Patent EP0093578A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0093578A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communications system
Assignee: SPX Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1983-04-27
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2003-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A communications system has a data highway made up of two optical communications channels (28,30) forming a ring to interconnect stations (10,11) whose signals are interfaced with the ring by an optical-electrical repeater (24,25). Each repeater (24,25) includes an optical detector (32) and an optical transmitter (39) for each channel and normally functions as a repeater except when the associated station is transmitting. A control element (31) can prevent the repeater from repeating and a line (33) is provided for receiving the transmitted signal at the transmitting station after it has gone around the ring (28) for checking the condition of the ring. The transfer of mastership is accomplished by grouping into a logical loop of high traffic stations those stations which must be serviced frequently, and the grouping into at least one other logical loop of low traffic stations those requring less frequent service. The token signifying mastership is passed from station to station in the high traffic loop at a maximum speed compatible with the work to be done by each station until a predetermined time period has lapsed since the mastership was passed through the low traffic group. Upon expiration of that time period, mastership is passed sequentially through the low traffic loop stations. Mastership is then returned to a previously determined high traffic loop station. Each local network has two metallic cables (20,22) providing redundant channels between stations (10,11) of a group, the redundant optical rings (28,30) forming the highway interconnecting those networks. The control element (31) connects the output of the detector (32) with the transmitter (39). A control signal supplied over one metallic line (35) from the station which is transmitting causes the control element (31) to disconnect the detector (32) and . transmitter (39) to prevent operation of the combination as a. repeater. The transmission is supplied over another metallic line (38) from the station to the transmitter (39) and thence around the ring until it is converted to an electrical signal at the corresponding detector (32). The resulting electrical signal is then conducted to the transmitting station over still another metallic line (33) for checking as a means for determining if the ring is complete.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward L. Weiss
- 👤 Simon Korowitz
- 👤 Francis E. Mcmenamin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/27; G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/14; G06F13/36; G06F13/362; G06F13/364; H04B10/275; H04B10/2755; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/42; H04L12/427; H04L12/433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A communication system for a large number of control stations (10, 11) which are widely spaced, characterised by a redundant data highway having two optical communication channels (28, 30), each forming a ring interconnecting all stations, with signal transmission around one ring oppositely directed from the direction around the other; an optical-electrical interface (24,25) for said stations (10,11) inserted to be in series in said rings (28,30) for coupling signals from said stations (10,11) to said optical channels (.28,30), said interface (24,25) including; an optical detector (32) for receiving optical data from each optical channel (28) and converting it to corresponding electrical data signals; an optical transmitter (39) for converting electrical data signals to optical data on an.optical channel (28); means (31) for coupling corresponding detectors (32) and transmitters (39) to repeat signals received by said detectors (32) when stations (10,11) associated with the interface (24) are not transmitting and prevent repetition when an associated station is transmitting, and means (20,22) providing reception by non- transmitting stations of signals propagating around said rings (28,30).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A communication system for a large number of control stations (10, 11) which are widely spaced, characterised by a redundant data highway having two optical communication channels (28, 30), each forming a ring interconnecting all stations, with signal transmission around one ring oppositely directed from the direction around the other; an optical-electrical interface (24,25) for said stations (10,11) inserted to be in series in said rings (28,30) for coupling signals from said stations (10,11) to said optical channels (.28,30), said interface (24,25) including; an optical detector (32) for receiving optical data from each optical channel (28) and converting it to corresponding electrical data signals; an optical transmitter (39) for converting electrical data signals to optical data on an.optical channel (28); means (31) for coupling corresponding detectors (32) and transmitters (39) to repeat signals received by said detectors (32) when stations (10,11) associated with the interface (24) are not transmitting and prevent repetition when an associated station is transmitting, and means (20,22) providing reception by non- transmitting stations of signals propagating around said rings (28,30).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a distributed process control system having a host computer (14) for overseeing the control effected by a large number of microprocessor based control stations (10,11) which are widely spaced, a communication system characterised by a data highway.having two optical communication channels (28, 30) each forming a ring for providing redundant signal transmission in opposite directions to interconnect the stations (10,11); and optical-electrical repeaters (24,25,26,27) for said stations (10,11) inserted to be in series in said rings (28,30) for repeating messages on said rings and for coupling signals into said optical channels, said repeaters including optical detectors (32) for receiving optical data from each optical channel (28) and converting it to corresponding electrical data signals, an optical transmitter (39). for each optical channel for converting electrical data signals to optical data to originate transmission of messages or repeat messages received by the associated detector (32) to further propagate said messages around said ring (28), means (31) for preventing the repeater associated with the transmitting station from acting as a repeater; and ' means (33) for receiving the transmitted signal after it has gone completely around the ring (28) for checking on the condition of the ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a distributed process control system having a host computer (14) for overseeing the control effected by a large number of microprocessor based control stations (10,11) which are widely spaced, a communication system characterised by a data highway.having two optical communication channels (28, 30) each forming a ring for providing redundant signal transmission in opposite directions to interconnect the stations (10,11); and optical-electrical repeaters (24,25,26,27) for said stations (10,11) inserted to be in series in said rings (28,30) for repeating messages on said rings and for coupling signals into said optical channels, said repeaters including optical detectors (32) for receiving optical data from each optical channel (28) and converting it to corresponding electrical data signals, an optical transmitter (39). for each optical channel for converting electrical data signals to optical data to originate transmission of messages or repeat messages received by the associated detector (32) to further propagate said messages around said ring (28), means (31) for preventing the repeater associated with the transmitting station from acting as a repeater; and ' means (33) for receiving the transmitted signal after it has gone completely around the ring (28) for checking on the condition of the ring.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for transferring mastership in a multi-master communications channel of a distributed process control system having a plurality of microprocessor based stations intercommunicating in the control of a large number of variables of a complex industrial process, characterised by the steps of: grouping into a sequence forming a first logical loop the active stations requiring the most frequent attention; grouping into a sequence forming at least one other logical loop the active stations requiring less frequent attention; passing mastership repetitively through the sequence of stations in the first loop at a maximum speed compatible with the work to be done by each station until a predetermined time period has elapsed since passing mastership through said other loop; and upon expiration of said time period passing mastership once through the sequence of stations of the other loop and thence from the last station in that sequence to a predetermined station of the first loop for continuing repetitive passage through said first loop.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for transferring mastership in a multi-master communications channel of a distributed process control system having a plurality of microprocessor based stations intercommunicating in the control of a large number of variables of a complex industrial process, characterised by the steps of: grouping into a sequence forming a first logical loop the active stations requiring the most frequent attention; grouping into a sequence forming at least one other logical loop the active stations requiring less frequent attention; passing mastership repetitively through the sequence of stations in the first loop at a maximum speed compatible with the work to be done by each station until a predetermined time period has elapsed since passing mastership through said other loop; and upon expiration of said time period passing mastership once through the sequence of stations of the other loop and thence from the last station in that sequence to a predetermined station of the first loop for continuing repetitive passage through said first loop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method of claim 3 characterised in that mastership is transferred to the next active station .by:. issuing a select signal from the present master to the address of the next active station in the loop through which mastership is being passed; responding from said next station to the master with an acknowledgement,signal if the next station is prepared to assume mastership; issuing a select signal in sequence to the next subsequent active station in the loop when an acknowledgement signal is not received by said master station in response to any select signal; and issuing to the first acknowledging station an execute signal passing mastership.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
45 words
The method of claims 3 or 4 characterised by the step of monitoring the passing of mastership among the stations at preselected monitor stations by keeping a system map identifying the active station in each loop and the stations to which each will pass mastership.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 3, characterised in that the stations requiring less frequent attention are divided into two loops and mastership is passed to the second of said less frequent loops from said first loop after a predetermined time has expired since that second loop was previously scanned.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a system having a plurality of intercommunication stations, a first group of which requires frequent attention and a second group of which requires less frequent attention, and communications channels to support intercommunications therebetween, apparatus for transferring mastership over said channels to said stations characterised by means operable to sequentially pass mastership repetitively through the first group of stations at a maximum speed compatible with the work to be done by said stations until a predetermined time period has elapsed following the passage of mastership through the second group.of stations; and means operable upon expiration of said period to pass mastership once only through said second group of stations in a predetermined sequence and thence to a predetermined station of said first group.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a system having a plurality of intercommunication stations, a first group of which requires frequent attention and a second group of which requires less frequent attention, and communications channels to support intercommunications therebetween, apparatus for transferring mastership over said channels to said stations characterised by means operable to sequentially pass mastership repetitively through the first group of stations at a maximum speed compatible with the work to be done by said stations until a predetermined time period has elapsed following the passage of mastership through the second group.of stations; and means operable upon expiration of said period to pass mastership once only through said second group of stations in a predetermined sequence and thence to a predetermined station of said first group.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for transferring mastership over the- communications channels in a distributed process control system having a plurality of control stations arranged in a first logical loop consisting of those stations which require frequent attention and other logical loops each consisting of a group of stations which require less frequent attention, characterised by the steps of repetitively and sequentially passing mastership to the stations of the first loop at a maximum speed compatible with the work to be done by said stations when they receive mastership; and periodically passing mastership once only to the stations in the groups forming each of said other loops.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for transferring mastership over the- communications channels in a distributed process control system having a plurality of control stations arranged in a first logical loop consisting of those stations which require frequent attention and other logical loops each consisting of a group of stations which require less frequent attention, characterised by the steps of repetitively and sequentially passing mastership to the stations of the first loop at a maximum speed compatible with the work to be done by said stations when they receive mastership; and periodically passing mastership once only to the stations in the groups forming each of said other loops.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as set forth in claim 3, characterised in that the grouping of active stations into logical loops is accomplished by assignment of each station to either said first loop or said other loop depending on its priority status and by then eliminating the inactive stations from the loops during an initialization procedure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
160 words
lO. A method as set forth in claim 9, characterised in that the initialization procedure is carried out by each station only when it first receives mastership after initialization has been started, said procedure including the steps of addressing the next station in the same loop with a request to pass mastership when the station acting as master has completed its work unless it is time to go to another loop; completing the passing of mastership to that next station unless that next station is not active; and if said next station is not active as indicated by lack of a response to said request, then addressing the station next in order with a request to pass mastership, then addressing the station next in order with a request to pass mastership; continuing addressing the stations in order until said request is answered and mastership passed, and storing the address of the successful mastership pass as the permanent next station address.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
219 words
A communications system for a large number of control stations which are widely spaced, characterised by local data transmission networks having two metal wired interconnections (20,22) providing redundant communication channels between all of the control stations (10,11) of a group determined by geographical location; a global data highway having two optical communication channels (28,30) each forming a ring for providing redundant signal transmission in opposite directions between the transmission networks of each of said groups; and an optical-electrical interface (24,25) for each of said groups interposed in each ring for coupling each metal wired interconnection (20,22) to a separate one of said optical channels (28,30), said interface (24,25) including an optical detector (32) and an optical transmitter (39) connected to provide for retransmission ofthedata received by the detector (32) so that data will flow around said global rings in opposite directions; and means (31,33,34,35,38) for disabling said connection between the detector (32) and transmitter (39) at the interfaces (24) associated with the group of stations (10,11) which includes the transmitting station while making the connection between the network of the transmitting station and the detector and transmitter of its interface for.receipt at said transmitting station of the transmission ' sent after it has passed through the optical rings to thereby provide a check on the continuity of said rings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
219 words
A communications system for a large number of control stations which are widely spaced, characterised by local data transmission networks having two metal wired interconnections (20,22) providing redundant communication channels between all of the control stations (10,11) of a group determined by geographical location; a global data highway having two optical communication channels (28,30) each forming a ring for providing redundant signal transmission in opposite directions between the transmission networks of each of said groups; and an optical-electrical interface (24,25) for each of said groups interposed in each ring for coupling each metal wired interconnection (20,22) to a separate one of said optical channels (28,30), said interface (24,25) including an optical detector (32) and an optical transmitter (39) connected to provide for retransmission ofthedata received by the detector (32) so that data will flow around said global rings in opposite directions; and means (31,33,34,35,38) for disabling said connection between the detector (32) and transmitter (39) at the interfaces (24) associated with the group of stations (10,11) which includes the transmitting station while making the connection between the network of the transmitting station and the detector and transmitter of its interface for.receipt at said transmitting station of the transmission ' sent after it has passed through the optical rings to thereby provide a check on the continuity of said rings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
346 words
In a distributed process control system having a host computer (14) for overseeing the control effected by a large number of microprocessor based control stations (10,11) which are widely spaced, a communication system characterised by local data transmission networks having duplicate metallic wiring (20,22) providing redundant communication channels between all of the control stations (10,11) of a geographically determined group; a global data highway having two optical communication channels (28,30) each forming a ring for providing redundant signal transmission in opposite directions to interconnect the networks of each of each of said groups; and an optical-electrical interface (24,25) for each of said groups inserted to be in series in said rings (28,30) for coupling signals from each metal wired network (20,22) to a separate one of said optical channels (28,30), said interface (24,25).. including: optical detectors (32) for receiving optical data from each optical channel (28) and converting it to corresponding electrical data signals; optical transmitters (39) for converting electrical data signals to optical data on an optical channel (28); control elements (31) each connecting corresponding detectors (32) and transmitters (39) to provide repeater operation in each channel and operable upon receipt of a control signal from a transmitting station of the associated group of stations (10,11) to disconnect the detector (32) from the transmitter (39) to half said repetition; a connection between a first line (33,34) of each of the duplicate wiring (20,22) of the local network and the output of the corresponding detectors (32) to return in duplicate transmitted signals to the transmitting station; a connection between a second line (37,38) of each of the duplicate wiring (20,22) of the local network and the input of the corresponding transmitters (39) to carry transmitted signals from the transmitting station to the transmitters for propagation on the optical channels (28,30) and also provide for reception of signals transmitted from other groups; and a connection between a third line (35,36) of each of the duplicate wiring (20,22) of the local network and the corresponding control element (31) to carry said control signals to said control element (31).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
346 words
In a distributed process control system having a host computer (14) for overseeing the control effected by a large number of microprocessor based control stations (10,11) which are widely spaced, a communication system characterised by local data transmission networks having duplicate metallic wiring (20,22) providing redundant communication channels between all of the control stations (10,11) of a geographically determined group; a global data highway having two optical communication channels (28,30) each forming a ring for providing redundant signal transmission in opposite directions to interconnect the networks of each of each of said groups; and an optical-electrical interface (24,25) for each of said groups inserted to be in series in said rings (28,30) for coupling signals from each metal wired network (20,22) to a separate one of said optical channels (28,30), said interface (24,25).. including: optical detectors (32) for receiving optical data from each optical channel (28) and converting it to corresponding electrical data signals; optical transmitters (39) for converting electrical data signals to optical data on an optical channel (28); control elements (31) each connecting corresponding detectors (32) and transmitters (39) to provide repeater operation in each channel and operable upon receipt of a control signal from a transmitting station of the associated group of stations (10,11) to disconnect the detector (32) from the transmitter (39) to half said repetition; a connection between a first line (33,34) of each of the duplicate wiring (20,22) of the local network and the output of the corresponding detectors (32) to return in duplicate transmitted signals to the transmitting station; a connection between a second line (37,38) of each of the duplicate wiring (20,22) of the local network and the input of the corresponding transmitters (39) to carry transmitted signals from the transmitting station to the transmitters for propagation on the optical channels (28,30) and also provide for reception of signals transmitted from other groups; and a connection between a third line (35,36) of each of the duplicate wiring (20,22) of the local network and the corresponding control element (31) to carry said control signals to said control element (31).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.