Communication network with arrangement for replacing a malfunctioning active master with a new active master
First Claim
1. A communication network, comprisinga plurality of devices, each device comprising:
- a device operating circuit,a communication interface for receiving command signals for controlling an operation of the device operating circuit,a control circuit coupled between the device operating circuit and the communication interface for controlling the operation of the device operating circuit in response to said command signals, anda master integral to the device for receiving control signals; and
a control unit for generating the control signals,wherein the communication network activates one of the masters as an active master for generating the command signals in response to the received control signals, and for transferring the command signals to the communication interfaces of the plurality of devices, and in case the active master fails, the communication network activates a second one of the masters as the active master for generating the command signals in response to the received control signals, and for transferring the command signals to the communication interfaces of the plurality of devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication network includes a plurality of devices and a control unit for generating control signals to control the operation of the devices. Each device includes: a device operating circuit, a communication interface for receiving command signals for controlling operation of the devices, a control circuit coupled between the device operating circuit and the communication interface for controlling the operation of the device operating circuit part in dependency of said command signals, and a master integral to the device for receiving the control signals, for generating the command signals in response to the received control signals, and for transferring the command signals to the communication interfaces of the plurality of devices. The communication network activates one of the masters as an active master, and in case the active master fails, then it activates another master to take over as the active master.
14 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A communication network, comprising
a plurality of devices, each device comprising: -
a device operating circuit, a communication interface for receiving command signals for controlling an operation of the device operating circuit, a control circuit coupled between the device operating circuit and the communication interface for controlling the operation of the device operating circuit in response to said command signals, and a master integral to the device for receiving control signals; and a control unit for generating the control signals, wherein the communication network activates one of the masters as an active master for generating the command signals in response to the received control signals, and for transferring the command signals to the communication interfaces of the plurality of devices, and in case the active master fails, the communication network activates a second one of the masters as the active master for generating the command signals in response to the received control signals, and for transferring the command signals to the communication interfaces of the plurality of devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a communication network having a plurality of devices, the method comprising:
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activating a first master included in one of the plurality of devices to become an active master; receiving control signals at the active master from a control unit; in response to the control signals, transmitting command signals from the active master to the plurality devices to control operations of the devices; detecting at a second one of the devices when the active master fails; in response to detecting that the active master has failed, activating a second master included in the second one of the devices to replace the active master and to respond to the control signals by transmitting the command signals to the plurality devices to control operations of the devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A network, comprising:
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a plurality of devices, each device comprising; a ballast circuit and a lamp connected to the ballast circuit, a communication interface for receiving command signals for controlling an operation of the ballast circuit and lamp, a control circuit coupled between the ballast circuit and lamp and the communication interface for controlling operations of the ballast circuit and lamp in response to said command signals, and a master integral to the device for receiving control signals; and a remote control unit for generating and transmitting the control signals, the remote control unit being remotely located with respect to the plurality of devices, wherein the communication network activates one of the masters as an active master for receiving the control signals wirelessly from the remote control unit, and in response thereto for generating the command signals, and for communicating the command signals to the communication interfaces of the plurality of devices, and wherein when the active master fails, the communication network activates a second one of the masters as the active master for generating the command signals in response to the received control signals, and for communicating the command signals to the communication interfaces of the plurality of devices.
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Specification