Method and apparatus for network fault correction via adaptive fault router

• US 7,380,154 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Inventors: Coombs, Richard, Foskett, Alan M., Gale, Alan, Dhupar, Krishan Kumar, MacDougall, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzo; Bryce P
• Application Number:
  US10/962,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 714/4, 714/43, 370/226
• US Class Current: 714/4.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery

Abstract

A fault router method and system for use in a parallel redundant network environment provide additional safeguards over traditional redundant networks. Where multiple connection faults on multiple machines would ordinarily stifle communications between two or more network entities, the fault router passes packets between redundant networks to bypass connection faults. Compatibility and timing improvements allow for the extension of the parallel network environment, and provide for time-synchronized network operation.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a redundant network system comprising two parallel redundant networks using a first networking protocol, and a fault router connected to both parallel redundant networks for routing communications from a first of the networks to a second of the networks, whereby a first network machine connected to both networks but having a fault rendering inoperable its connection to the first network can receive a network communication transmitted on the first network by another network machine;

a token bus network using a second networking protocol and comprising a second network machine; and

a token bus interface module situated as a node on the token bus network and as a node on each of the first and second parallel redundant networks, whereby a communication from the second network machine on the token bus network to the first network machine in the redundant network system is received by the token bus interface module and converted into a transmission in the redundant network system according to the first networking protocol.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the redundant network system accommodates a first rate of data transfer, and the token bus network accommodates a second rate of data transfer, and wherein the first rate of data transfer is greater than the second rate of data transfer.

3. The network of claim 2, wherein the token bus interface module comprises local storage for buffering communications between the token bus network and the redundant network system.

4. A network comprising:

a redundant network system comprising two parallel redundant networks using a first networking protocol, a first network machine connected to both parallel redundant networks, and a fault router connected to both parallel redundant networks for routing communications from a first of the networks to a second, whereby a network machine connected to both networks but having a fault rendering inoperable its connection to the first network can receive a network communication transmitted on the first network by another network machine;

a node bus segment using a second networking protocol and comprising a second network machine; and

a node bus interface module situated as a node on the node bus segment and as a node on each of the first and second parallel redundant networks, whereby a communication from the second network machine on the node bus segment to the first network machine in the redundant network system is received by the node bus interface module and converted into a transmission in the redundant network system according to the first networking protocol.

5. The network of claim 4, wherein the redundant network system accommodates a first rate of data transfer, and the node bus network accommodates a second rate of data transfer, and wherein the first rate of data transfer is greater than the second rate of data transfer.

6. The network of claim 5, wherein the node bus interface module comprises local storage for buffering communications between the node bus network and the redundant network system.