System and method for maintaining proper termination and error-free communication in a network bus
First Claim
1. A system for maintaining proper termination and error-free communication in a network bus including a power bus comprising:
- at least one network device electrically connected to and adapted to communicate via said network bus, wherein said at least one network device is configured to transmit signals to said network bus, and configured to receive signals from said network bus; and
a network controller electrically connected to said network bus, wherein said network controller is adapted to direct communications with said at least one network device via said network bus, and wherein said network controller is adapted to provide power signals to said at least one network device via the power bus of the network bus; and
at least one bus protection element disposed between said at least one network device and the network bus, wherein each bus protection element comprises;
at least one isolation switch disposed between a respective network device and the bus, wherein said at least one isolation switch is configured to controllably halt the transmission of signals from the respective network device onto the bus; and
a logic element electrically connected to said at least one isolation switch and the respective network device and configured to monitor signals on the network bus to thereby identify improper signals on the network bus, including being configured to receive signals transmitted from the respective network device to said network bus and determine when any of the respective signals are improper signals, and wherein said logic element is configured to controllably operate said at least one isolation switch to selectively connect and disconnect the respective network device to and from the network bus based upon said logic element identifying a predefined number of improper signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for maintaining proper termination and error-free communication in a network bus (12) including a power bus includes at least one network device (18), a network controller (14) and at least on bus protection element. The network devices (18) are electrically connected to and adapted to communicate via the network bus (12). The network controller (14), in turn, is electrically connected to the network bus (12) and is adapted to direct communications with the network devices (18) via the network bus (12). The network controller (14) is also adapted to provide power signals to the network devices (18) via the power bus of the network bus (12). The network controller (14) and/or the bus protection elements can monitor signals on the network bus (12). And based upon the network controller (14) and/or bus protection elements identifying a predefined number of improper signals, the bus protection elements can selectively connect and disconnect respective network devices (18) to and from the network.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for maintaining proper termination and error-free communication in a network bus including a power bus comprising:
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at least one network device electrically connected to and adapted to communicate via said network bus, wherein said at least one network device is configured to transmit signals to said network bus, and configured to receive signals from said network bus; and a network controller electrically connected to said network bus, wherein said network controller is adapted to direct communications with said at least one network device via said network bus, and wherein said network controller is adapted to provide power signals to said at least one network device via the power bus of the network bus; and at least one bus protection element disposed between said at least one network device and the network bus, wherein each bus protection element comprises; at least one isolation switch disposed between a respective network device and the bus, wherein said at least one isolation switch is configured to controllably halt the transmission of signals from the respective network device onto the bus; and a logic element electrically connected to said at least one isolation switch and the respective network device and configured to monitor signals on the network bus to thereby identify improper signals on the network bus, including being configured to receive signals transmitted from the respective network device to said network bus and determine when any of the respective signals are improper signals, and wherein said logic element is configured to controllably operate said at least one isolation switch to selectively connect and disconnect the respective network device to and from the network bus based upon said logic element identifying a predefined number of improper signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for maintaining proper termination and error-free communication conducted via a network bus that is electrically connected to at least one network device, wherein the network bus includes a power bus, said method comprising:
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providing at least one bus protection element disposed between the at least one network device and the network bus, each of the at least one bus protection element including at least one isolation switch configured to controllably halt the transmission of signals from a respective network device onto the bus; monitoring signals on the network bus, including receiving signals transmitted from the at least one network device to the network bus and determining when any of the respective signals are improper signals; identifying a predefined number of improper signals from the received signals; and controllably operating the at least one isolation switch to switchably disconnect at least one network device after identifying a predefined number of improper signals transmitted from the respective at least one network device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for operation with a network device electrically connected to and adapted to communicate via a bus, wherein the network device includes a communications interface having a transmitter configured to transmit signals from the network device to the bus, and a receiver configured to receive signals on behalf of the network device from the bus, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one isolation switch disposed between the communications interface and the bus, wherein said at least one isolation switch is configured to controllably halt the transmission of signals from the network device onto the bus; and a logic element electrically connected to said at least one isolation switch and the communications interface and configured to monitor the signals transmitted by the transmitter and the signals received by the receiver, wherein said logic element being configured to monitor the signals includes being configured to receive the signals transmitted by the transmitter and determine when any of the respective signals are improper signals to thereby identify improper signals transmitted by the transmitter, and wherein said logic element is configured to controllably operate said at least one isolation switch thereby halting the transmission of signals from the network device if a predefined number of improper transmitted signals are identified. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification