COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND METHOD FOR SAFETY-RELATED COMMUNICATION IN TUNNEL AND MINING STRUCTURES
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication network in an underground system comprises a ring network computers which is connected to an aboveground central system computer unit, each computer having an overview of the overall structure of the ring network and an allocated network status. Plural network computers are configured to, in the event of a connection interruption between networked nodes, seek an alternative communication path in order to maintain the communications. Plural network computers are coupled to at least one sensor in order to pick up information relating to the environment and are configured to pass it on to other network computers of the ring network and/or to the aboveground central system. In normal operation, the network computers pass on current information relating to the environment to the aboveground central system and to other network computers. In a network island arising as a result of one or more connection interruptions, the network status of a multiplicity of the network computers changes from normal operation to emergency operation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. A communication network in an underground structure (5), wherein underground network computers are arranged at a number of nodes (20;
- A1-A8;
B1-B8), which network computers are in each case connected to a central system computer unit (6) in a normal case, wherein the network computers (20) are configured to detect an emergency due to loss (22;
55, 56, 57) of the connection to the central system computer unit (6) and then to initiate an emergency mode, characterized in that the communication network is configured in such a manner that, in an emergency, at least one network or application function of the central system computer unit (6) is taken over by at least one of the underground network computers (29) and that at least one application function (51) is activated on at least one of the underground network computers (20, 26, 27, 28, 29) for the emergency, wherein at least one network computer (20;
27;
28;
29) being provided with at least one sensor or being connected with that or via a separate detect unit to receive the environmental information, if necessary to process them, in particular for the activation of a change of status, and to pass them on in the network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21)
- A1-A8;
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19. A method for safety-related communication in an underground structure wherein underground network computers arranged at a number of nodes form in a communication network and are in each case connected to a central system computer unit in a normal operation, wherein at least one network computer detects an emergency due to loss of the connection to the central system computer unit and then initiates an emergency mode, characterized in that at least one network computer takes over at least one network function of the central system computer unit in an emergency and in that at least one application function is activated on at least one of the underground network computers for the emergency, wherein at least one network computer (20;
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27;
28;
29) takes up and if necessary process the environmental information with at least one sensor, connected directly or via a separate detect unit, in particular for the activation of a change of status, and to pass it on in the network. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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27;
Specification