Which company developed the Token Ring Protocol?

The development of the Token Ring Protocol is credited to IBM. This networking standard was introduced by IBM in the 1980s as a way to manage data transmission in a local area network (LAN). Token Ring utilizes a token-passing protocol for regulating access to the network, whereby a token circulates around the network and only the device holding the token can send data. This method helps to prevent data collisions, which can occur when multiple devices try to send data simultaneously.

IBM's involvement brought credibility and rigor to the development of this protocol, and it played a significant role in the networking landscape at that time, competing with Ethernet as a primary networking technology. Understanding why IBM and not the other companies is pivotal in grasping the history and evolution of networking protocols, as it shows how specific companies pioneered significant innovations in the tech industry.