Setting target rotation times in an IEEE token bus network

The IEEE standard 802.4 token bus protocol requires each network station to implement a synchronous (highest priority) message class, and permits a station to implement three lower priority classes: urgent asynchronous, normal asynchronous, and time available. Each of the lower three priorities (called access classes) is assigned a target token rotation time that limits the amount of time that a station can use to service lower priority traffic. A formulation of the problem is presented in which messages are transmitted from an access class as long as network throughput remains below a user-specified threshold. Formulas are derived that transform this priority scheme, based on network throughput limits, into the proper target rotation time settings that the token bus protocol actually requires. The analytical model is compared with a computer simulation of the token bus protocol and shows close agreement.<
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