bus and does not transmit if the bus is in use. If a bus detects silence, it is able to transmit. There is still the possibility of simultaneous transfers which cause failure of transmissions. 
     A token passing protocol (e.g. IEEE 802.4 Standard) enables devices on the network to share access without the possibility of simultaneous transfers which cause transmission failure. In this protocol, a bus token provides permission to a device to transmit signals over the bus. The token is passed from one device to another around the network in an established order which forms a logical ring (not necessarily a physical ring). Only the device with the token is allowed to transmit, thus eliminating collisions during normal operations. This protocol results in a network that is highly controllable, predictable and stable under all communication loads. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically, many of the devices of a network have either cyclic or time critical operations to perform which require transmitting signals over the bus at specific times. With the token passing protocol, a device with time critical operations (e.g. cyclic sampling in a process control system) may not have possession of the token at the necessary times and is without means of obtaining the token at times outside of the established order. A further problem with the token passing protocol is global time synchronization of the devices connected to the network bus. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved passing protocol. Specifically there is a need for a network bus protocol which supports distributed real time data acquisition and network wide synchronization of the devices. 
     The present invention provides a distributed time scheduling MAC protocol which is an enhancement of the Token Bus MAC and allows for needs of distributed real time data acquisition systems. The protocol of the present invention provides deterministic scheduling of cyclic and time critical operations of respective devices in the network. Such scheduling overcomes the time jitter problems of cyclic and time critical operations in prior art token bus protocols. In addition, the present invention provides for all devices on the network bus to have their internal clocks synchronized to an arbitrary small time interval (e.g. one millisecond). 
     The foregoing is accomplished in a data processing system, having a multiplicity of devices connected to a communication bus, by the use of a special bus token formation and protocol. The bus token indicates the times at which devices that have time critical or cyclic operations are to gain possession of the token out of order in the ring to enable performance of the time critical operation. Preferably, the token further provides means for returning the token to the device that was preempted at the time the device having a time critical/cyclical operation gained possession of the token. As a result the established order in which the token is passed from one device to another in the network is resumed. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, one of the devices serves as a bus master which is responsible for broadcasting to all devices on the bus a time synchronization message at times when the bus master device has the token. Upon receipt of this message by a device, the device adjusts its internal clock means to be synchronized with the time indicated by the bus master&#39;s message. The device also records an identification number called a sequence number of the message. The bus master also indicates the current broadcast time synchronization message on the token. The indication in the token includes the sequence number of this latest broadcast synchronization message. 
     Each device, upon receipt of the bus token, affirms that it has received the latest time synchronization message from the bus master by comparing its last recorded sequence number to the sequence number on the token. If the sequence numbers match then the device assumes its internal clock is synchronized. The indication of the last broadcast synchronization message on the token thus ensures synchronization of each device on the bus. 
     If the sequence numbers do not match, the device is able to request the bus master to broadcast the current time. Upon such a request, the bus master broadcasts to all devices the current sequence number and the elapsed time since the synchronization message which carried the current sequence number was transmitted. Thereafter each device is able to update its internal clock means as appropriate. 
     In addition, each device has an address by which the other devices communicate to it through the network bus. The address has different sizes depending on whether the address references the device as a source or destination. Preferably, the address referencing the device as a source is smaller in size than the address referencing the device as a destination . Such addressing is practical since lower values can be used as the physical address with zeros discarded in the source address. The device always knows its own physical address and thus only needs its physical address to reference itself as a source, whereas allowance must be made for referencing the destination device by its full logical address. This addressing scheme reduces message overhead substantially. Typical data frame transmission in prior art token passing protocols is 20 octets, the data transmission overhead in the format of the present invention is only 10 octets. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of token passing in a network, forming a virtual ring. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of scheduled pre-emption of token passing in an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3a is a schematic diagram of the frame format employed for all transmissions in the token passing network of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3b is a schematic diagram of the format of the message field in the frame format of FIG. 3a for a token in the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A local area network or data processing system employing the token passing bus access method of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The network generally comprises a plurality of various major and slave devices represented here by squares. A major device is included in the token passing ring (described below) and is able to communicate to other devices, and a slave device 14 generally does not receive the token and is thus dependent on a major device to initiate communications. The devices are connected by common methods to a bus 10 which enables communication between the devices. 
     As in a typical bus employing a token passing protocol, there is a baton or token 12 that controls the right of access to the bus 10. Only major devices are able to receive the token 12, and the major device which currently holds the token 12 has momentary control over the bus 10. Only that device, while holding the token 12, can transmit messages on the bus 10 and may include in a message the right for a receiving device (major or slave) to respond over the bus 10. Transmission on the bus 10 may optionally be in a broadcast manner such that all devices may receive all signals transmitted. 
     The token 12 is passed in an established order by the major devices residing on the bus 10. The passing of token 12 from major device to major device (00, 01, 03, 08, 0C, 1D, 1E, 1F in FIG. 1) forms a virtual or logical ring as depicted in FIG. 1. The order of the devices in this ring is not dependent on the order of physical connectivity of the major devices to bus 10. Further in accordance with the right to respond mentioned above, a slave device 14 can respond to a query from the major device currently holding the token 12 even though (i) the slave device 14 is not part of the logical ring, and (ii) the slave device 14 cannot initiate a transmission since it will never be in possession of the token 12. 
     In the present invention each major device maintains internal clock means which are synchronized by the following scheme. One of the major devices serves as a bus master which is responsible for periodically broadcasting to all other devices on bus 10 a time synchronization message. Specifically, when the bus master is in possession of token 12, the bus master transmits a sequence number which identifies the message and the amount of time which has elapsed since the last time synchronization message was broadcast. Upon receipt of the broadcast message, each major device records the sequence number, compares the elapsed time in the message with its own clock and resets and adjusts its clock. 
     As shown in FIG. 3b and described in more detail later, the bus master also indicates this last broadcast time synchronization message on token 12 by the sequence number to provide error checking of each major device which receives token 12. That is, when a major device receives the token 12, the device compares the sequence number it has recorded to the sequence number indicated on token 12. If the sequence numbers match, the device is assured that it has received the latest time synchronization message from the bus master and that its internal clock is synchronized with the current timing of the network. By each major device similarly checking its recorded sequence number upon receipt of the token 12, the major devices of the network become synchronized with respect to each other. 
     If the sequence numbers do not match, the device requests the bus master to broadcast the current synchronization number and the elapsed time since the most recent synchronization message. The bus master does so and all major devices on bus 10 are able to receive the present time over the bus to update their respective internal clock means. 
     Such network wide synchronization of the major devices enables a further feature of the present invention. Along with the right of bus access, the token of the present invention provides scheduled or reserved times of bus use by specified devices. A list of reserved times of bus use is provided in token 12 to enable a scheduled preemption of the possession of token 12 which ultimately enables the preempting device to perform time critical operations at the scheduled/reserved time. An illustration of such a preemption is provided in FIG. 2. 
     After a major device 30 receives token 12 in the normal logical ring passing of the token, it uses the bus 10 until i) it runs out of transmissions to make, ii) the maximum token holding time expires, or iii) a reserved time occurs. If one of the former two events occur, major device 30 passes the token 12 to major device 32, the logically succeeding device in the formed virtual ring. However, if scheduled or reserved time occurs, device 30 passes token 12 to the device, for example device 34, which reserved the occurring time. Device 34 then performs data transmissions and operations desired until one of the three above stated events occur. For simplicity of illustration, after device 34 runs out of transmissions to make or the token holding time expires, device 34 returns token 12 to device 30 which was preempted with the reserved bus use time of device 34. Device 30 then resumes operation, and the passing of token 12 about the logical ring is effectively restored. 
     In order for a major device to schedule bus time on token 12, it must have possession of token 12. The device then adds its time reservation to token 12 following three rules. First, the reservations in token 12 are kept in time sequence order. So new reservations must be added to the list of reservations at the correct point. Second, the time reserved does not overlap the reserved hold time of the previous reservation and the reserved hold time from the following reservation. Third, each device cannot have more than one reserved time scheduled in token 12 at one time. 
     In addition, the bus master is responsible for updating or modifying the time specifications of reservations when the sequence number on token 12 is changed. That is, when the bus master transmits a time synchronization message it effectively defines a new current zero-time reference point. The time to which the reservations on token 12 refer are presently based on the previous zero-time reference point. Hence, the bus master must convert the reservation times on token 12 to be based on the new current zero-time reference. 
     The above time reservation scheme, with the aid of the time synchronization scheme, provides deterministic scheduling in the network which is unavailable in prior art token passing busses. Such deterministic scheduling is particularly advantageous in systems with time critical or cyclic operations such as process control systems and voice data PABX systems. That is, various major devices in a network may support slave devices which require sampling on a regular basis. Each of such major devices must have access to the bus at the respective sampling times. In addition, the sampling times of different devices must not overlap since only one device at a time can be using the bus. Even if the initial sampling times do not overlap, the integrity of the intervals between the sampling times of the different devices must be maintained so that the sampling times do not move (or jitter) cycle after cycle. With the token of the present invention, both cyclic and time critical operations can be scheduled with minimum jitter. 
     Steady state operation of the network of the present invention thus comprises a data transfer phase and a token transfer phase. Ring maintenance functions exist within each major device and include ring initialization, los token recovery, new device entry to the logical ring, and general maintenance of the logical ring as is understood from the IEEE 802.4 Token Passing MAC standard or described below. 
     In the preferred embodiment, all transmissions (data and tokens 12) on bus 10 are implemented by formatted data blocks or frames 24 shown in FIG. 3a. The first field 20 of a frame 24 holds a bit pattern which synchronizes the phase of the transmitted frame with the phase of the receiving device as is common in the art for bit synchronization. The length and specific pattern of field 20 are dependent upon the modulation technique used by the devices. Bit synchronization patterns such as those used by BiSynch, HDLC, SDLC and IEEE 802.4 standards are suitable. 
     The second field 22 of frame 24 is a delimiter marking the end of the first field 20 and the beginning of the information portion of the frame portion of frame 24 is marked by an end of frame delimiter 36. Preceding the end of frame delimiter 36 is a field 38 used for error detection. Field 38 holds a frame check code, such as a cyclic redundancy check which is generated and sent by the device transmitting the frame 24. The receiving device checks field 38 for correctness. 
     All devices attached to the bus 10 have their own individual addresses. In addition, devices may also recognize one or more group addresses. Most group addresses are user assignable, but some are reserved for specific bus management functions. The addresses used in the preferred embodiment are as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
ADDRESSES (BASE 16)                                                       
                  MEANING                                                 
______________________________________                                    
0000    through 001F  Major Device Addresses                              
0020    through 00FF  Slave Device Addresses                              
0100    through FFEF  User Assignable Group                               
                      Addresses                                           
FFF0    through FFFF  Reserved Group Addresses                            
        FFF0            Current Bus Master                                
        FFF1            All Devices That Have                             
                        Scheduled (Reserved)                              
                        Bus Time                                          
        FFF2            All Major Devices                                 
        FFF3 thru FFFD                                                    
                        Reserved                                          
        FFFE            Null Address (no                                  
                        device)                                           
        FFFF            Broadcast to all                                  
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     The frame 24 has a destination field 52 and a source field 50 for specifying the device to which the frame is being transmitted and the transmitting device, respectively. The destination field 52 holds the 16 bit address of the receiving device. 
     The source field 50 holds the address of the transmitting device and is always either a major or a slave device address, it is never a group or broadcast address. When referenced as a source, however, the address of the device is preferably only 8 bits long and contains the unique 8 lower order bits of the device&#39;s address. Thus, there is a difference in length of the address used for a device depending on whether the device is being referenced as a source or a destination. This difference in length enables source field 50 to be smaller than destination field 52 and the total frame length to be minimized. To that end, message overhead is optimized. 
