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Distributed environmental process control system

  • US 5,831,848 A
  • Filed: 11/17/1995
  • Issued: 11/03/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A computer network for real-time control of an indoor environment, the computer network comprising:

  • a plurality of controller units each controller unit having a first network interface and a second network interface, one controller further having a serial port through which external commands are received; and

    a plurality of environmental control devices connected to the first network interface of a predetermined controller unit, the predetermined controller unit communicating through the first network interface with the plurality of environmental control devices using a first synchronous communications protocol;

    wherein the second network interfaces of the plurality of controller units are connected to each other, the plurality of controller units communicating with each other through the second network interfaces using a second synchronous communications protocol in which one time slot is reserved for the communicating through the first network interface by the predetermined controller unit to which the plurality of environmental control devices are connected; and

    furtherwherein communicating through the second network interface is inhibited during the reserved time slot.

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