Monitor/control communication net with intelligent peripherals
First Claim
1. Communication net comprisinga pair of communication lines,at least one peripheral device connected to said communication lines including means for receiving a general poll digital message transmitted on said communication lines which message includes a first format code identifying the message as a general poll and an address uniquely identifying the peripheral, means for validating said format code and address, means for monitoring the outputs of one or more devices connected to the peripheral, means for detecting a change in any of said outputs, and means for transmitting a digital message on said communication lines if a change has been detected in said outputs, said last-mentioned message including a second format code, an address identical to said address received by the peripheral, and a data field which indicates the status of said monitored outputs, and wherein said second format code indicates the length of said data field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A monitor/control communication net with intelligent peripherals, that is, peripherals which are capable of monitoring and/or controlling various devices in accordance with messages received from a central panel cpu and which are also capable of reporting to the central panel the status of one or more devices monitored by the peripheral. Each peripheral is assigned a unique address by which it is polled by the central panel. All communication messages between the central panel and peripherals include a format code which indicates the nature of the message and the length of any data field in the message. Communication time is minimized by permitting the data field to vary in length from one peripheral to another, depending on the number and type of devices being monitored and/or controlled by the peripherals.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. Communication net comprising
a pair of communication lines, at least one peripheral device connected to said communication lines including means for receiving a general poll digital message transmitted on said communication lines which message includes a first format code identifying the message as a general poll and an address uniquely identifying the peripheral, means for validating said format code and address, means for monitoring the outputs of one or more devices connected to the peripheral, means for detecting a change in any of said outputs, and means for transmitting a digital message on said communication lines if a change has been detected in said outputs, said last-mentioned message including a second format code, an address identical to said address received by the peripheral, and a data field which indicates the status of said monitored outputs, and wherein said second format code indicates the length of said data field.
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3. Communication net, comprising:
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a pair of communication lines, at least one peripheral device connected to said communication lines including means for receiving a general poll digital message transmitted on said communication lines which message includes a first format code identifying the message as a general poll and an address uniquely identifying said peripheral, means for validating said format code and said address, means for monitoring the outputs of one or more devices connected to the peripheral, means for detecting a change in any of said outputs, means for transmitting a digital message on said communication lines which includes a second format code and an address identical to said address received by said peripheral, wherein said second format code indicates that no change in said outputs has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. Communication net comprising:
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a pair of communication lines, at least one group of two or more peripherals connected to said communication lines, each of said peripherals including means for receiving a digital message transmitted on said communication lines which message includes a format code identifying the message as a group poll and an address which uniquely identifies said group of peripherals, means for storing a priority message assigning a priority to said peripheral, means for validating said format code and said address, means for monitoring the outputs of one or more devices connected o the peripheral, means for detecting whether any of said outputs have chnnged, and means for transmitting a digital message on said communication lines after a wait period determined by said priority message and only if a change in at least one of said outputs has been detected, which digital message includes a second format code, an address including a portion identical to said address received by said peripheral, and a data field which indicates the status of said outputs, and wherein said second format code indicates the length of said data field. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Communication net comprising:
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a pair of communication lines, at least one group of two or more peripherals connected to said cmmmunication lines, each of said peripherals including means for receiving a first digital message transmitted on said communication lines which message includes a first format code identifying the message as a data poll, an address uniquely identifying said peripheral, and a data field comprising at least one broadcast enable data bit, means for validating said first format code and said address, means for detecting said broadcast enable bit, means for receiving a second digtal message transmitted on said communication lines which includes a second format code identifying the second message as a broadcast on or off message, means for validating said second format code, and means for turning one or more devices on or off together in response to a detection of said broadcast enable bit followed by a reception of said second digital message. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. Communication net comprising:
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a pair of communication lines, at least one peripheral connected to said communication lines, said peripheral including means for receiving a digital message which includes a first format code identifying the message as a data equire poll and an address uniquely identifying said peripheral, means for validating said format code and address, means for storing a family/device code indicating the family and type of peripheral, means for transmitting a digital message on said communication lines which includes a second format code, an address identical to said address received by said peripheral, and a data field comprising said stored family/device code. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. Communication net comprising:
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a pair of communication lines, at least one peripheral connected to said communication lines, said peripheral including means for receiving a data poll digital message transmitted on said communication lines which includes a format code identifying the message as a data poll, an address uniquely identifying said peripheral, and a data field containing control information, said format code indicating the length of said data field, means for validating said format code and said address, and means for controlling one or more devices connected to the peripheral based on said data field control information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 27)
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Specification