An adaptive token release mechanism for high performance ring networks

Introduces an adaptive token release mechanism. This mechanism allows stations to share current state information and enables the token-holding station to decide whether to release the token or to keep it for another token holding period. As a result, the token holding time can be kept short enough to support real-time traffic and, at the same time, allow a station to keep transmitting as long as no other station is waiting for the token. Simulation results show that when using the adaptive token release mechanism, token ring protocols are able to support a large spectrum of real-time applications without sacrificing efficiency