LOCAL AREA NETWORK SPECIAL FUNCTION FRAMES

In a local area network having a plurality of nodes, wherein the local area network utilizes a token passing scheme for communicating between nodes, each node has an interface apparatus which operates independently of a processor associated with the node. The node can be in an on-line mode or an off-line mode, wherein the node does not participate in token passing or receive information when in the off-line mode. A method of the present invention provides for diagnosing and/or recovering a second node from a first node, the method implemented by the second node includes the steps of waiting to receive a message frame addressed to the second node. If the message frame addressed to the second node is a special function frame, and if the second node is in the off-line mode, the type of special function frame is determined to perform the command specified by the type of special function frame. The operation of the second node then returns to the step of waiting to receive a message frame addressed to it.