Master-slave communication system for stations having timer means
First Claim
1. A data transmission and receiving communication system for communicating data between a main station and each of a plurality of peripheral stations during an identifiable period of time, said system comprising:
- a main station including a first timer device for sequentially identifying each of the plurality of peripheral stations with which said main station is communicating data;
a plurality of peripheral stations, each including a second timer device, each being connected to said main station through a common communication line, each said second timer device for initiating data communication between said main station and each corresponding peripheral station every communication unit period, with the order of the communications between the main station and each of the peripheral stations being predetermined and a data communication between the main station and each of the peripheral stations occurring during sequential intervals of said communication unit period, each interval of equivalent time duration;
and wherein, upon each said second timer means counting a designated period of time, determining on the basis of the predetermined communication order of each of the peripheral stations and said equivalent time duration of each interval of said communication unit period, initiating the data communication between the main station and each of the peripheral stations, andsaid main station identifying the peripheral station under communication of data by a sequential time counted by the first timer device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A main station has a first timer device and each of a plurality of peripheral stations connected to the main station, through a communication line, has a second timer device. Data is transmitted between each of the plurality of peripheral stations and the main station, with every unit period of communication and the order of the communication therebetween being predetermined. In the unit period of communication mentioned above, an initializing data signal is transmitted from the main station to each of the peripheral stations and a data signal is transmitted between the main station and each peripheral station every individual communication period of each of the peripheral stations.
28 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A data transmission and receiving communication system for communicating data between a main station and each of a plurality of peripheral stations during an identifiable period of time, said system comprising:
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a main station including a first timer device for sequentially identifying each of the plurality of peripheral stations with which said main station is communicating data; a plurality of peripheral stations, each including a second timer device, each being connected to said main station through a common communication line, each said second timer device for initiating data communication between said main station and each corresponding peripheral station every communication unit period, with the order of the communications between the main station and each of the peripheral stations being predetermined and a data communication between the main station and each of the peripheral stations occurring during sequential intervals of said communication unit period, each interval of equivalent time duration; and wherein, upon each said second timer means counting a designated period of time, determining on the basis of the predetermined communication order of each of the peripheral stations and said equivalent time duration of each interval of said communication unit period, initiating the data communication between the main station and each of the peripheral stations, and said main station identifying the peripheral station under communication of data by a sequential time counted by the first timer device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of data communication between a main station and a plurality of substations, each connected to said main station by a common communication line, comprising the steps of:
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(a) preparing each of said plurality of substations for data communication with said main station by. (1) identifying each of said substations, (2) designating a predetermined time period for data communication between said main station and each of said plurality of substations, and (3) storing said identification and designated information at said main station; (b) communicating data, along said common communication line, between said main station and each of said plurality of substations by, (1) selecting each of said plurality of substations, in a sequential order, for data communication between said selected substation and said main station, (2) counting said predetermined time period of step (a)(2), by means of a first timer at said main station for data communication between said main station and each selected substation, said predetermined time period being equal for all of said plurality of substations, (3) initiating data communication at each of said plurality of substations upon each said substation being activated by means of a second timer located at each of said plurality of substations, each of said second timers activating each said substation after counting a time corresponding to its substation identification number minus one, multiplied by the predetermined time period of said first timer; (4) communicating data during said predetermined time period of said first timer, (5) selecting by said main station, a next sequential substation upon completion of said counting of a predetermined time by said first timer; (c) reconfirming a communication between said main station and each of said plurality of substations by sequentially checking that each of said plurality of substations remains connected to said main station through said common communication line. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of data communication between a main station and a plurality of substations, along a common communication line connecting the main station and each of the plurality of substations, comprising the steps of:
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(a) initializing a first timer device at said main station; (b) assigning a substation identification number to each of said plurality of substations; (c) predetermining a selected period of time for which data communication may occur between a selected substations and said main station; (d) initializing a second timer device at each of said substations; (e) communicating data between a selected substation and said main station for said predetermined selected period of time, said main station allowing for data communication with said selected substation based on a time counted by the first timer device and said selected substation simultaneously, and independent of the main station and first timer, allowing for data communication with said main station based solely upon said second timer device for said selected substation reaching a count equal to the substation identification number minus one, multiplied by said predetermined period of time; (f) incrementing a substation identification counting device by one at the end of said predetermined period of time as indicated by said first timer device; (g) repeating steps e-f a plurality of times, equal in number to said plurality of substations, such that data communication will occur between each of said plurality of substations and said main station for an equal period of time, each equal to said predetermined selected period of time, in a sequential manner. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification