COMMUNICATIONS UNIT FOR AN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS NETWORK
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A field device configured to send and receive data over an industrial process network, the field device comprising:
- a processor; and
a communications unit communicatively connected to the industrial process network, the communications unit configured to send and receive the data over the industrial process network via a first communications protocol at a first data rate and connected to communicate with the processor via a second communications protocol at a second data rate that is greater than the first data rate.
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Abstract
A field device is configured to send and receive data over an industrial process network. The field device includes a processor and a communications unit communicatively connected to the industrial process network. The communications unit is configured to send and receive the data over the industrial process network via a first communications protocol at a first data rate. The communications unit is connected to communicate with the processor via a second communications protocol at a second data rate that is greater than the first data rate.
24 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A field device configured to send and receive data over an industrial process network, the field device comprising:
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a processor; and a communications unit communicatively connected to the industrial process network, the communications unit configured to send and receive the data over the industrial process network via a first communications protocol at a first data rate and connected to communicate with the processor via a second communications protocol at a second data rate that is greater than the first data rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A communications unit configured to send and receive data over an industrial process network, the communications unit comprising:
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a first communications interface configured to send and receive the data over the industrial process network via a first communications protocol at a first data rate; a second communications interface configured to communicate with a processor via a second communications protocol at a second data rate that is greater than the first data rate; a first receive buffer configured to store a first message object corresponding to a first message received over the industrial process network; and a second receive buffer configured to store a second message object corresponding to a second message received over the industrial process network. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of sending and receiving data over an industrial process network, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a communications unit of a field device, a first message via a first communications protocol at a first data rate; storing, by the communications unit, the first message in a first receive buffer of the communications unit; determining, by the communications unit, that the first message comprises a complete message according to the first communications protocol; notifying, by the communications unit in response to determining that the first message comprises a complete message, a processor of the field device that the first message has been received; sending, by the communications unit, the first message to the processor via a second communications protocol at a second data rate that is greater than the first data rate. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification