An Approach to Digital System Networks

Abstract

The paper illustrates a straightforward approach to the design of digital multiplexes. The approach allows digital communication systems of various speeds to be readily interconnected to form a large scale digital network. A small fraction of the transmitted bits are reserved for housekeeping or network control functions. Special attention is focused on the fraction of transmitted bits that must be reserved as a function of network parameters. It is shown that good performance in a 3-speed network utilizing unlocked clocks can be obtained if two to three percent of the transmitted bits are devoted to network control (framing and synchronization).