     The frame type field 26 specifies the type of information (e.g. token or message) carried by the message data field 28 of the frame 24. In the preferred embodiment, the frame type field 26 holds an 8 bit binary code which corresponds to a message/frame type listed in the following table: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
CODE (BINARY)                                                             
             FRAME TYPE                                                   
______________________________________                                    
00000000     TEST (no message data sent)                                  
00000001     SOLICIT.sub.-- SUCCESSOR                                     
00000010     SOLICIT.sub.-- IN.sub.-- RING (no message                    
             data sent)                                                   
00000011     WHO.sub.-- FOLLOWS                                           
00000100     ACK (no message data sent)                                   
00000101     SOLICIT.sub.-- BUS.sub.-- MASTER                             
00000110     CLAIM.sub.-- BUS.sub.-- MASTER (no message                   
             data sent)                                                   
00000111     REJECT (no message data sent)                                
00001000     TOKEN                                                        
00001001     RESERVED.sub.-- TOKEN                                        
00001010     DELEGATE.sub.-- TOKEN (no message                            
             data sent)                                                   
00001011     RETURN.sub.-- TOKEN                                          
00001100     SET.sub.-- SUCCESSOR (no message                             
             data sent)                                                   
00001101     REQUEST.sub.-- DELTA.sub.-- TIME                             
00001110     DELTA.sub.-- TIME                                            
00001111     TIME.sub.-- SYNC                                             
01000000     DATA.sub.-- MESSAGE                                          
01001000     REQUEST.sub.-- WITH.sub.-- RESPONSE                          
01010000     RESPONSE                                                     
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     The message data field 28 for the frame type 26 SOLICIT --  SUCCESSOR comprises an 8 bit follower address of the device logically succeeding the device transmitting the frame. The frame is transmitted by a device to determine if a device is trying to enter the logical ring. 
     The message data field 28 for the frame type 26 WHO --  FOLLOWS comprises an 8 bit follower address of the device logically succeeding the device transmitting the frame. This frame is used after a device has unsuccessfully attempted to communicate to its current successor and wishes to change its successor to be the device following the current successor. This effectively deletes the current successor from the logical ring. 
     The message data field 28 for the frame type 26 SOLICIT --  BUS --  MASTER comprises an 8 bit sequence number. This number is used by the device receiving the frame to determine if the device has the most recently (or latest) broadcast time synchronization message from the bus master. 
     The message data field 28 for the frame types 26 TOKEN, RESERVED --  TOKEN and RETURN --  TOKEN have a common token format shown in FIG. 3b. As mentioned above, token frames (i.e. token 12) are used to pass control of the bus 10 from one major device to another. Three types of token frames are used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The normal TOKEN frame is used to pass control of the bus to the next major device in the logical ring. The RESERVED --  TOKEN frame is used by a major device to pass control of the bus 10 to another major device which has scheduled or reserved the present time on the bus 10. The RETURN --  TOKEN frame is used to return control of the bus 10 to the major device that was preempted when a scheduled time occurred. 
     The token format has for its first field, sequence number field 40 for holding the sequence number of the latest broadcast time synchronization message. 
     The second field of the token format is an 8 bit return address field 42. This field 42 contains the address of the device whose operation was interrupted to service a scheduled event. The return address field 42 holds a valid value only in RESERVED --  TOKEN frames. 
     The remaining fields of the token format are called reserve fields 44. Each reserve field 44 is formed of three parts, a reserve time, a reserve hold and a reserve device. The reserve time part is 16 bits long and holds a delay value in milliseconds relative to the last known network time transmitted in a TIME --  SYNC frame (to be described). The reserve hold part is also 16 bits long and represents the maximum amount of time that a receiving device will hold the reserved token. The reserve device part is 8 bits long and specifies the major device address (in source address form) for which the bus time is being reserved. 
     The TIME --  SYNC frame is used by the bus master to maintain distributed time synchronization. The bus master, when in possession of the token 12, broadcasts a TIME --  SYNC frame over bus 10 to inform all major devices of the current timing of the network. The message data field 28 for a TIME --  SYNC frame has an 8 bit sequence number (i.e. identification of this transmission) and a 16 bit elapsed time value which represents in milliseconds the amount of time that the bus master thinks has elapsed since the last TIME --  SYNC broadcast. This value can be used by major devices to adjust their internal clocks and to check on the accuracy of the bus masters clock. 
     The message data field 28 for the frame type 26 REQUEST --  DELTA --  TIME has an 8 bit sequence number. The sequence number is used by the device (bus master) receiving the frame to determine if the transmitting device has the most recently synchronized current time synchronization message. 
     The DELTA --  TIME frame is similar to the TIME --  SYNC frame but is broadcast by the bus master in response to a REQUEST --  DELTA --  TIME frame. The DELTA --  TIME frame has an 8 bit sequence number and a 16 bit time value. However, the time value in the DELTA --  TIME frame represents the current time in milliseconds, and is referred to as the delta time value. 
     Operation of the network of the preferred embodiment using the above described frames is as follows. At initial bus startup, the major devices connected to bus 10 bid to become bus master. This is accomplished by a major device when it is initially powered on (or reset), listening to bus 10 to see if any other devices are active. If no devices are active, the initially powered major device sends the TEST frame to itself. If it receives the TEST frame without error, it continues to listen for a length of time proportional to its address. If the major device still hears no activity, it becomes bus master. 
     If the major device receives the TEST frame with error, due to other devices being active on bus 10, then the major device must retest. If two major devices initially being powered on or reset try to transmit their respective TEST frames at the same time, then the waiting period resolves the situation such that whoever has the lower address becomes bus master. 
     If a device that is not yet in the virtual ring hears bus traffic, it waits until it receives a SOLICIT --  SUCCESSOR frame from a device in the ring. When the device gets this frame, it responds with a SET --  SUCCESSOR frame. If the next frame that the device receives is the token 12, then the device has successfully entered the virtual ring. 
     Once a bus master has been established, a virtual ring is established that consists of all major devices connected to the bus which placed bids to become bus master. As the token is passed around the ring a schedule is formed that consists of an ordered list of all such devices with time critical or cyclic data requirements. 
     After the bus 10 has been initialized by the foregoing events, normal operation of the network begins. Generally speaking the normal device operation in the preferred embodiment is a set of rules that describe the receiving, holding (using) and passing of token 12 (the TOKEN frame). Each device has a sequence register and a delta time counter which counts in milliseconds. When a device receives a TIME --  SYNC frame, the device loads the sequence number from the frame into the sequence register of the device, and compares the elapsed time of the TIME --  SYNC frame to the current delta time count in the delta time counter of the device. If necessary the device adjusts the delta time counter to agree with the timing specified by the bus master as indicated in the TIME --  SYNC frame. 
     Thereafter, once the device receives the token 12 (TOKEN frame), the device compares the sequence number in field 40 of the TOKEN frame with the sequence number loaded in the sequence register in the device from the last TIME --  SYNC or DELTA --  TIME frame received. If the sequence number in the token is not equal to the sequence number held in the sequence register of the device, the device recognizes that it failed to receive the last TIME --  SYNC message and sends a REQUEST --  DELTA --  TIME message to the current bus master. 
     Thereafter, if the device receives a DELTA --  TIME frame transmitted by the bus master in response to the request, the device loads the sequence number of the received frame into the sequence register and loads the delta time of the frame into the delta time counter of the device. The device may then proceed to operate and knows it is synchronized. 
     If the device does not receive a reply to its request for a delta time, the device retries the REQUEST --  DELTA --  TIME operation the number of times specified by the system parameter TIME --  RETRY. If the device still receives no reply, the device tries to find a new bus master and obtains the current network time from that device. If the device still receives no reply, the device goes into diagnostic procedures. 
     The error recovery procedure applies when there is no reply to messages addressed to the bus master is as follows. The procedure first attempts to communicate with the major devices that have reserved time on token 12 to become bus master. Only if none of these devices can become bus master does the device in search of a new bus master search the entire address list looking for a major device to be bus master. If the search of the entire address list fails, the device in want of a bus master assumes that the problem may be internal to itself, such as a failing transmitter or receiver, and enters an error state. 
     If the major device in possession of the token has or receives the latest time synchronization information, then the device uses the token 12 until (i) the current time as indicated in its second register is equal to the time part of the first reserved field 44 of token 12, (ii) the token holding timer of the device expires or (iii) the device runs out of messages to transmit on bus 10. Note that since the reservations are always held by token 12 in time sequence order, only the first reserve field needs to be tested. 
