Yoshikazu Nobutoki,
Higashihiroshima; Masao Hideshima,
Hiroshima; Shigeyuki Satomura,
Kure; Akira Sone, Hiroshima, all of
Japan
[73] Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation,
Hiroshima, Japan
[21] Appl. No.: 858,537
[22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1992
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Mar. 29, 1991 [JP] Japan 3-066244
[51] Int. CI.' H04J 3/12
[52] U.S. CI 370/85.8; 340/825.08
[58] Field of Search 178/4.1 B, 4.1 C;
340/502, 503, 504, 870.42, 825.08, 825.15, 825.54; 370/77, 85.8, 95.2
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,778,540 12/1973 Fretwell 178/4.1 B
4,360,912 11/1982 Metz et al 370/85.8
4,466,001 8/1984 Moore et al 370/95.2
4,872,003 10/1989 Yoshida 340/825.08
5,157,658 10/1992 Arai et al 370/85.11
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 61-224534 10/1986 Japan .
Primary Examiner—Benedict V. Safourek
[57] ABSTRACT
In a multiplex transmission method of a multiplex transmission apparatus provides time-divisional multiplex transmission operations among a plurality of communication nodes. A among the plurality of communication nodes predetermined node among the plurality of communication nodes is started requests other communication nodes to transmit connection signals so as to confirm a connection state of communication nodes on the multiplex transmission bus. When the predetermined communication node receives the connection signals from the other nodes within a predetermined period of time, confirmation of the connection state is ended and a multiplex transmission of data is started.
TRANSMIT ANC REFERENCE DATA FRAME
