Network device interface for digitally interfacing data channels to a controller via a network
First Claim
1. A protocol stored on a computer-readable medium for transmitting commands and data between a bus controller and a network device interface across a common digital network, wherein said protocol comprises a set of low level instructions for sending respective commands and data such that it is possible to implement at least one of the bus controller and the network device interface as a state machine.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a network device interface and method for digitally connecting a plurality of data channels, such as sensors, actuators, and subsystems, to a controller using a network bus. The network device interface interprets commands and data received from the controller and polls the data channels in accordance with these commands. Specifically, the network device interface receives digital commands and data from the controller, and based on these commands and data, communicates with the data channels to either retrieve data in the case of a sensor or send data to activate an actuator. Data retrieved from the sensor is then converted by the network device interface into digital signals and transmitted back to the controller. In one advantageous embodiment, the network device interface uses a specialized protocol for communicating across the network bus that uses a low-level instruction set and has low overhead for data communication.
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Citations
28 Claims
- 1. A protocol stored on a computer-readable medium for transmitting commands and data between a bus controller and a network device interface across a common digital network, wherein said protocol comprises a set of low level instructions for sending respective commands and data such that it is possible to implement at least one of the bus controller and the network device interface as a state machine.
- 16. A method for transmitting commands and data between a bus controller and a network device interface across a common digital network comprising the step of transmitting commands and data using a set of low level instructions such that it is possible to implement at least one of the bus controller and the network device interface as a state machine.
Specification