Controlling start up in a network

• US 20050141524A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Driscoll, Kevin R., Hall, Brendan
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/400
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/422 Synchronisation for ring networks Time Division Multiplex ring networks, e.g. SDH/SONET H04J3/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/644 Star
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6459 Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMA

Abstract

A method for controlling start-up of a network is provided. The method includes receiving a message from one node of a plurality of nodes at a hub while the network is in an unsynchronized state, relaying the message to the other nodes of the plurality of nodes of the network independent of the content of the message, and blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a relaying condition is met.

Claims

1. A method for controlling start-up of a network, the method comprising:

receiving a message from one node of a plurality of nodes at a hub while the network is in an unsynchronized state;

relaying the message to the other nodes of the plurality of nodes without analyzing the content of the message; and

when the network remains in an unsynchronized state, blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a synchronous state is detected, a select number of nodes of the plurality of nodes has transmitted a message, or a period of time has lapsed that is sufficient to allow the network to start-up.

2. The method of claim 1, and further including detecting the state of synchronization of the network based on out-of-band signaling.

3. The method of claim 1, and further including monitoring signals received at the hub to detect entry into the synchronous state.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring signals comprises monitoring for at least one of beacons from the plurality of nodes or guardian messages for voted schedule enforcement.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein blocking all messages comprises not relaying the message independent of the content of the message.

6. A method for controlling start-up of a network, the method comprising:

receiving a message from one node of a plurality of nodes at a hub while the network is in an unsynchronized state;

relaying the message to the other nodes of the plurality of nodes of the network independent of the content of the message; and

blocking messages from the one node at the hub from being forwarded to other nodes of the plurality of nodes until the network is synchronized or a select number of other ones of the plurality of nodes have transmitted a message in the unsynchronized state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein blocking messages comprises failing to relay messages to other nodes in the network independent of the content of the message.

8. A method for controlling start-up of a network, the method comprising:

receiving a message from one node of a plurality of nodes at a hub while the network is in an unsynchronized state;

relaying the message to the other nodes of the plurality of nodes of the network independent of the content of the message; and

blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a relaying condition is met.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein blocking all messages comprises blocking all messages from the one node until the network enters a synchronous state, or a select number of other nodes of the plurality of nodes transmits a message, or a period of time lapses that is sufficient to allow the network to start-up.

10. A network, comprising:

at least one hub;

a plurality of nodes coupled to the at least one hub in a star configuration;

wherein the at least one hub and the plurality of nodes communicate using a time-triggered protocol; and

wherein the hub allows each node to transmit one message on the network in an unsynchronized state before the hub blocks messages on the network from that node.

11. The network of claim 10, wherein the hub blocks all messages from the node in the unsynchronized state until at least one other node has transmitted a message in the unsynchronized state.

12. The network of claim 10, wherein the hub blocks all messages in an unsynchronized state until a number of nodes of the plurality of nodes equal to the number of channels in the network has transmitted a message in the unsynchronized state.

13. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for a method for controlling start-up of a network, the method comprising:

receiving a message from one node of a plurality of nodes at a hub while the network is in an unsynchronized state;

relaying the message to the other nodes of the plurality of nodes without analyzing the content of the message;

monitoring the state of synchronization of the network; and

when the network remains in an unsynchronized state, blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a synchronous state is detected.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, and further comprising ceasing to block messages from a node once a select number of other nodes of the plurality of nodes has transmitted a message.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, and further comprising ceasing to block messages after a period of time has lapsed that is sufficient to allow the network to start-up.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein monitoring the state of synchronization comprises monitoring an out-of-band signal.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein monitoring the state of synchronization comprises monitoring beacon signals sent from the plurality of nodes to the hub.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein monitoring the state of synchronization comprises monitoring a guardian message used for voted schedule enforcement.

19. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for a method for controlling start-up of a network, the method comprising:

receiving a message from one node of a plurality of nodes at a hub while the network is in an unsynchronized state;

relaying the message to the other nodes of the plurality of nodes of the network independent of the content of the message; and

blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a relaying condition is met.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein blocking all messages comprises blocking all messages from the one node until the network enters a synchronous state, or select number of other node of the plurality of nodes transmits a message, or a period of time lapses that is sufficient to allow the network to start-up.

21. A method for controlling start-up of a network, the method comprising:

receiving a message from one node of a plurality of nodes at a hub while the network is in an unsynchronized state;

relaying the message to the other nodes of the plurality of nodes without analyzing the content of the message; and

when the network remains in an unsynchronized state, blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a select number of nodes of the plurality of nodes has transmitted a message.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a select number of nodes of the plurality of nodes has transmitted a message comprises blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a number of nodes of the plurality of nodes equal to the number of channels have transmitted in the unsynchronized state.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein blocking all messages comprises not relaying the message independent of the content of the message.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a select number of nodes of the plurality of nodes has transmitted a message comprises blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a number of nodes of the plurality of nodes equal to the number of channels a node is authorized to transmit on have transmitted in the unsynchronized state.

25. The method of claim 21, and further comprising unblocking the one node when the select number of nodes has transmitted in the unsynchronized state.

26. A method for controlling start-up of a network, the method comprising:

receiving a message from one node of a plurality of nodes at a hub while the network is in an unsynchronized state;

relaying the message to the other nodes of the plurality of nodes without analyzing the content of the message; and

when the network remains in an unsynchronized state, blocking all messages from the one node of the plurality of nodes until a period of time has lapsed that is sufficient to allow the network to start-up.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein blocking all messages includes setting a timer on a per node basis when a block is applied to the node.

28. The method of claim 27, and firther comprising unblocking the node when the timer associated with the node expires.

29. An apparatus for controlling start-up in a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for relaying messages from one node to other nodes of a plurality of nodes;

means, coupled to the means for relaying, for blocking messages from the one node after relaying one message from the one node in an unsynchronized state; and

means, coupled to the means for relaying, for removing the block when a relaying condition is met.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for removing the block comprises means for removing a block when a synchronous state is detected, a select number of nodes of the plurality of nodes has transmitted a message, or a period of time has lapsed that is sufficient to allow the network to start-up.