FISHNET: a distributed architecture for high-performance local computer networks

FISHNET (facilities integrated in a shared habitat network) addresses the problem of effectively integrating a wide variety of computers, terminals, memory devices and computer peripherals in a local environment. High performance is achieved by effectively separating the high volume node-to-node data communications and the low-volume network control information. Data messages travel through point-to-point data links. Control messages, which set up data paths and coordinate network activities, use an independent multidrop control link which connects all devices. The fully distributed control mechanism allows a high degree of concurrent data transmission