FPSS - A Fast Packet Switching System

FPSS is a local packet switching network connecting up to 256 computers or intelligent controllers. Transmission hardware is realized as a star network operating at an internal speed of 160 Mbit/s. Packet handling overhead is less than 3 usec per packet. The network software employs the virtual channel concept to provide data transmission between various sub processes on a time shared basis. The network operating program has been implemented as an extension of the SINTRAN III operating system of the NORD-100 computers used at DESY. A version for the PADAC microcomputer (TMS 9900) is under development.