Agile mode for Modbus network protocol
First Claim
1. A Modbus slave device operable in an agile mode, the slave device being capable of receiving, interpreting, and responding to first-type and second-type message frames, the slave device comprising:
- means for detecting a master query message frame generated by a master device;
means, responsive to a first incoming character of the master query message frame, for setting a message-type control bit to a first value if the first incoming character is a prompt character for the first-type message frame, and for setting the message-type control bit to a second value if the first incoming character is not the prompt character for the first-type message frame;
means for interpreting the master query message frame as the first-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the first value and as the second-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the second value;
means for performing a command associated with the master query message frame if the slave device is addressed in the master query message frame; and
means for generating a slave message frame responding to the master query message frame if the slave device is addressed in the master query message frame and the command requires a response, the slave message frame being of the first-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the first value, the slave message frame being of the second-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the second value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Modbus slave device is operable in an agile mode that allows the slave device to automatically interpret and respond to first-type and second-type message frames conveyed to the slave device by a master device. The slave device detects a first incoming character of a master query message frame generated by the master device. If the first incoming character is a prompt character for the first-type message frame, the slave device interprets the master query message frame as the first-type message frame. If the first incoming character is not the prompt character for the first-type message frame, the slave device interprets the master query message frame as the second-type message frame. If the slave device is addressed in the master query message frame, the slave device performs the command associated therewith and, if required by the command, generates a responsive slave message frame of the same type as the master query message frame.
16 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A Modbus slave device operable in an agile mode, the slave device being capable of receiving, interpreting, and responding to first-type and second-type message frames, the slave device comprising:
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means for detecting a master query message frame generated by a master device;
means, responsive to a first incoming character of the master query message frame, for setting a message-type control bit to a first value if the first incoming character is a prompt character for the first-type message frame, and for setting the message-type control bit to a second value if the first incoming character is not the prompt character for the first-type message frame;
means for interpreting the master query message frame as the first-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the first value and as the second-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the second value;
means for performing a command associated with the master query message frame if the slave device is addressed in the master query message frame; and
means for generating a slave message frame responding to the master query message frame if the slave device is addressed in the master query message frame and the command requires a response, the slave message frame being of the first-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the first value, the slave message frame being of the second-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the second value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A Modbus slave device operable in an agile mode, the slave device comprising:
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means for detecting a first incoming character of a master query message frame generated by a master device; and
means for interpreting the master query message as a first-type message frame if the first incoming character is a prompt character for the first-type message frame, and for interpreting the master query message as a second-type message frame if the first incoming character is not the prompt character for the first-type message frame, the first-type message frame having only first data characters, the second-type message frame having only second data characters. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of automatically interpreting first-type and second-type message frames conveyed to a Modbus slave device, the method comprising:
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detecting a first incoming character of a master query message frame generated by a master device;
interpreting the master query message frame as the first-type message frame if the first incoming character is a prompt character for the first-type message frame, the first-type message frame having only first data characters; and
interpreting the master query message frame as the second-type message frame if the first incoming character is not the prompt character for the first-type message frame, the second-type message frame having only second data characters. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of automatically interpreting first-type and second-type message frames conveyed to a Modbus slave device, the method comprising:
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detecting a first incoming character of a master query message frame generated by a master device;
setting a message-type control bit to a first value if the first incoming character is a prompt character for the first-type message frame;
setting the message-type control bit to a second value if the first incoming character is not the prompt character for the first type of message frame;
interpreting the master query message frame as the first-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the first value, and interpreting the master query message frame as the second-type message frame if the message-type control bit has the second value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification