Communication system for a control system over Ethernet and IP networks
First Claim
1. A method of communicating within a connectionless network having a plurality of devices operably connected via Ethernet, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first intra-level cluster of devices, the first intra-level cluster of devices including a first intelligent device and a first plurality of simple devices;
publishing a first data frame via user datagram protocol (UDP) and internet protocol (IP), the first data frame being published by a first one of the first intra-level cluster of devices;
associating a first refreshment status with the published first data frame, the first refreshment status corresponding to the time of publication of the first data frame onto the network;
receiving the published first data frame, the first data frame being received by a second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices; and
,providing a first promptness status responsive to the second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices, the first promptness status being associated with the received first data frame and indicative of the time of receipt of the published first data frame wherein the second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices being capable of determining the duration of the published first data frame;
setting a timer upon one of publication of the first data frame and receipt of the published first data frame;
maintaining one of the refreshment status and the promptness status as valid until the timer expires;
providing a first inter-level cluster of devices, the first inter-level cluster of devices including the first intelligent device and a second intelligent device;
publishing a second data frame via user datagram protocol (UDP) and internet protocol (IP), the second data frame being published by the first intelligent device;
associating a second refreshment status with the published second data frame, the second refreshment status corresponding to the time of publication of the second data frame onto the network;
receiving the published second data frame, the second data frame being received by the second intelligent device;
providing a second promptness status responsive to the second intelligent device, the second promptness status being associated with the received second data frame and indicative of the time of receipt of the published second data frame wherein the second intelligent device being capable of determining the duration of the published second data frame; and
,providing a second intra-level cluster of devices, the second intra-level cluster of devices including the second intelligent device and a second plurality of simple devices.
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Abstract
A communication system is provided for communication within a control system. The communication system has a plurality of simple devices connected to an intra-level communications network, each simple device being adapted to directly exchange data with the other simple devices. The communications system also has at least one intelligent device connected to the intra-level communications network, each intelligent device being adapted to directly exchange data with each simple device on the intra-level communications networks. The communication system can have a plurality of intra-level communications networks. The intra-level communications networks can be directly be connected by an intra-level core connector or by an inter-level core connector through an inter-level network of the intelligent devices.
178 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of communicating within a connectionless network having a plurality of devices operably connected via Ethernet, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first intra-level cluster of devices, the first intra-level cluster of devices including a first intelligent device and a first plurality of simple devices; publishing a first data frame via user datagram protocol (UDP) and internet protocol (IP), the first data frame being published by a first one of the first intra-level cluster of devices; associating a first refreshment status with the published first data frame, the first refreshment status corresponding to the time of publication of the first data frame onto the network; receiving the published first data frame, the first data frame being received by a second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices; and
,providing a first promptness status responsive to the second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices, the first promptness status being associated with the received first data frame and indicative of the time of receipt of the published first data frame wherein the second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices being capable of determining the duration of the published first data frame; setting a timer upon one of publication of the first data frame and receipt of the published first data frame; maintaining one of the refreshment status and the promptness status as valid until the timer expires; providing a first inter-level cluster of devices, the first inter-level cluster of devices including the first intelligent device and a second intelligent device; publishing a second data frame via user datagram protocol (UDP) and internet protocol (IP), the second data frame being published by the first intelligent device; associating a second refreshment status with the published second data frame, the second refreshment status corresponding to the time of publication of the second data frame onto the network; receiving the published second data frame, the second data frame being received by the second intelligent device; providing a second promptness status responsive to the second intelligent device, the second promptness status being associated with the received second data frame and indicative of the time of receipt of the published second data frame wherein the second intelligent device being capable of determining the duration of the published second data frame; and
,providing a second intra-level cluster of devices, the second intra-level cluster of devices including the second intelligent device and a second plurality of simple devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of communicating within a connectionless network having a plurality of devices comprising at least a publisher device and a subscriber device, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first intra-level cluster of devices, the first intra-level cluster of devices including a first intelligent device and a first plurality of simple devices; broadcasting a network clock signal throughout the connectionless network; publishing a first data frame via user datagram protocol (UDP) and internet protocol (IP) by a first one of the first intra-level cluster of devices; associating a first refreshment status with the published first data frame, the first refreshment status corresponding to the time of publication of the first data frame; synchronizing the first refreshment status with the network clock signal; subscribing to the first data frame wherein a second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices receives the published first data frame; and
,associating a first promptness status with the published first data frame, the first promptness status being responsive to the second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices and corresponding to the time of receipt of the first data frame by the second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices wherein the second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices includes a timer capable of determining whether the duration of the published first data frame has exceeded a first predetermined time limit; providing a first inter-level cluster of devices, the first inter-level cluster of devices including the first intelligent device and a second intelligent device; publishing a second data frame via user datagram protocol (UDP) and internet protocol (IP), the second data frame being published by the first intelligent device; associating a second refreshment status with the published second data frame, the second refreshment status corresponding to the time of publication of the second data frame; subscribing to the second data frame, wherein the second intelligent device receives the second data frame; and
,associating a second promptness status with the second data frame, the second promptness status being responsive to the second intelligent device and corresponding to the time of receipt of the published second data frame by the second intelligent device wherein the second intelligent device being capable of determining whether the duration of the published second data frame has exceeded a second predetermined time limit; and
,providing a second intra-level cluster of devices, the second intra-level cluster of devices including the second intelligent device and a second plurality of simple devices. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification