Internet control system communication protocol and method
First Claim
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1. In a control system comprising a single master and a plurality of devices, a method for communicating control information comprising:
- configuring said system to initially direct all messages sent to and from each device to said master;
providing each of said devices with a number of channels, each channel having an identifying number and a plurality of discrete channel states;
configuring said master to send a first type of control message to respective devices, a control message of said first type directing a recipient device to place one of its channels in a specified channel state; and
further configuring said master to send second and third types of control messages, selectively, wherein a control message of said second type directs a recipient device to set the level of a specified parameter to a certain value, and a control message of said third type comprises a character string of variable length.
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Abstract
A communication protocol includes a packet protocol, which includes a protocol field for indicating the type of protocol, a length of data field for listing the length in bytes of the data field, a data field containing sub protocol data, and a checksum for determining the integrity of the packet.
208 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a control system comprising a single master and a plurality of devices, a method for communicating control information comprising:
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configuring said system to initially direct all messages sent to and from each device to said master;
providing each of said devices with a number of channels, each channel having an identifying number and a plurality of discrete channel states;
configuring said master to send a first type of control message to respective devices, a control message of said first type directing a recipient device to place one of its channels in a specified channel state; and
further configuring said master to send second and third types of control messages, selectively, wherein a control message of said second type directs a recipient device to set the level of a specified parameter to a certain value, and a control message of said third type comprises a character string of variable length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
at least one of said devices comprises a controlling device disposed to regulate operation of a controlled device, and said master is operated to generate a fourth type of control message comprising a command to said controlling device that pertains to operation of said controlled device.
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3. The method of claim 2, wherein:
a string of said third type of control message is converted to a format supported by a device disposed to receive said string.
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4. The method of claim 3, wherein:
control messages of one or more of said control message types are inserted as respective control message components into a packet, in accordance with a specified protocol, for transmission between said master and one of said devices.
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5. The method of claim 2, wherein:
a device identification number is temporarily assigned to a given device by said master to enable communication of information between said given device and said master, wherein said given device does not have a permanently assigned identification number, and is transparent to operation of said system when a device number is not temporarily assigned thereto.
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6. The method of claim 5, wherein:
said master is operated to periodically query respective devices, in order to monitor availability of respective devices for communication of information.
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7. The method of claim 2, wherein:
each of said devices is provided with an identification number and one or more ports, each of said ports having an identification number and one or more channels.
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8. The method of claim 7, wherein:
said master is operated to render a channel of a first device into an input state, in order to receive an input from said first device, and is further operated to render a channel of a second device into an output state, in order to send said input received from said first device as an output to said second device.
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9. The method of claim 8, wherein:
each of said channels is disposed to indicate a specific function, parameter or property, selectively, of its corresponding device.
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10. The method of claim 7, wherein:
a message sent between said master and a selected one of said devices is provided with an address indicating the identification numbers of the selected device, and of the port and channel thereof originating or receiving the message.
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11. The method of claim 2, wherein:
said system comprises a control area network, and said master is operated to exchange messages between respective devices of said control area network and the Internet.
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12. The method of claim 11, wherein:
said master comprises a number of managers, including device, diagnostic, configuration and IP port connection managers.
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13. A control system comprising:
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a master;
a plurality of devices, each of said devices provided with a number of channels and each channel having an identification number and a plurality of discrete channel states;
means for initially directing all messages sent to and from each device to said master; and
said master is configured to send first, second and third types of control messages to respective devices, wherein a control message of said first type directs a recipient device to place one of its channels in a specified channel state, a control message of said second type directs a recipient device to set the level of a specified parameter to a certain value, and a control message of said third type comprises a character string of variable length. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
at least one of said devices comprises a controlling device disposed to regulate operation of a controlled device, and said master is disposed to generate a fourth type of control message comprising a command to said controlling device that pertains to operation of said controlled device.
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15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:
a string of said third type of control message is converted to a format supported by a device disposed to receive said string.
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16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:
a device identification number is temporarily assigned to a given device by said master to enable communication of information between said given device and said master, wherein said given device does not have a permanently assigned identification number, and is transparent to operation of said system when a device number is not temporarily assigned thereto.
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17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:
each of said devices is provided with an identification number and one or more ports, each of said ports having an identification number and one or more channels.
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18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:
said master is adapted to render a channel of a first device into an input state, in order to receive an input from said first device, and is further adapted to render a channel of a second device into an output state, in order to send said input received from said first device as an output to said second device.
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19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:
said system comprises a control area network, and said master is coupled to exchange messages between respective devices of said control area network and the Internet.
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20. The method of claim 19, wherein:
said master comprises a number of managers, including device, diagnostic, configuration and IP port connection managers.
Specification