Multi-processor communications system incorporating prioritized messaging

• US 20060271667A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Tice, Lee D., Clow, Robert J., Keeler, Manley S., Meggesin, John F., Howard, Jerry L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5021 Priority
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5027 the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers

Abstract

A flexible multi-processor communications system supports variable message lengths and variable groups and application designations at respective processors. The receiving processors determine what action, if any, needs to be taken in response to the combination of group and application information in the messages. The receiving processors can include pluralities of pre-stored groups and applications along with associated priorities and the functions to perform.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A communications process comprising:

forming messages having at least two parts wherein one part corresponds to a function indicator and the second part corresponds to a device identifier;

transmitting the formed messages;

receiving at least one transmitted message and extracting at least the function indicator therefrom;

using at least the function indicator to retrieve at least one group identifier; and

transmitting the group identifier.

19. A process as in claim 18 which includes retrieving the group identifier from a common data base of group identifiers.

20. A process as in claim 19 which includes receiving a transmitted group identifier at a device and comparing it to a plurality of groups identifiers stored at the device;

carrying out a function at the device in response to the results of the comparing step.

21. A process as in claim 20 which includes transmitting at least a second group identifier in response to the received function indicator.

22. A communications process comprising:

forming messages having at least two parts wherein one part corresponds to a function indicator and the second part corresponds to a device identifier;

transmitting the formed messages;

receiving at least one transmitted message and extracting at least the function indicator therefrom;

using at least the function indicator to retrieve at least one application identifier; and

transmitting the application identifier.

23. A process as in claim 22 which includes transmitting at least one group identifier associated with the transmitted application identifier.

24. A process as in claim 22 which includes extracting the location, in the received message, of an error checking representation.

25-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A multi-processor communications system comprising:

a communication medium;

a plurality of processors, coupled to the medium, where the processors are capable of transmitting and receiving messages from the medium wherein the messages contain priority information for priority operation of selected processors which are incorporated into respective output devices, and wherein the priority information can be changed dynamically dependent upon the a previous conditions condition in the system.

51. A system as in claim 50 wherein the priority information is changed by a common control unit.

52. A system as in claim 50 wherein the priority information is changed by the output device itself.

53. A system as in claim 50 wherein the previous conditions in the system are determined by monitoring the communication messages in the system.

54. A system as in claim 50 wherein the previous conditions are the previous operating states of other devices in the system.

55. A system as in claim 50 wherein the previous conditions are the previous priority information transmitted on the system.

56. A system as in claim 50 wherein the previous condition is the previous operating state of the device itself.

57. A system as in claim 50 wherein the previous condition is the previous priority of the device itself.

58. A system as in claim 51 wherein the priority information is changed automatically in the system according to preprogrammed instructions.

59. A multi-processor communications system comprising:

a communication medium;

a plurality of processors, coupled to the medium, where the processors are capable of transmitting and receiving messages from the medium wherein some of the processors are associated with respective output devices and wherein at least some of the output devices contain priority information for priority operation of the output devices wherein the priority information can be changed dynamically dependent upon selected previous conditions in the system.

61. A system as in claim 59 wherein the priority information is changed by the output device itself.

62. A system as in claim 59 wherein the previous condition in the system is determined by monitoring the communication messages in the system.

63. A system as in claim 59 wherein the previous condition in the system is the previous operating state of the respective output device itself.

60. A system as in clam 59 wherein the priority information is changed by a common control unit.

64. A multi-processor communication system comprising:

a communication medium;

a plurality of processors, coupled to the medium, where the processors are capable of transmitting and receiving messages from the medium wherein the messages contain priority information for priority access to the communication medium and wherein the priority information can be changed dynamically dependent upon at least one previous condition in the system

wherein the at least one previous condition comprises the previous operating state of the device itself.

65. A multi-processor communication system comprising:

a communication medium;

a plurality of processors, coupled to the medium, where the processors are capable of transmitting and receiving messages from the medium wherein the messages contain priority information for priority access to the communication medium and wherein the priority information can be changed dynamically dependent upon at least one previous condition in the system

wherein the at least one previous condition comprises the previous priority of the device itself.

66. A multi-processor communication system comprising:

a communication medium;

a plurality of processors, coupled to the medium, members of the plurality are capable of transmitting and receiving information on the communication medium and having a stored priority value;

wherein some members of the plurality of processors include at least one executable routine that can be selectively executed by the processor, based upon the message information;

wherein at least one of the plurality of processors transmits message information that includes priority information and that message information is received by at least another one of the plurality of processors;

wherein the at least one plurality of processors that receive the message information including the priority information, compares the priority information included within the message information with the stored priority value, and executes the selected executable routine if the priority information transmitted with the message information is equal to or higher than the stored priority value.

67. A system as in claim 66 wherein the stored priority value corresponds to the priority information included within the prior message information for which a selected executable routine was executed.

68. A multi-processor communication system comprising:

a communications medium; and

a plurality of processors, coupled to the medium, where the processors are capable of transmitting and receiving messages from the medium;

the processors are programmed with functions to be performed in accordance with associated designated group(s) information received from transmitted messages on the medium;

a processor originating a transmitted message sends information other than the designated groups; and

the information to designate group(s) to perform their functions is provided by a processor other than the processor originating the transmitted message, where the designated group(s) are specified in a separate message.

69. A system as in claim 68 where the processor providing the information to bind processors by group includes circuitry for extracting an identifier of the processor originating the transmitted message.

70. A system as in claim 69 where the identifier is the address of the processor originating the message.

71. A system as in claim 68 where information from the originator of the transmitted message is inserted into at least one of the same message or the separate message.

72. A system as in claim 68 where the functions to be performed are dependent upon the information in the message from the originating processor.

73. A multi-processor communication system comprising:

a communication medium;

a plurality of processors, coupled to the medium, the members of the plurality are capable of transmitting and receiving information on the communication medium and storing at least one priority value;

where some members of the plurality of processors include software that can be selectively carried out by the processor, based upon the message information;

where at least one member of the plurality of processors transmits message information that includes priority information and that message information is received by at least another one of the plurality of processors;

where the at least one member of the plurality of processors that receive the message information including the priority information, compares the priority information included within the message information with the stored priority value, and responsive thereto executes a selected routine, and where group information is specified in one of, the same or a different message.

74. A system as in claim 73 where the priority value stored in a selected processor can be altered.

75. A multi-processor communication system comprising:

a communication medium;

a plurality of processors coupled to the medium, where members of a plurality of pairs of processors are capable of transmitting and receiving messages between one another via the medium;

where at least one member of the plurality of processors transmits message information that includes priority information and that message information is received by at least another one of the plurality of processors;

where the at least one member of the plurality of processors that receive the message information including the priority information, compares the priority information included within the message information with the stored priority value, and responsive thereto executes a selected routine, and where group information is specified in one of, the same or a different message.

76. A system as in claim 75 where the priority value stored in a selected processor can be altered.

77. A multi-processor regional monitoring system comprising:

at least one communications medium;

a plurality of processors where some members of the plurality each include at least one ambient condition sensor; and

where the processors transmit messages using the medium and receive messages therefrom wherein the messages include priority information, application information and group information.

78. A system as in claim 77 where a receiving processor compares a priority level from a received message to a highest previously received priority level, and, carries out the received message only if its priority level exceeds that of the highest previously received priority level.

79. A system as in claim 77 where the priority information contained in the messages establishes priority access to the medium.

80. A system as in claim 78 where the priority information contained in the messages establishes priority access to the medium.

81. A system as in claim 77 where a receiving processor executes a received message only if a predetermined priority related criterion has been met.