Small local area network with a collision-free technique for connecting heterogeneous microcomputer systems

Abstract This paper describes a realization of a small local area network for connecting heterogeneous microcomputer systems. The access control algorithm has been recently proposed by Eswaran, Hamacher, Shedler. Here are its main characteristics : asynchronous, free collision communication, bounded and guaranteed bus access time, simple design and distributed control. On condition that restrictive working hypotheses are : parallel and presumingly reliable communication medium, lack of coalition between stations and non hostile environment, we realized a small local area bus network which access controller cost is much lower than the existing equivalent ones. In addition to the point-to-point communication service, this network also offers to the upper lever a broadcast service. This small local area bus network could be in one way a support to a technological teaching (practical experiments in microcomputer systems and local network courses), and in another way the prototype for connecting control devices, personal or home microcomputer systems, essentially heterogeneous.