NETWORK NODE WITH PLUG-IN IDENTIFICATION MODULE
First Claim
1. A network node for use in a control network, comprising:
- a node housing, said node housing comprising an external port;
a processor contained within said node housing;
a transceiver contained within said node housing, said transceiver coupled to an external network bus interconnecting multiple nodes of the control network;
a detachable module adapted for connection to said external port; and
a programmable memory encapsulated within said detachable module, said programmable memory storing a unique node identifier for the network node;
wherein said programmable memory is accessible to said processor when said detachable module is coupled to said external port; and
wherein the network node communicates over said external network bus using said unique node identifier to identify bus traffic intended for the network node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network node well suited for use in a distributed control network includes a housing containing the node electronics, and an external port for receiving a detachable plug-in module. The plug-in module contains a programmable memory which, when the plug-in module is attached, allows electronic interconnection between the electronics of the network node and the readable memory. The readable memory stores a unique node identifier which becomes associated with the node, and can also store functional program code for the particular node. Thus, a node can be easily and rapidly replaced or reprogrammed, without the need for specialized equipment to download the node identifier or functional program code, and without the possibility of erroneous manual entry of the node identifier. The plug-in module further includes a writable memory portion which can be used to store data during operation of the node, for later retrieval.
36 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A network node for use in a control network, comprising:
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a node housing, said node housing comprising an external port;
a processor contained within said node housing;
a transceiver contained within said node housing, said transceiver coupled to an external network bus interconnecting multiple nodes of the control network;
a detachable module adapted for connection to said external port; and
a programmable memory encapsulated within said detachable module, said programmable memory storing a unique node identifier for the network node;
wherein said programmable memory is accessible to said processor when said detachable module is coupled to said external port; and
wherein the network node communicates over said external network bus using said unique node identifier to identify bus traffic intended for the network node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of connecting a network node in a control network, comprising the steps of:
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attaching a detachable module to an external port of a node housing of the network node, thereby placing a processor contained within said housing in electrical communication with a programmable memory encapsulated within said detachable module;
connecting the network node to an external network bus interconnecting multiple nodes of the control network, whereby the network node may communicate with other nodes connected to the external network bus;
reading a unique node identifier from said programmable memory;
receiving messages at the network node over said external network bus; and
determining which received messages are intended for the network node by comparing a node identifier contained within a received message with said unique node identifier. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A network node for use in a control network, comprising:
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a node housing, said node housing comprising an external port;
a first processor contained within said node housing;
a first transceiver contained within said node housing, said first transceiver having a connection for a first external network bus;
a second processor contained within said node housing;
a second transceiver contained within said node housing, said second transceiver having a connection for a second external network bus;
a detachable module adapted for connection to said external port, said detachable module comprising an enclosed module body; and
a programmable memory encapsulated within said enclosed module body, said programmable memory comprising storing a unique node identifier for the network node;
wherein said programmable memory is accessible to said first processor and to said second processor when said detachable module is connected to said external port; and
wherein said programmable memory comprises a writable portion for storing data during operation of the network node. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification