Method of transmitting a high-priority message in a lighting control system
First Claim
1. A method of transmitting a high-priority digital message via a communication link, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting regular-priority digital messages between a plurality of control devices;
signaling that one of the plurality of control devices has a high-priority digital message to transmit;
suspending the transmission of the regular-priority digital messages between the plurality of control devices; and
transmitting the high-priority digital message during the suspension of the transmission of the regular-priority digital messages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting control system having a plurality of control devices coupled to a communication link operates with a communication protocol that allows the system to expeditiously process high-priority events while operating communicate at a low enough baud rate to allow for a free-wiring topology of the communication link. The transmission of regular-priority messages is suspended if any of the control devices has a high-priority message to transmit. To signal that a control device has a high-priority message to transmit, each control device is operable to transmit a break character in a predetermined time period after the transmission of one of the digital messages. After the transmission of the break character, the transmission of the regular-priority messages on the communication link is suspended to allow the high-priority message to be transmitted quickly.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of transmitting a high-priority digital message via a communication link, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting regular-priority digital messages between a plurality of control devices; signaling that one of the plurality of control devices has a high-priority digital message to transmit; suspending the transmission of the regular-priority digital messages between the plurality of control devices; and transmitting the high-priority digital message during the suspension of the transmission of the regular-priority digital messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of transmitting a high-priority digital message between a plurality of control devices via a communication link, the method comprising the steps of:
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operating the communication link in a normal mode of operation by transmitting regular-priority digital messages between the plurality of control devices; signaling that one of the plurality of control devices has a high-priority digital message to transmit; changing the communication link to a high-priority mode of operation in response to the step of signaling, the transmission of regular-priority digital messages suspended in the high-priority mode of operation; and transmitting the high-priority digital message while the communication link is in the high-priority mode of operation.
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19. A method of transmitting a high-priority digital message from a second control device to a first control device, the method comprising the steps of:
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the first device transmitting a first message; the second device transmitting a high-priority break character during a predetermined time period following the first device transmitting the first message; the first device transmitting a second message to the second device in response to receiving the high-priority break character; and the second device transmitting the high-priority digital message to the first device in response to the second message. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of polling a plurality of control devices on a communication link, each of the plurality of control devices having a unique Poll ID, the method comprising the steps of:
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sequentially transmitting a poll message to each of the plurality of control devices using the Poll ID of each control device; transmitting a break character in a predetermined time period following one of the poll messages; suspending the sequential transmission of poll messages in response to the step of transmitting a break character; determining which one of the plurality of control devices transmitted the break character; transmitting a request message to the one of the plurality of control devices that transmitted the break character; and transmitting from the one of the plurality of control devices that transmitted the break character a high-priority digital message in response to the request message. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method of polling a plurality of control devices by a master device selected from said plurality of control devices, the plurality of control devices each coupled to a communication link and including a unique Poll ID, the method comprising the steps of:
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the master device sequentially transmitting a poll message to each control device marked active in a list of Poll IDs, the poll message including a status request; each of the control devices responding to the poll message when the Poll ID of the device matches the Poll ID of the poll message; one of the control devices transmitting a high-priority request; the master device interrupting the sequential transmission of poll messages when the high-priority request is received; and performing a binary search to find the Poll ID of the control device that provided the high-priority request.
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26. A method of transmitting a high-priority digital message from a second control device to a first control device, the first and second control devices operable to transmit regular-priority digital messages, the method comprising the steps of:
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the first device beginning to transmit a regular-priority digital message during a first predetermined time slot; the second device transmitting a break character during a predetermined time period following the end of the regular-priority message; the first device suspending the transmission of regular-priority digital messages in response to receiving the break character; and the second device beginning to transmit the high-priority digital message during a second predetermined time slot while the first device has suspended the transmission of regular-priority digital messages.
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27. A control device for a lighting control system having a communication link, the control device comprising:
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a communication circuit operable to be coupled to the communication link for transmission and receipt of digital messages; a controller coupled to the communication circuit and operable to control the transmission and receipt of the digital messages; and an input coupled to the controller; wherein the controller is operable to transmit a first message having a regular-priority, the controller further operable to transmit a second message having a high-priority in response to the input. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification