Ethernet interface device for reporting status via common industrial protocols

• US 20040010627A1
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Lion Controls, Inc. (Spectris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Sixnet Incorporated (Spectris PLC)
• Inventors: Schoenberg, Steve A., Ellis, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,185,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/354 for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN]

Abstract

An Ethernet interface device, and associated system and method, for reporting the status information data of Ethernet devices through common industrial protocols. The Ethernet interface device provides operational connections between one or more Ethernet devices and one or more independent networks. The Ethernet interface device also monitors an Ethernet connection path, and produces status data indicative of the operational status of the connection path and the devices connected along the path. This status data is received by the Ethernet interface device, where it is manipulated into a format recognizable by common industrial protocols.

Claims

1. A network switch for use in a communications network, wherein said network switch comprises:

at least one network port for communicating information with one or more network devices;

at least one device port;

at least one Ethernet switch operatively coupled to said network port and to said device port, wherein said network switch couples said network port to said device port;

an apparatus for communication between said Ethernet switch and at least one local Ethernet device via said at least one device port; and

a central processing unit, wherein said central processing unit includes;

polling apparatus for testing the operational status of communication between said Ethernet switch and said at least one local Ethernet device, wherein said polling apparatus produces a status result determined by the testing; and

recording apparatus for recording the status result.

2. The network switch of claim 1, wherein said central processing unit further includes a microprocessor.

3. The network switch of claim 2, wherein said network switch includes:

at least one input/output register in said central processing unit, wherein said input/output register includes at least one status bit;

apparatus for setting said status bit in response to the status result; and

apparatus for communicating said setting of said status bit to an external device via a standard protocol.

4. The network switch of claim 3, wherein said Ethernet switch operates in accordance with a standard Ethernet protocol.

5. The network switch of claim 3, wherein said central processing unit includes a configuration table, said configuration table adapted to configure said central processing unit, and said configuration table including at least one of:

an IP address of said at least one local Ethernet device;

a location of said at least one local Ethernet device;

an I/O register number, said I/O register number corresponding to a register in said central processing unit which register includes said status bit;

a number of retry attempts to make when testing the operational status; and

a number representing frequency of testing the operational status.

6. The network switch of claim 3, wherein said central processing unit is adapted to communicate with an external operator interface, said external operator interface adapted to alter said configuration table.

7. The network switch of claim 1, wherein said network switch includes at least one data storage location for receiving said status result.

8. The network switch of claim 7, wherein said data storage location is a register.

9. The network switch of claim 1, wherein said Ethernet switch has an address, said address recognizable by an Ethernet protocol.

10. The network switch of claim 1, wherein said polling apparatus, for testing the operational status of communication between said Ethernet switch and said at least one local Ethernet device, includes transmitting and receiving an echo message between said polling apparatus and said at least one local Ethernet device.

11. The network switch of claim 10, wherein said echo message is a ping.

12. The network switch of claim 1, wherein said network switch further includes recording apparatus adapted to communicate said status result to an external device, said external device operating in accordance with an industrial protocol.

13. A method of providing status information in a communications network, said method comprising:

providing a network switch comprising;

at least one network port for communicating information with one or more network devices;

at least one device port;

providing at least one Ethernet switch operatively coupled to said network port and to said device port, wherein said Ethernet switch couples said network port to said device port;

providing an apparatus for communication between said Ethernet switch and at least one local Ethernet device via said at least one device port; and

providing a central processing unit, wherein said central processing unit includes;

polling apparatus for testing the operational status of communication between said Ethernet switch and said at least one local Ethernet device, wherein said polling apparatus produces a status result determined by the testing; and

recording apparatus for recording the status result.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said central processing unit further includes a microprocessor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said network switch includes:

at least one input/output register in said central processing unit, wherein said input/output register includes at least one status bit;

apparatus for setting said status bit in response to the status result; and

apparatus for communicating said setting of said status bit to an external device via a standard protocol.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said Ethernet switch operates in accordance with a standard Ethernet protocol.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said central processing unit is includes a configuration table, said configuration table adapted to configure said central processing unit, and said configuration table including at least of:

an IP address of said at least one local Ethernet device;

a location of said at least one local Ethernet device;

an I/O register number, said I/O register number corresponding to a register in said central processing unit which register includes said status bit;

a number of retry attempts to make when testing the operational status; and

a number representing frequency of testing the operational status.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said central processing unit is adapted to communicate with an external operator interface, said external operator interface adapted to alter said configuration table.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said network switch includes at least one data storage location for receiving said status result.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said data storage location is a register.

21. The network switch of claim 13, wherein said Ethernet switch includes an address, said address recognizable by an Ethernet protocol.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said polling apparatus, for testing the operational status of communication between said Ethernet switch and said at least one local Ethernet device, includes transmitting and receiving an echo message between said polling apparatus and said at least one local Ethernet device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said echo message is a ping.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein said network switch includes reporting apparatus adapted to communicate said status result to an external device, said external device operating in accordance with an industrial protocol.

25. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code stored therein for causing an Ethernet communication path failure to be detected, the computer readable program code in said computer program product comprising;

first computer readable program code means for causing a computer to detect failures in at least one Ethernet communication path;

second computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect changes in contents of a register containing status information pertinent to the status of said Ethernet communication path, said computer comprising said register; and

third computer readable program code means for causing said contents of a register to be readable by a standard industrial protocol, wherein said standard industrial protocol is an industrial protocol.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the computer readable program code means includes:

configuration information related to at least one Ethernet communications path, wherein said configuration information includes devices and pathways connected on said Ethernet communications path;

polling information for testing said Ethernet communications path to determine the status of said devices and pathways on said Ethernet communications path; and

configuration information permitting reporting of status information between a CPU and each of said VLAN groups.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said polling information includes:

a test message for testing the status of said devices and circuit paths on said Ethernet communications path;

a retry number corresponding to the number of times a test message shall be sent before a failure is confirmed; and

a timing number corresponding to the number of times a test message is sent within a specific time period.

28. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said industrial protocol is chosen from the group consisting of:

protocols for programmable logic controller software, protocols for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) software, and protocols for operator interface software.