WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK ASSOCIATION AND SECURITY FOR CONTROL OF INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS
First Claim
1. A master node device comprising:
- communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with communication circuitry of a welding power supply unit via a communication link, and to facilitate wireless communication with wireless communication circuitry of one or more welding-related devices via a wireless communication network, wherein the communication link has a greater transmission range than the wireless communication network;
control circuitry configured to associate the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network; and
means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In certain embodiments, a system includes a master node device. The master node device includes communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with a welding power supply unit via a long-range communication link, and to facilitate wireless communication with one or more welding-related devices via a short-range wireless communication network. The master node device also includes control circuitry configured to associate the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network. The master node device further includes means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the short-range wireless communication network.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A master node device comprising:
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communication circuitry configured to facilitate communication with communication circuitry of a welding power supply unit via a communication link, and to facilitate wireless communication with wireless communication circuitry of one or more welding-related devices via a wireless communication network, wherein the communication link has a greater transmission range than the wireless communication network; control circuitry configured to associate the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network; and means for manually initiating association of the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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manually initiating association of one or more welding-related devices with a wireless communication network having a master node device functioning as a router and prioritization controller for the wireless communication network; associating the one or more welding-related devices with the wireless communication network; wirelessly communicating between wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices and wireless communication circuitry of the master node device via the wireless communication network; and communicating between communication circuitry of the master node device and communication circuitry of a welding power supply unit via a communication link having a greater transmission range than the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A communication network comprising:
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one or more welding-related devices, wherein the one or more welding-related devices comprise a welding wire feeder, a welding torch, a welding helmet, a welding pendant, or a welding foot pedal; a welding power supply unit configured to convert power from a power grid to power for a welding operation performed using the one or more welding-related devices; and a master node device configured to facilitate wireless communication between wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices and wireless communication circuitry of the master node device via a wireless communication network, to facilitate communication between communication circuitry of the master node device and communication circuitry of the welding power supply unit via a communication link, and to route and prioritize communications between the wireless communication circuitry of the one or more welding-related devices and the communication circuitry of the welding power supply unit via the communication link and the wireless communication network.
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Specification