SAFETY NETWORKING PROTOCOL AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A protocol for communicating data via a distributed networking system comprising:
- information about modules communicably connected to the system, the modules comprising a control module;
a descriptor providing at least part of the information about the modules; and
a safe state environment compliant with a safety standard managed by the control module;
wherein the protocol is operable via a transport layer of a network;
wherein at least part of the network on which the protocol operates is a safety network managed by the control module to facilitate reliable communication and substantially prevent unsafe failure conditions in compliance with the safety standard;
wherein the safety network is encapsulated via a safety protocol within the network, the safety network comprising enhanced error detection to substantially prohibit acceptance of the data that is analyzed with the enhanced error detection and determined to be unsafe within the safety network.
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Abstract
A distributed networking system and protocol is provided to a networking system with a modular design. The distributed networking system may include a networking system, modules, control module, user interface module, input/output module, network module, data transmission network, hybrid modules and composite modules. A method to interface with accessories of a system with a modular design using the distributed networking system and protocol is also provided.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A protocol for communicating data via a distributed networking system comprising:
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information about modules communicably connected to the system, the modules comprising a control module; a descriptor providing at least part of the information about the modules; and a safe state environment compliant with a safety standard managed by the control module; wherein the protocol is operable via a transport layer of a network; wherein at least part of the network on which the protocol operates is a safety network managed by the control module to facilitate reliable communication and substantially prevent unsafe failure conditions in compliance with the safety standard; wherein the safety network is encapsulated via a safety protocol within the network, the safety network comprising enhanced error detection to substantially prohibit acceptance of the data that is analyzed with the enhanced error detection and determined to be unsafe within the safety network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A protocol for communicating data for a distributed networking system comprising:
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information about modules communicably connected to the system, the modules comprising; a control module, and an I/O module communicably connected with the control module for at least partially interfacing with an accessory connected to the system, the I/O module being operable in a sensing configuration and a directing configuration, wherein interfacing with the accessory while operating in the sensing configuration comprises receiving sensory data from the accessory, and wherein interfacing with the accessory while operating in the directing configuration comprises providing operational instruction to the accessory; a descriptor providing at least part of the information about the modules; and a safe state environment compliant with a safety standard managed by the control module; wherein the protocol is operable via a transport layer of a network; wherein at least part of the network on which the protocol operates is a safety network managed by the control module to facilitate reliable communication and substantially prevent unsafe failure conditions in compliance with the safety standard; wherein the safety network is encapsulated via a safety protocol within the network, the safety network comprising enhanced error detection to substantially prohibit acceptance of the data that is analyzed with the enhanced error detection and determined to be unsafe within the safety network; wherein the control module addressable by the protocol further comprises a safety core to communicate the data and affect operation of at least part of the modules, the control module substantially implementing the safety state environment by verifying compliance with the safety standard of the data communicated via the safety network; wherein the network comprises; a first network section between the interface module and the control module, and a second network section between the control module and the I/O module through which at least part of the data is communicable via the safety network; wherein the protocol is discretely operable on the first network section and the second network section. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for communicating data via a distributed networking system comprising:
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providing information about modules communicably connected to the system via a network, the modules comprising a control module; providing at least part of the information about the modules via a descriptor; creating a safe state environment compliant with a safety standard managed by the control module; and operating a safety network to facilitate reliable communication and substantially prevent unsafe failure conditions in compliance with the safety standard, the safety network being encapsulated via a safety protocol within the network; enhancing error detection within the safety network to substantially prohibit acceptance of the data that is determined to be unsafe within the safety network; and verifying compliance of the data communicated over the safety network using a safety core of the control module; wherein the system is operable with a firmware comprising embedded instructions to control the modules that is identifiable via the descriptor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification