Importance

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Abstract

An optical communication system includes two optical modems (12) and (14) which are disposed at either end of an optical fiber data link (10). The optical modems (12) and (14) communicate through LEDs (16) and (18), respectively, with the fiber data link (10). Each of the optical modems (12) and (14) on start-up are peerless and do not operate in either a master or a slave configuration. A ping-pong transmission format is utilized with transmitted packets of data. When one of the optical modems (12) or (14) detects a transmitted packet from the other, it locks up to the transmitted packet with a phase lock loop and takes on slave status. This slave status is transmitted back to the fiber data link (10) in another transmitted packet. The transmitted packet from the slave device is then adjusted time relative to the machine cycle of the slave device until the packet is received by the other optical modem. Once the other optical modem receives the transmitted packet from the slave optical modem, it recognizes this fact and takes on a master status. This master status is transmitted back to the slave optical modem and adjustment of the relative position of the transmitted packet therein is terminated and the start-up procedure is terminated.

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First Claim