Interleaved data communications system for controlling multiple centrifuges
First Claim
1. A communication system for transmitting instructions to, and receiving data from, a plurality of instruments using a central data controller, said system comprising:
- means for transmitting instructions to said instruments in the form of discrete data packets, said packets comprising;
(a) a first data packet which comprises a first arbitration packet containing at least one command for a first instrument;
(b) a second data packet which comprises;
(i) a first command execution packet which is capable of commanding said first instrument to execute the at least one command contained in said first arbitration packet; and
(ii) a second arbitration packet, containing at least one command for a second instrument; and
(c) a third data packet which comprises;
(i) a first transmit acknowledge packet which is capable of commanding said first instrument to transmit data generated in response to said first arbitration packet to said central data controller;
(ii) a second command execution packet which is capable of commanding said second instrument to execute the at least one command contained in said second arbitration packet; and
(iii) a third arbitration packet containing at least one command for a third instrument; and
a communications link connecting said plurality of instruments to said central data controller.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A centrifuge network communication system for transmitting instructions to, and receiving data from, a plurality of centrifuge instruments using a central data controller. The central data controller transmits instructions to the centrifuge instruments in the form of discrete data packets, including (a) a centrifuge arbitration packet containing at least one command for a centrifuge instrument, (b) a command execution packet, commanding a centrifuge instrument that has previously received a centrifuge arbitration packet to execute the at least one command contained in the centrifuge arbitration packet, and (c) a transmit acknowledge packet commanding a centrifuge instrument that has previously received a command execution packet to transmit data generated in response to the centrifuge arbitration packet to the central data controller. Due to the interleaving of the data packets, a command execution packet transmitted to a first centrifuge instrument (n) further acts as a command arbitration packet for a second centrifuge instrument (n+1), and a transmit acknowledge packet transmitted to the first centrifuge instrument (n) further functions as a command execution packet for the second centrifuge instrument (n+1) and a centrifuge arbitration packet for a third centrifuge instrument (n+2).
48 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A communication system for transmitting instructions to, and receiving data from, a plurality of instruments using a central data controller, said system comprising:
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means for transmitting instructions to said instruments in the form of discrete data packets, said packets comprising;
(a) a first data packet which comprises a first arbitration packet containing at least one command for a first instrument;
(b) a second data packet which comprises;
(i) a first command execution packet which is capable of commanding said first instrument to execute the at least one command contained in said first arbitration packet; and
(ii) a second arbitration packet, containing at least one command for a second instrument; and
(c) a third data packet which comprises;
(i) a first transmit acknowledge packet which is capable of commanding said first instrument to transmit data generated in response to said first arbitration packet to said central data controller;
(ii) a second command execution packet which is capable of commanding said second instrument to execute the at least one command contained in said second arbitration packet; and
(iii) a third arbitration packet containing at least one command for a third instrument; anda communications link connecting said plurality of instruments to said central data controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A process for transmitting instructions to, and receiving data from, a plurality of centrifuge instruments using a central data controller, said process comprising;
transmitting instructions from said central data controller to said instruments in the form of discrete data packets, said packets comprising;
(a) a first data packet which comprises a first arbitration packet containing at least one command for a first instrument, (b) a second data packet which comprises;
(i) a first command execution packet, which is capable of commanding said first instrument to execute the at least one command contained in the said first arbitration packet; and
(ii) a second arbitration packet, containing at least one command for a second instrument, and (c) a third data packet which comprises (i) a first transmit acknowledge packet which is capable of commanding said first instrument to transmit data generated in response to said first arbitration packet to said central data controller;
(ii) a second command execution packet which is capable of commanding said second instrument to execute the at least one command contained in said second arbitration packet; and
(iii) a third arbitration packet containing at least one command for a third instrument.- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A storage medium for controlling a central data controller so as to transmit instructions to, and receive data from, a plurality of instruments, over a communications link, said medium comprising:
means for transmitting instructions to said instruments in the form of discrete data packets, said packets comprising (a) a first data packet which comprises a first arbitration packet containing at least one command for a first instrument, (b) a second data packet which comprises;
(i) a first command execution packet, which is capable of commanding said first instruments to execute the at least one command contained in said first arbitration packet; and
(ii) a second arbitration packet, containing at least one command for a second instrument, and (c) a third data packet which comprises;
(i) a first transmit acknowledge packet which is capable of commanding said first instrument to transmit data generated in response to said first centrifuge arbitration packet to said central data controller;
(ii) a second command execution packet which is capable of commanding said second instrument to execute the at least one command contained in said second arbitration packet; and
(iii) a third arbitration packet containing at least one command for a third instrument.- View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
Specification