Method for allocating an indentification code to nodes in a network, for communication in a network as well as for controlling a network

• US 20040022232A1
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roelof Reinders
• Original Assignee: Roelof Reinders
• Inventors: Reinders, Roelof
• Granted Patent: US 7,583,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31106 Auto configuration, each module responsable for own configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31136 Name of bus, canbus, controller area network
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33283 Customized nodes for desired functionality
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for allocating a unique ID to a node in a network making a request to that effect, wherein the requesting node generates an ID and sends an ID request comprising the ID over the network, wherein each node in the network that already possesses said generated ID will send an ID ban comprising the generated ID over the network in response to detection of said ID request. The invention furthermore relates to a method for communication between objects in a network, in particular sensors, actuators and/or control objects. The invention furthermore relates to a method for controlling objects in a network, in particular sensors, actuators and/or control objects, wherein a controlling object sends a message comprising data on its characteristic variables over the network via data output means without being requested to do so.

Claims

1. A method for allocating a unique ID to a node in a network making a request to that effect, wherein the requesting node generates an ID and sends an ID request comprising the ID over the network, wherein each node in the network that already possesses said generated ID will send an ID ban comprising the generated ID over the network in response to detection of said ID request.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the requesting node will generate a new ID in response to the ID ban and send a new ID request comprising the new ID over the network.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the node will present an ID confirmation comprising the ID and a device identification on the network after a predetermined period of time when the requesting node has not detected an ID ban.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined period of time is varies with substantially each individual node.

5. A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the node will accept the ID as unique after the ID confirmation has been sent and wherein said ID is stored in permanent storage means.

6. A method according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the requesting node will generate a new ID when it has not been able to send the ID confirmation after a predetermined number of attempts, and it will send a new ID request comprising a new ID over the network.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 3-6, wherein the requesting node, upon detection of an ID confirmation comprising the same ID but a different device identification on the network, will no longer assume its ID to be unique and it will generate a new ID and send a new ID request comprising the new ID over the network.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ID is generated on the basis of at least part of the node'"'"'s serial number.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a node sends an ID reset command over the network, in response to which at least substantially each node in the network will generate a new ID and send a new ID request comprising the new ID over the network.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a node does not send an ID ban over the network in response to detection of an ID request comprising an ID it will no longer use.

21. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-20, wherein said network is an industrial control network.

22. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-21, wherein said network is a Controller Area Network (CAN).

11. A method for communication between objects in a network, in particular sensors, actuators and/or control objects, wherein a sending object sends a message intended for one or more receiving objects by making use of data output means, wherein at least substantially every receiving object in the network possesses a set of address fields which may comprise a non-unique address value, wherein the message is addressed by the sending object by prescribing one or more address values for one or more address fields, and wherein the message will be input by data input means of the receiving object if all the stated address values in the corresponding address fields of the object comply with the prescribed address values in the message.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the combination of address values of at least part of the set of address fields identifies the receiving-object in a unique manner.

13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the address values constitute functional attributes and/or location attributes of the receiving object.

14. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 11-13, wherein the message that is sent is is a control command or a status information request.

15. A method for controlling objects in a network, in particular sensors, actuators and/or control objects, wherein a controlling object sends a message comprising data on its characteristic variables over the network via data output means without being requested to do so.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein it is possible to set the characteristic variables that the object sends off.

17. A method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the controlling object will send off the message when the value of at least one of its characteristic variables changes significantly.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the controlling object sends off the message at regular intervals.

19. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 15-18, wherein an object to be controlled comprises data input means which have been set to input the data concerning predetermined characteristic variables of one or more controlling objects in the network into the object to be controlled.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the setting of said data input means takes place by means of a message.