The Serial Real-time Communication System network uses which topology?

• A. Ring
• B. Bus
• C. Mesh
• D. Star

Answer: (A)

Deterministic, collision-free access is the big idea here. In a ring topology, each device sits in a loop and often uses a token or a fixed order to gain the right to transmit. Because only one node can send when it has the token, the time a message waits before transmission is predictable, giving bounded, repeatable latency—exactly what you need for real-time serial communication. The data handoffs from one node to the next around the loop make timing straightforward to analyze and guarantee.

Other topologies don’t offer the same level of predictability. A shared bus can lead to contention and variable wait times as devices compete for the channel. A mesh provides multiple paths and great redundancy, but at the cost of more complex routing and potential delays that aren’t strictly bounded. A star relies on a central hub; if the hub delays or fails, the whole network’s timing becomes unpredictable and a single point of failure is introduced.

So the ring topology best supports the consistent, timed access required by a Serial Real-time Communication System.