Method for diagnosing a network
First Claim
1. A method for diagnosing a network having a computer in communication with at least one controllable CAN-based microcontroller in a sensing device, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) allowing each microcontroller to generate and store network communication errors in at least one counter;
(b) if the counter reaches a marginally critical value in a particular microcontroller, allowing the particular microcontroller to notify the computer, wherein the particular microcontroller continues to communicate with the computer; and
(c) if the counter reaches a critical value in a particular microcontroller, allowing the particular microcontroller to notify the computer and disconnect from the network, wherein the particular microcontroller does not continue to communicate with the computer.
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Abstract
The present invention, in one embodiment, is a network having at least one controllable CAN-based sensor device having a microcontroller, a power source and at least one host controller. Preferably, the network is a Smart Distributed System-based network. In this embodiment, each microcontroller communicates with the controller, generating and storing a value in at least one counter when a successful message is transmitted to the controller. When a unsuccessful message is detected by the microcontroller, a counter generates and stores a second or decremental value in the same or different counter. When the sum total value of error messages in the counter reaches a marginal critical value, a message is transmitted to the controller while maintaining the microcontroller'"'"'s communication with the network. When a counter reaches a critical value, the microcontroller enters a bus off mode and disconnects the sensor device, and thus the microcontroller, from the network.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for diagnosing a network having a computer in communication with at least one controllable CAN-based microcontroller in a sensing device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) allowing each microcontroller to generate and store network communication errors in at least one counter;
(b) if the counter reaches a marginally critical value in a particular microcontroller, allowing the particular microcontroller to notify the computer, wherein the particular microcontroller continues to communicate with the computer; and
(c) if the counter reaches a critical value in a particular microcontroller, allowing the particular microcontroller to notify the computer and disconnect from the network, wherein the particular microcontroller does not continue to communicate with the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for diagnosing a controllable sensor'"'"'s health within a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) operating a network having a computer in communication with at least one controllable sensor, each sensor having a CAN-based microcontroller with at least a first and second counter;
(b) allowing each microcontroller to generate and store network communication errors in the at least first counter;
(c) if the at least first counter reaches a marginally critical value in a particular microcontroller, allowing the particular microcontroller to notify the computer, wherein the particular microcontroller continues to communicate with the computer;
(d) if the at least first counter reaches a critical value in a particular microcontroller, allowing the particular microcontroller to notify the computer and disconnect from the network, wherein the particular microcontroller does not continue to communicate with the computer; and
(e) allowing each microcontroller to generate and store power cycle information in the at least second counter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for diagnosing potential or impending failures on one or more controllable devices in a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) operating a network having a host controller in communication with at least one controllable sensor, each sensor having a CAN-based microcontroller with a counter, each microcontroller further coupled to at least one visual indication means and a sensing element;
(b) allowing each microcontroller to generate and store network communication errors in the counter;
(c) if the counter reaches a marginally critical value in a particular microcontroller, allowing the particular microcontroller to notify the controller, wherein the particular microcontroller continues to communicate with the controller;
(d) if the counter reaches a critical value in a particular microcontroller, allowing the particular microcontroller to notify the controller and disconnect from the network, wherein the particular microcontroller does not continue to communicate with the controller;
(e) allowing each microcontroller to generate and store power cycle information in the at least second counter; and
(f) allowing the microcontroller to control the visual indication means to generate a blink pattern corresponding to the microcontroller'"'"'s communication with the network and operation of the corresponding sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification