Microcomputer based distributed control network
First Claim
1. A fault tolerant distributed network process control and communications network system for controlling and/or monitoring a plurality of work stations comprising:
- (a) a plurality of nodes for selected work stations each adapted to monitor or control individual work stations inter-connected by communications network means, each node including;
(i) processor means dedicated to network communication and process I/O;
(ii) network control means for controlling inter-node protocol communications and further including clocking means and error detection and correction means;
(iii) communications interface logic means for interfacing between the communications network and the network control means and further including clocking means and error correction and detection means for reshaping and resynchronizing the transmitted signal at each communication interface logic means;
(b) said communications network means interconnecting said network node and said plurality of nodes;
said network communication means having two primary channels (A and B) in a first communications media which operate to simultaneously transmit data between the said nodes in opposite directions and a third back-up channel (C) which is normally on standby;
(c) said communications interface logic means upon failure of channel A or B being operable to switch to the other of channel A or B and channels A and B will fold back on themselves with data also being transmitted on the nonfailed channel A or B, whereby transmitted data will pass through all nodes in the network regardless of message destination;
(d) said network control means and said communications interface logic means upon failure of channels A and B being operable to switch to channel C; and
(e) said communications interface logic means including means continually monitoring channels A, B and C whereby upon fault correction, said error detection and correction means prioritize communications to channel A.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed automated control network system consisting of a master host computer, network processing nodes for monitoring and control of work locations and a subhost node which interfaces the nodes and host computer. The subhost includes dual microprocessor configurations on a common bus, one for communications and one for control, operating 180° out of phase. Each node can be configured from a variety of modular subsystems on a common bus including modules for network control, data acquisition, digital and analog inputs and outputs, display terminals and the like in accordance with system requirements. The nodes communicate via two fiber optic channels, one operating clockwise and the other counterclockwise with foldback capability in the event of a fault. A conventional signal back-up is also provided.
112 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A fault tolerant distributed network process control and communications network system for controlling and/or monitoring a plurality of work stations comprising:
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(a) a plurality of nodes for selected work stations each adapted to monitor or control individual work stations inter-connected by communications network means, each node including; (i) processor means dedicated to network communication and process I/O; (ii) network control means for controlling inter-node protocol communications and further including clocking means and error detection and correction means; (iii) communications interface logic means for interfacing between the communications network and the network control means and further including clocking means and error correction and detection means for reshaping and resynchronizing the transmitted signal at each communication interface logic means; (b) said communications network means interconnecting said network node and said plurality of nodes;
said network communication means having two primary channels (A and B) in a first communications media which operate to simultaneously transmit data between the said nodes in opposite directions and a third back-up channel (C) which is normally on standby;(c) said communications interface logic means upon failure of channel A or B being operable to switch to the other of channel A or B and channels A and B will fold back on themselves with data also being transmitted on the nonfailed channel A or B, whereby transmitted data will pass through all nodes in the network regardless of message destination; (d) said network control means and said communications interface logic means upon failure of channels A and B being operable to switch to channel C; and (e) said communications interface logic means including means continually monitoring channels A, B and C whereby upon fault correction, said error detection and correction means prioritize communications to channel A. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fault tolerant distributed network process control and communications network system for controlling and/or monitoring a plurality of work stations comprising:
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(a) a plurality of nodes for selected work stations each adapted to monitor or control individual work stations inter-connected by a first communications network means, each node including; (i) processor means dedicated to network communications and process I/O; (ii) network control means for controlling inter-node protocol communications and further including clocking means and error detection and correction means; (iii) communications interface logic means for interfacing and including clocking means and error correction and detection means for reshaping and resynchronizing the transmitted signal at each communication interface logic means, and at least one of said nodes including at least two network control means and at least two communication interface logic means serving as a gateway node; (b) said first communications network means interconnecting said network node and said plurality of nodes;
said network communication means having two primary channel (A and B) in a first communications media which operate to simultaneously transmit data between the said nodes in opposite directions and a third back-up channel (C) which is normally on standby, said communications interface logic means operable upon failure of A or B to switch to the other of channel A or B, and upon failure of A and B, said network control means and said communications interface logic means operable to switch to channel C and whereby upon failure of A or B, channels A and B will fold back on themselves with data also being transmitted on the nonfailed channel A or B, whereby transmitted data will pass through all nodes in the network regardless of message and destination;(c) said communications interface logic means including means continually monitoring channels A, B and C whereby upon fault correction, said error detection and correction means prioritize communications to channel A; and (d) second communications network means similar to said first communication network means having a plurality of nodes therein with the said gateway node being comon to the two said communication network means. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification