Method for optimizing a link schedule
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Abstract
A method for improving a link schedule used in a communications network is disclosed. While the method applies generally to networks that operate on a scheduled communications basis, it is described in the context of a Foundation FIELDBUS. The method includes: scheduling sequences and their associated publications according to their relative priority, per application; minimizing delays between certain function blocks, and between certain function blocks and publications; and grouping certain publications. Accordingly, advantages such as latency reduction, schedule length reduction, and improved communications capacity are gained.
40 Citations
44 Claims
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1-24. -24. (canceled)
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25. A method comprising:
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identifying a plurality of function blocks requiring execution; identifying the function blocks as members of multiple groups; prioritizing the groups such that each group has a priority; and scheduling the groups containing at least one unscheduled function block for communication on a network to produce a schedule, the groups scheduled in an order based on the priority of the groups; wherein identifying the function blocks as members of multiple groups comprises; following one or more connections in a sequence of function blocks; adding each unique function block in the sequence to a first of the groups; and preventing function blocks in the sequence that have already been added to the first group from being added again to the first group again. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method comprising:
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identifying a plurality of function blocks requiring execution; identifying the function blocks as members of multiple groups; prioritizing the groups such that each group has a priority; and scheduling the groups containing at least one unscheduled function block for communication on a network to produce a schedule, the groups scheduled in an order based on the priority of the groups; wherein scheduling the groups comprises; adding non-back-calculation publications associated with the function blocks to the schedule, wherein any non-back-calculation publications associated with one of the groups are added to the schedule before any non-back-calculation publications associated with lower priority groups are added to the schedule; and adding back-calculation publications associated with the function blocks to the schedule after the non-back-calculation publications have been added to the schedule. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method comprising:
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identifying a plurality of function blocks requiring execution; identifying the function blocks as members of multiple groups; prioritizing the groups such that each group has a priority; and scheduling the groups containing at least one unscheduled function block for communication on a network to produce a schedule, the groups scheduled in an order based on the priority of the groups; wherein scheduling the groups comprises scheduling execution of the function blocks so that; execution of at least some of the function blocks in different devices overlap; and publications by the function blocks in different devices do not overlap. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification