Method of configuring and managing a network
First Claim
1. A method of identifying, in a network, a plurality of slave nodes for a master node, said master node configured to transmit a normal communication signal at a first transmission output level, the method comprising:
- transmitting a first hailing message from the master node to the plurality of slave nodes, the hailing message being encoded in an analog hailing transmission signal and having a transmission output level that is attenuated compared to the normal communication signal from said master node transmitted over the network;
upon detection of receipt of the hailing message by at least one receiving slave node of the plurality of slave nodes, generating and transmitting a reply message from the receiving slave node that is intended for the master node, the reply message identifying the at least one receiving slave node and being encoded in an analog reply transmission signal having a reply transmission output level that is attenuated compared to the normal communication signal; and
upon the master node receiving the reply message, then identifying the receiving slave node from the reply message and storing in a routing table information indicating that the receiving slave node is a first configured slave node capable of communicating with the master node at said reply transmission output level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The network comprises a master node and a plurality of slave nodes. To configure the network, the master node transmits over the network a hailing message at any attenuated level compared to normal communication signals to be transmitted over the network. Upon receiving the hailing message at one of the slave node, a reply message is transmitted, also at an attenuated level. Receiving the reply message at the master node allows it to configure the slave node from which the reply message originated. Also disclosed are a method of managing a network so as to monitor the connections between the slave nodes, and a method of managing a network when a recovery operation is required.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of identifying, in a network, a plurality of slave nodes for a master node, said master node configured to transmit a normal communication signal at a first transmission output level, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first hailing message from the master node to the plurality of slave nodes, the hailing message being encoded in an analog hailing transmission signal and having a transmission output level that is attenuated compared to the normal communication signal from said master node transmitted over the network; upon detection of receipt of the hailing message by at least one receiving slave node of the plurality of slave nodes, generating and transmitting a reply message from the receiving slave node that is intended for the master node, the reply message identifying the at least one receiving slave node and being encoded in an analog reply transmission signal having a reply transmission output level that is attenuated compared to the normal communication signal; and upon the master node receiving the reply message, then identifying the receiving slave node from the reply message and storing in a routing table information indicating that the receiving slave node is a first configured slave node capable of communicating with the master node at said reply transmission output level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of recovering from a failure in a network having a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, the method comprising:
- maintaining a routing table containing information on interconnections among the plurality of slave nodes and reaching areas in the network for the plurality of slave nodes;
upon detection of a failure of a failed node of the plurality of nodes, utilizing the routing table to identify an upstream slave node in the plurality of slave nodes that normally transmits communications from the master node to the failing node, to determine a reaching area for the upstream slave node; transmitting a recovery message to another slave node of the plurality of slave nodes that has a comparable reaching area to the upstream slave node, the recovery message instructing the another slave node to transmit a hailing message to the failed slave node, the hailing message being encoded in an analog hailing transmission signal having a hailing transmission output level that is attenuated compared to a normal communication signal transmitted over the network; and upon receiving the hailing message at the failed slave node, then;
transmitting a reply message to the another slave node from the failed slave node, the reply message being transmitted at an attenuated level compared to the normal communication signal;upon receiving the reply message at the another slave node, transmitting a post-reply message to the master node; and node receiving the post-reply message at the master node, identifying the failed slave node from which the reply message originated, identifying the another slave node from which the post-reply message originated and updating the routing table to indicate that the failed slave node is capable of communicating through the another slave node. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
- maintaining a routing table containing information on interconnections among the plurality of slave nodes and reaching areas in the network for the plurality of slave nodes;
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12. A master node for communicating with a a plurality of slave nodes over network, the master node comprising:
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a transmitter configured to generate and transmit communication signals to said network, said signals having at least a first transmission output level and a second, lower transmission output level; a receiver configured to receive said communication signals from said network; a module to generate a normal communication signal to be transmitted from the transmitter at the first transmission output level; a module to generate a hailing message to be transmitted from the transmitter to the plurality of slave nodes, the hailing message being encoded in an analog hailing transmission having a transmission output level at the second, lower output level that is attenuated compared to the normal communication signal; a module to monitor for receipt of a reply message from a receiving slave node of the plurality of slave nodes that responds to any hailing message, the reply message being encoded in an analog reply transmission having a transmission output level that is attenuated compared to the normal communication signal; and a module to identify the receiving slave node from the reply message and to store in a routing table information indicating that the receiving slave node is a configured slave node capable of communicating with the master node. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification