1. A meted of transferring variable-length data frames across a synchronous network employing a multiple-channel synchronous transport signal to carry data among nodes of the network, wherein each channel of the synchronous transport signal carries data in fixed-size payloads, comprising:
encapsulating each data frame in a corresponding point-to-point frame, each point-to-point frame including a body portion of the corresponding data frame and a length value, the length value being located at a predetermined position in a beginning portion of the point-to-point frame;
dividing each point-to-point frame into a corresponding set of fixed-sized segments, a first one of the segments of each set carrying the beginning portion of the corresponding point-to-point frame such that the length value is located at a predetermined position in the first segment;
transmitting the segments of each point-to-point frame as a corresponding set of payloads of at least one channel of the synchronous transport signal, each set of payloads being marked so as to be identifiable in a stream of payloads of the at least one channel of the synchronous transport signal;
receiving each set of payloads of the at least one channel of the synchronous transport signal, and from each received set of payloads regenerating the corresponding point-to-point flame based at least in part on the length value from the first segment; and
de-capsulating each regenerated point-to-point frame to recover the corresponding data frame.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the segments of the point-to-point frames are transmitted as corresponding sets of payloads of at least two channels of the synchronous transport signal, but the segments of each point-to-point frame are transmitted in payloads of only a single one of the at least two channels.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein each point-to-point frame also includes a sequence number identifying its temporal position among the point-to-point frames carrying the data frames, and further comprising re-ordering the point-to-point frames regenerated from the received sets of payloads based on the respective sequence numbers so as to recover the data frames according to an original ordering.
4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising selecting which of the at least two channels of the synchronous transport signal is to carry each point-to-point frame based on channel load balancing criteria.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein each channel has associated therewith a corresponding buffer for temporarily storing point-to-point frames to be transmitted via the channels of the synchronous transport signal, and wherein the load balancing criteria includes maintaining no more than a predetermined difference in the fullness of the buffers.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the payloads of each channel of the synchronous transport signal are arranged into multi-payload superframes, each superframe including overhead information common to all payloads of the superframe.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a superframe is permitted to include a payload containing the end of one point-to-point frame and a payload containing the beginning of another point-to-point frame.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein each set of payloads includes a payload marked as an end of frame payload, and wherein regenerating the point-to-point frame from a set of payloads includes determining, using the length value, a precise location within the segment carried by the end of frame payload at which the point-to-point frame ends.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one channel is one channel in a first of multiple bundles of channels, the bundles being associated with different sets of users of the synchronous network.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the payloads in the channels of all the bundles are the same size.
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein each bundle is associated with a corresponding specific user within the set of users associated with the bundle, and wherein each point-to-point frame transmitted by a user is transmitted on the associated bundle and multicast to all other users of the associated set of users.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein each point-to-point frame transmitted via the bundles of channels is dropped and continued within the synchronous network based on the identity of bundle.
13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the use of the bundle of channels is shared by all users in the set of users associated with the bundle.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the transmission of point-to-point frames on an associated bundle of channels is controlled by a scheduling process that allocates the use of each bundle among the associated set of users according to a predetermined bandwidth allocation scheme.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein each point-to-point frame transmitted via the bundles of channels is dropped and re-transmitted within the synchronous network based on information within the point-to-point frame identifying a destination of the point-to-point frame within the network.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the destination information is destination information appearing in the data frame encapsulated within the point-to-point frame.
17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the destination information included in each point-to-point frame is generated from separate destination information included in the data frame encapsulated by the point-to-point frame.
18. A network device for transferring variable-length data frames across a synchronous network employing a multiple-channel synchronous transport signal to carry data among nodes of the network, wherein each channel of the synchronous transport signal carries data in fixed-size payloads, comprising:
encapsulation logic operative to encapsulate each data frame in a corresponding point-to-point frame, each point-to-point frame including a body portion of the corresponding data frame and a length value, the length value being located at a predetermined position in a beginning portion of the point-to-point frame;
segmentation logic operative to divide each point-to-point frame into a corresponding set of fixed-sized segments, a first one of the segments of each set carrying the beginning portion of the corresponding point-to-point frame such that the length value is located at a predetermined position in the first segment;
transmitting circuitry operative to transmit the segments of each point-to-point frame as a corresponding set of payloads of at least one channel of the synchronous transport signal, each set of payloads being marked so as to be identifiable in a stream of payloads of the at least one channel of the synchronous transport signal;
receiving circuitry operative to (i) receive sets of payloads of at least another channel of the synchronous transport signal, and (ii) from each received set of payloads, regenerate a corresponding point-to-point frame based at least in part on a length value from a first segment thereof; and
de-capsulation logic operative to de-capsulate each regenerated point-to-point frame to recover the corresponding data frame.
19. A network device according to claim 18, wherein the encapsulation logic is further operative to include a sequence number with each point-to-point frame, the sequence number identifying the temporal position of the point-to-point frame among the point-to-point frames carrying the data frames, and further comprising re-sequencing logic operative to re-order the point-to-point frames regenerated from the received sets of payloads based on the respective sequence numbers so as to recover the data frames according to an original ordering.
20. A network device according to claim 18, further comprising selection logic operative to select which of the at least two channels of the synchronous transport signal is to carry each point-to-point frame based on channel load balancing criteria.
21. A network device according to claim 20, further comprising buffers associated with respective ones of the channels for temporarily storing point-to-point frames to be transmittal via the associated channels, each buffer providing information regarding its relative fullness, and wherein the load balancing criteria used by the selection logic includes maintaining no more than a predetermined difference in the fullness of the buffers.
22. A network device according to claim 18, wherein the payloads of each channel of the synchronous transport signal are arranged into multi-payload superframes, each superframe including overhead information common to all payloads of the superframe.
23. A network device according to claim 22, wherein a superframe is permitted to include a payload containing the end of one point-to-point frame and a separate payload containing the beginning of another point-to-point frame.
24. A network device according to claim 18, wherein each set of payloads includes a payload marked as an end of frame payload, and wherein the receiving circuitry is further operative to determine, using the length value of each received point-to-point frame, a precise location within the segment carried by the end of frame payload at which the point-to-point frame ends.
25. A network device according to claim 18, wherein the at least one channel is one channel in a first of multiple bundles of channels, the bundles being associated with different sets of users of the synchronous network.
26. A network device according to claim 25, wherein the payloads in the channels of all the bundles are the same size.
27. A network device according to claim 25, wherein each bundle is associated with a corresponding specific user within the set of users associated with the bundle, and wherein each point-to-point frame transmitted by a user is transmitted on the associated bundle and multicast to all other users of the associated set of users.
28. A network device according to claim 27, wherein each point-to-point frame transmitted via the bundles of channels is dropped and forwarded within the synchronous network based on the identity of bundle.
29. A network device according to claim 25, wherein the use of the bundle of channels is shared by all users in the set of users associated with the bundle.
30. A network device according to claim 29, wherein the transmission of point-to-point frames on an associated bundle of channels is controlled by a scheduling process that allocates the use of each bundle among the associated set of users according to a predetermined bandwidth allocation scheme.
31. A network device according to claim 30, wherein each point-to-point frame transmitted via the bundles of channels is dropped and forwarded within the synchronous network based on information within the point-to-point frame identifying a destination of the point-to-point frame within the network.
32. A network device according to claim 31, wherein the destination information is destination information appearing in the data frame encapsulated within the point-to-point frame.
33. A network device according to claim 31, wherein the destination information included in each point-to-point frame is generated from separate destination information included in the data flame encapsulated by the point-to-point frame.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector operably configured to respond to a firing motion;
a shaft attached to the end effector and including an elongate firing member coupled to the end effector for movement to longitudinally transmit the firing motion; and
a handle proximally attached to the shaft, comprising:
a firing actuator repeatably moveable in a firing direction and a return direction; and
a rotary transmission, comprising:
an input rotary member coupled to the firing actuator for rotation in correspondence to at least the firing motion thereof,
an output rotary member engaged to the elongate firing member for rotation in correspondence to longitudinal motion thereof, and
a one-way clutch operatively configured to uncouple the output rotary member from the firing actuator when the firing actuator moves in the return direction between firing strokes.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a rack connected to the elongate firing member, wherein the rack is coupled by gear engagement with the rotary transmission comprised of a gear train.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the rotary transmission comprises a gear reduction assembly relating the intermittent rotation of the input rotary member to an increased longitudinal motion of the rack.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an anti-backup mechanism operably configured to prevent retraction of the elongate firing member between firing strokes of the firing actuator.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises a pair of opposing jaws responsive to a closure motion and a firing bar responsive to the firing member, the shaft operably configured to transmit the closure motion through a closure member to the end effector, the handle further comprising a closure mechanism operably configured to produce the closure motion.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the one-way clutch comprises a roller slip clutch between the input and output rotary members.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the one-way clutch comprises ratchet mechanism.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the firing actuator comprises a pivoting firing trigger, and the one-way clutch ratchet mechanism comprises a pawl positioned to rotate the input rotary member in one direction.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein a selected one of the input and output rotary member is operatively configured to rotate less than one rotation during a multiple firing stroke operation of the firing trigger and further comprises a cam surface operatively configured to limit further rotation upon full firing motion of the firing member.
10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector operably configured to respond to a firing motion;
a shaft attached to the end effector and including an elongate firing member coupled to the end effector for movement to longitudinally transmit the firing motion; and
a handle proximally attached to the shaft, comprising:
a firing actuator repeatably moveable in a firing direction and a return direction;
a rotary transmission, comprising:
an input rotary member coupled to the firing actuator for rotation in correspondence to the firing and return direction motions thereof,
an output rotary member engaged to the elongate firing member for rotation in correspondence to longitudinal motion thereof,
a one-way clutch selectively communicating firing rotation of the input rotary member to the output rotary member, and
an anti-backup mechanism operably configured to prevent retraction of the elongate firing member between firing strokes of the firing actuator, wherein the anti-backup mechanism comprises a pendulum spring biased proximally into frictional engagement with the elongate firing member.
11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising a release mechanism operatively configured to respond to a release actuation to urge the anti-backup mechanism out of engagement with the elongate firing member.
12. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector operably configured to respond to a firing motion;
a shaft attached to the end effector and including an elongate firing member coupled to the end effector for movement to longitudinally transmit the firing motion; and
a handle proximally attached to the shaft, comprising:
a firing actuator repeatably moveable in a firing direction and a return direction;
a rotary transmission, comprising:
an input rotary member coupled to the firing actuator for rotation in correspondence to the firing and return direction motions thereof,
an output rotary member engaged to the elongate firing member for rotation in correspondence to longitudinal motion thereof, and
a one-way clutch selectively communicating firing rotation of the input rotary member to the output rotary member;
wherein the firing actuator comprises a pivotally coupled lever providing a reciprocating arcing movement, the firing actuator including an arcuate surface engaged to the input rotary member.
13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the arcuate surface further comprises an arcuate gear segment, the input rotary member comprising a gear engaged thereto.
14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the rotary transmission is rotationally attached within a handle housing, the firing actuator including an aperture sized to received and in tangential engagement to the input rotary member to impart rotation within a range of the reciprocating arcing movement.
15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the arcuate surface further comprises an arcuate gear segment along one surface of the aperture in the firing actuator, the input rotary member comprising a gear engaged to the arcuate gear segment.