Abstract

Recently, fiber optics has been used experimentally in local computer networks¹ (LCN), typically in ring-configured nets² or passive star-configured nets.³ We report here a prototype active star- configured fiber-optic net which detects collisions between data packets broadcast simultaneously by different net stations. Such collision detection is required in the Ethernet,⁴ a coaxial cable LCN which uses statistical arbitration to coordinate net access. Fibernet II is a fiber-optic Ethernet which can extend an existing coax Ethernet installation or can serve as a stand-alone Ethernet.

© 1982 Optical Society of America