GE Solar 7000, Service Manual

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EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW: More About Tram-net Communication
Revision J Solar 7000/8000/View Patient Monitor 2-39
414993-001
More About Tram-net Communication
The Solar patient monitor uses two distinct local area networks:
• Tram-net communication, and
• Ethernet communication.
To avoid confusion, consider Tram-net as a small area network (SAN)
contained in one room or at the patient bedside. Consider Ethernet as the
local area network (LAN) for room to room communication or
communication between patient monitors, central stations, and other GE
Medical Systems Information Technologies equipment throughout the
hospital.
This local area network links all patient monitors, central stations, and
other GE Medical Systems Information Technologies equipment
throughout the hospital.
The 25-pin connector makes a Tram-net small area network available for
the peripheral devices. The Tram-net controller resides on the same bus
as the main processor which provides efficient data transfer by sharing
main memory.
Internal Hub
Tram-net is a small network that offers ample flexibility, a high rate of
communication, and relatively inexpensive cabling. Data is transmitted
at the rate of 921.6K bits per second. It uses a star topology, sometimes
referred to as a rooted tree topology. This means that the wiring of the
network can be pictured as a star or a series of stars. The center of each
star is called a hub, and the points of the star are called nodes. There are
cables between the nodes and the hubs, but no cables exist between
nodes.
NOTE: Do not confuse the internal hub or node with the Tram-net hub
assembly discussed earlier as a system component. The hub
described in these paragraphs refers to the electronic
distribution point of data.