     If, while a device is holding the token 12, the current time as indicated in the second register of the device becomes equal to the time of the first reserve field 44, the device holding token 12 must pass the token (in the form of a RESERVED --  TOKEN) to the device that reserved the time. The address of the time reserving device is found in the third (device) part of the first reserve field 44. The device holding token 12 halts its token holding timer, sets its own address as the return address in the RESERVED --  TOKEN frame and sends the RESERVED --  TOKEN frame to the time reserving device. When the time reserving device is finished with the token, it sends a return token in the form of a RETURN --  TOKEN frame back to the first device that passed the time reserving device the token 12. The first or preempted device restarts its token holding timer and continues with its operations. 
     When a device receives a RESERVED --  TOKEN, the device uses the token until the maximum amount of time allowed for the reserve token to be held, as indicated in the hold part of the reserve field 44, expires or until the device runs out of messages to transmit on bus 10. When either of these events occur, the device must send a RETURN --  TOKEN frame back to the device from which it received the token 12. Before the device returns a return token, the device must remove its current reservation (the one for which it received the token 12) and may add a new reservation for a future time dependent operation. 
     For each major device holding token 12, when the holding timer of the device expires, or the device runs out of frames to transmit, the device sends the token to the next device on the virtual ring. 
     Operation of the bus master device in addition to all of the normal device functions is as follows. The bus master has two major duties as a time keeper for bus 10. A first major duty provides that every time that the current bus master device receives token 12, the bus master has the option of sending a TIME --  SYNC to all devices on bus 10 by using the broadcast address FFFF for the destination address 52 of the frame. When the bus master sends this frame, it also updates the TOKEN frame relative to the new synchronized time. This includes updating the sequence number field of the TOKEN frame as well as translating the reserved time field in each of the reserve fields 44 of the TOKEN frame. 
     A second major duty of the bus master is to respond to REQUEST --  DELTA --  TIME frames received from devices that fail to receive the current TIME --  SYNC broadcast. In response to the REQUEST --  DELTA --  TIME frame the bus master broadcasts the sequence number and delta time in milliseconds. Each device on bus 10 is able to receive the delta time message and simply loads both values (sequence number and delta time) into respective registers (sequence counter and delta time counter) of the device. 
     In the case where the device currently in possession of the token 12 fails, then it is the responsibility of the bus master to recover from this situation. In order to perform such a recovery, the bus master device listens to bus 10 periodically. If the bus master hears no activity on bus 10 for a predetermined length of time, then the bus master transmits a new token 12. Known recovery routines are used to patch the virtual ring where the device failed, to update the successor address of the device logically preceding the failed device and to resume logical passing of the token. 
     If the device which failed was the current bus master, then all remaining devices wait a period of time equal to (their device address plus three) multiplied by the maximum round trip delay time through the network multiplied by two. After waiting for this amount of time, the procedure for bidding to become a master is invoked. 
     Major/slave device operation in the present invention is specifically designed to require minimum intelligence on the part of slave device 14. All operations, with the exception of the optional slave to slave messaging (as described below), are controlled by the major device. Slave devices 14 accept all DATA --  MESSAGE, RESPONSE, REQUEST --  WITH --  RESPONSE, DELEGATE --  TOKEN messages that are addressed to them. Slave devices 14 must be able to recognize a slave device address and may be able to recognize any number of group addresses. 
     When a slave device 14 receives a REQUEST --  WITH --  RESPONSE frame, it must respond with either a RESPONSE frame or an ACK frame. 
     When slave device 14 receives a DELEGATE --  TOKEN frame, the slave device has the option of sending a frame and receiving a reply from any device attached to the bus 10 if the frame is a REQUEST --  WITH --  RESPONSE. If the slave device 14 does not have a frame to send, or it does not implement this optional function, the slave device 14 responds to the DELEGATE --  TOKEN frame with an ACK frame. 
     A further description of the programming code for the foregoing procedure and other procedures of the preferred embodiment can be found in the attached appendix. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. ##SPC1##