Method for configuring one or more devices in an ethernet-based communication network
First Claim
1. A method for configuring at least one device in an Ethernet-based communication network comprising a plurality of Ethernet-enabled devices, comprising:
- determining, via a Link Layer Discover Protocol, a topological position of the at least one device in the communication network for a particular device of the plurality of Ethernet-enabled devices which is to be configured and which is assigned to a device type of at least one device type;
downloading configuration data corresponding to the device type of the particular device and the determined topological position to a respective device from a database which contains a plurality of configuration data to configure the at least one device type, the assigned device type and different topological positions of the at least one device type; and
configuring the respective device based on the downloaded configuration data;
wherein the respective device required to be configured contacts the database automatically and after contacting the database said respective device performs said download from the database of the configuration data corresponding to the device type and determined topological position of the respective device;
wherein the method is implemented in a communication network of an automation system;
wherein the at least one device required to be configured comprises at least one of at least one Ethernet switch and at least one field device; and
wherein at least some of the field devices contain an integrated Ethernet switch.
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Abstract
A method for configuring at least one device in an Ethernet-based communication network comprising a plurality of devices with Ethernet capability, wherein the topological position of a respective device to be configured, which is associated with a device type, in the communication network is ascertained, the respective device is sent configuration data, which correspond to its device type and to its ascertained topological position, from a database which contains a plurality of configuration data for at least one device type and a plurality of topological positions of the at least one device type, and the respective device is then configured based on the transmitted configuration data.
53 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for configuring at least one device in an Ethernet-based communication network comprising a plurality of Ethernet-enabled devices, comprising:
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determining, via a Link Layer Discover Protocol, a topological position of the at least one device in the communication network for a particular device of the plurality of Ethernet-enabled devices which is to be configured and which is assigned to a device type of at least one device type; downloading configuration data corresponding to the device type of the particular device and the determined topological position to a respective device from a database which contains a plurality of configuration data to configure the at least one device type, the assigned device type and different topological positions of the at least one device type; and configuring the respective device based on the downloaded configuration data; wherein the respective device required to be configured contacts the database automatically and after contacting the database said respective device performs said download from the database of the configuration data corresponding to the device type and determined topological position of the respective device; wherein the method is implemented in a communication network of an automation system; wherein the at least one device required to be configured comprises at least one of at least one Ethernet switch and at least one field device; and wherein at least some of the field devices contain an integrated Ethernet switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An Ethernet-based communication network comprising a multiplicity of Ethernet-enabled devices, wherein the Ethernet-based communication network is configured to:
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determine, via a Link Layer Discover Protocol, a topological position of the at least one device in the communication network for a particular device of the plurality of Ethernet-enabled devices which is to be configured and which is assigned to a device type of at least one device type; download configuration data corresponding to the device type of the particular device and the determined topological position to a respective device from a database which contains a plurality of configuration data to configure the at least one device type, the assigned device type and different topological positions of the at least one device type; and configure the respective device based on the downloaded configuration data; wherein the respective device required to be configured contacts the database automatically and after contacting the database said respective device performs said download from the database of the configuration data corresponding to the device type and determined topological position of the respective device; wherein the method is implemented in a communication network of an automation system; wherein the at least one device required to be configured comprises at least one of at least one Ethernet switch and at least one field device; and wherein at least some of the field devices contain an integrated Ethernet switch.
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Specification