Multi-nodal communication network with coordinated responsibility for global functions by the nodes
First Claim
1. In a communications network comprising a plurality of nodes having data transmission and receiving capabilities and all connected for data communication with each other using a data bus comprising a signal conductor, each of the nodes having a node address register in which is stored a unique node address by which each of the nodes may be identified, and each of the nodes of the type periodically entering active mode intervals during which active mode intervals the node may provide on the data bus to the other nodes, signals encoding a plurality of different messages, said messages including status messages of at least a first type, and wherein at least two nodes are capable of functioning as source nodes for at least the first type of status message, an improvement for coordinating the responsibility for transmitting on the bus a status message of the first type, wherein one of the nodes comprises a coordinator node having a memory in which is stored a status message source list associating with at least the first type of status message, the node address of one source node for the first type of status message, said coordinator node including means for transmitting on the data bus a status message source message specifying for at least the first status message type the node address of the source node associated therewith in the status message source list;
- and wherein each of the status message source nodes includes means for transmitting on the data bus at least the first type of status message responsive to a status message source message transmitted on the data bus by the coordinator node and in which status message source message is associated with the first status message type, a node address equal to the contents of the source node'"'"'s node address register.
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Abstract
An electronic network of communication and processing nodes particularly suitable for control of environmental systems has pluralities of the nodes which are sources for certain types of status messages each of which comprise communication of a particular kind of information on the network. To resolve the question of which of the nodes shall furnish each type of status message, one node is designated the coordinator node, and it stores a status message source list which associates the node assigned for each type of status message with the status message type itself and transmits all or a part of the list on the network to allow each of the status message source nodes to determine therefrom their responsibility with respect to each status message type. These status message source nodes can also transmit request messages on the network by which they request responsibility for furnishing a particular type of status message. Upon acceptance of the request in a request message, the coordinator node enters the node transmitting the request message into the status message source list in asociation with the status message type. In one embodiment, the coordinator node monitors the transmission of status messages on the network and if an instance arises where a status message is supplied by other than the one specified in the status message source list, takes remedial action. In another embodiment each node is given a priority for a particular type of status message, allowing the coordinator node to replace a node assigned to a particular type of status message with another node.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a communications network comprising a plurality of nodes having data transmission and receiving capabilities and all connected for data communication with each other using a data bus comprising a signal conductor, each of the nodes having a node address register in which is stored a unique node address by which each of the nodes may be identified, and each of the nodes of the type periodically entering active mode intervals during which active mode intervals the node may provide on the data bus to the other nodes, signals encoding a plurality of different messages, said messages including status messages of at least a first type, and wherein at least two nodes are capable of functioning as source nodes for at least the first type of status message, an improvement for coordinating the responsibility for transmitting on the bus a status message of the first type, wherein one of the nodes comprises a coordinator node having a memory in which is stored a status message source list associating with at least the first type of status message, the node address of one source node for the first type of status message, said coordinator node including means for transmitting on the data bus a status message source message specifying for at least the first status message type the node address of the source node associated therewith in the status message source list;
- and wherein each of the status message source nodes includes means for transmitting on the data bus at least the first type of status message responsive to a status message source message transmitted on the data bus by the coordinator node and in which status message source message is associated with the first status message type, a node address equal to the contents of the source node'"'"'s node address register.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification