System and method for providing simultaneous connectivity between devices in an industrial control and automation or other system
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- identifying a multicast network address associated with a multicast group, the multicast group associated with multiple data subscribers in an industrial control and automation system; and
transmitting a data message from a data publisher using the multicast network address, the data message traversing at least one path through a wireless network, the data publisher comprising a wireless sensor configured to measure a characteristic in the industrial control and automation system or a wireless actuator configured to alter a characteristic in the industrial control and automation system;
wherein the data subscribers comprise at least one of;
one or more controllers configured to control operation of one or more process elements; and
one or more actuators configured to receive one or more control signals from the one or more controllers for adjustment to one or more operations of the one or more actuators; and
wherein the data publisher is a data subscriber of a second multicast group.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, apparatuses, and methods support simultaneous connectivity between devices in an industrial control and automation or other system. For example, a data publisher can publish or provide data to multiple data subscribers. This can be done using a multicast group associated with the multiple data subscribers. The data publisher transmits a data message using a network address associated with the multicast group. Each data subscriber associated with the multicast group receives a copy of the data message. As a particular example, the data publisher could represent a wireless sensor or wireless actuator in the industrial control and automation or other system. Also, the data subscribers could represent multiple controllers or actuators in the industrial control and automation or other system. In this way, the multicasting functionality allows for simpler connectivity or interaction between devices in the industrial control and automation or other system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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identifying a multicast network address associated with a multicast group, the multicast group associated with multiple data subscribers in an industrial control and automation system; and transmitting a data message from a data publisher using the multicast network address, the data message traversing at least one path through a wireless network, the data publisher comprising a wireless sensor configured to measure a characteristic in the industrial control and automation system or a wireless actuator configured to alter a characteristic in the industrial control and automation system; wherein the data subscribers comprise at least one of; one or more controllers configured to control operation of one or more process elements; and one or more actuators configured to receive one or more control signals from the one or more controllers for adjustment to one or more operations of the one or more actuators; and wherein the data publisher is a data subscriber of a second multicast group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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subscribing to a multicast group, the multicast group having a multicast network address and associated with a data publisher, the data publisher comprising a wireless sensor configured to measure a characteristic in an industrial control and automation system or a wireless actuator configured to alter a characteristic in the industrial control and automation system; and receiving a data message from the data publisher using the multicast network address, the data message traversing at least one path through a wireless network; wherein the subscribing and receiving occur at one or more of; one or more controllers configured to control operation of one or more process elements; and one or more actuators configured to receive one or more control signals from the one or more controllers for adjustment to one or more operations of the one or more actuators; and wherein the data publisher is a data subscriber of a second multicast group. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a data publisher configured to identify a multicast network address associated with a multicast group and to transmit a data message using the multicast network address, the data publisher comprising a wireless sensor configured to measure a characteristic in an industrial control and automation system or a wireless actuator configured to alter a characteristic in the industrial control and automation system; a wireless network configured to transport the data message; and multiple data subscribers in the industrial control and automation system, the data subscribers configured to receive the data message from the data publisher, the data publisher configured to make a single transmission of the data message to the multicast network address; wherein the data subscribers comprise at least one of; one or more controllers configured to control operation of one or more process elements; and one or more actuators configured to receive one or more control signals from the one or more controllers for adjustment to one or more operations of the one or more actuators; and wherein the data publisher is a data subscriber of a second multicast group. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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a controller configured to identify a multicast network address associated with a multicast group, the multicast group associated with multiple data subscribers in an industrial control and automation system; and a transceiver configured to transmit a data message through a wireless network using the multicast network address; wherein the apparatus comprises a wireless sensor configured to measure a characteristic in the industrial control and automation system or a wireless actuator configured to alter a characteristic in the industrial control and automation system; wherein the data subscribers comprise at least one of; one or more process controllers configured to control operation of one or more process elements; and one or more actuators configured to receive one or more control signals from the one or more process controllers for adjustment to one or more operations of the one or more actuators; and wherein the controller is a data subscriber of a second multicast group. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a controller configured to subscribe to a multicast group, the multicast group having a multicast network address and associated with a data publisher, the controller configured to control operation of one or more process elements, the data publisher comprising a wireless sensor configured to measure a characteristic in an industrial control and automation system or a wireless actuator configured to alter a characteristic in the industrial control and automation system; and an interface configured to receive a data message from the data publisher using the multicast network address, the data message traversing at least one path through a wireless network; and wherein the data publisher is a data subscriber of a second multicast group; wherein the data subscribers comprise at least one of; one or more process controllers configured to control operation of one or more process elements; and one or more actuators configured to receive a control signal from the one or more process controllers for adjustment to one or more operations of the one or more actuators; and wherein the controller is a data subscriber of a second multicast group. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification