RELIABLE DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS USING UNRELIABLE NETWORK REPEATER NODES

A communications network that utilizes a moderate degree of redundancy to provide high immunity from the deleterious effects of damage of relay centers is described. The degree of redundancy needed is shown to be determined primarily by the amount of damage expected. Curves indicating the optimum degree of redundancy are shown and the distribution of performance under different damage patterns described. The redundancy desired is shown to vary as a function of the station position in the network, the stations at the fringe of the network requiring more redundancy than the inside stations. (Author)