Token-Passing Access Method
In the token passing access method, a single token is passed from station to station.
From the perspective of any given station, the token is received from the nearest active upstream neighbor (NAUN) and passed to the nearest active downstream neighbor (NADN).
The token is actually a small data frame. Stations may only transmit on the network when they have received the token.
Thus, no two stations transmit at the same time. This avoids collisions.
Since the token is passed from one station to another, a break in the cable or a loss of a host can interrupt the flow of the token.