Bridge for an industrial control system using data manipulation techniques
First Claim
1. A network safety control system comprising:
- an inter-network interface device for connecting a first and second communication network, each with communication protocols;
a first communication module attached to the first communication network to transmit two messages on the first communication network to pass through the inter-network interface device to the second network, the two messages containing redundant data, the redundant data of a first message reversibly altered with respect to a second message;
a second communication module attached to the second communication network to receive the two messages on the second communication network and compare the data of the first and second messages to detect any alteration of the redundant data by the inter-network interface device; and
whereby errors in an operation of the inter-network interface device may be detected without modification of the inter-network interface device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A inter-network interface device usable in a highly reliable industrial control system provides an interface between a producer module transmitting redundant messages in accordance with a communication protocol and a consumer module receiving the messages in accordance with a different communication protocol. The inter-network interface device includes a first network interface receiving two messages from the producer, a microprocessor capable of converting the messages from the producer communication protocol to consumer communication protocol, and a second network interface transmitting the messages to the consumer. One of the messages is reversible altered with respect to the other message. The altered message is uninverted in the consumer module, and compared to the other message to ensure that no transmission errors have occurred.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A network safety control system comprising:
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an inter-network interface device for connecting a first and second communication network, each with communication protocols; a first communication module attached to the first communication network to transmit two messages on the first communication network to pass through the inter-network interface device to the second network, the two messages containing redundant data, the redundant data of a first message reversibly altered with respect to a second message; a second communication module attached to the second communication network to receive the two messages on the second communication network and compare the data of the first and second messages to detect any alteration of the redundant data by the inter-network interface device; and whereby errors in an operation of the inter-network interface device may be detected without modification of the inter-network interface device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication module for use in a network safety control system including at least a first and second communication network each with communication protocols, the first and second communications networks joined by an inter-network interface device to allow communication therebetween, the communication module comprising:
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an interface adapted to attach the communication module to one of the first and second communication networks processing circuitry communicating with the interface to transmit two messages on the attached communication network to pass through the inter-network interface device to the other of the first and second network, the two messages containing redundant data, the redundant data of a first message reversibly altered with respect to a second message so that a corresponding second communication module attached to the other of the first and second communication networks may receive the two messages on the other communication network and compare the data of the first and second messages to detect any alteration of the redundant data by the inter-network interface device; and whereby errors in an operation of the inter-network interface device may be detected without modification of the inter-network interface device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification