US5960174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arbitration method for a communication network
Assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-20
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Granted: 1999-09-28
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Expires: 2016-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A communications network is used to couple weld controllers and different operator interface units together, regardless of their data structures. An arbitration system provides a means for one operator interface unit to communicate to a selected weld controller at a given period of time. The operator interface units have one of three modes of operation. These include database master, primary master, and secondary master. During setup of the communications network, the master devices are assigned a physical address that defines the its type and priority within the network. The database master is the only device which can automatically download data to a weld controller. It has the highest priority as a network arbiter. The primary master will act as the network abitrator in the absence of a database master. A secondary master must listen for an access grant from the current network arbiter, before initiating a message packet on the network. When no database or primary device exists on a network, the secondary device with the highest priority, as defined by its address during startup, assumes the role of network arbitrator.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry A. Dew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/40169; H04L12/40176; H04L12/40202; H04L12/40143; H04L12/403; H04M; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/16; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04M7/0081; H04M7/0084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A system communications network comprising: A. a plurality of master control devices coupled to said communications network, each of said master control devices having an application program for controlling communications on said network, some of said master controls having dissimilar data structures; B. a plurality of slave devices coupled to said communications network, some of said slave devices having dissimilar data structures; C. a network arbiter for controlling network traffic of the communications network at a given period of time, said network arbiter operatively chosen from one of said master control devices; D. at least one of said master control devices functioning as a master database device for the network; E. wherein said network arbiter is chosen from said master control devices on a basis of an arbitration priority assigned to said master control devices, with said master database device having the highest priority; F. wherein each of said master control devices, through its application program, monitors the network for network traffic, and assumes control of the network as network arbiter if no master control device with a higher priority is active on the network; and G. wherein said master database device will always attempt to assume control of the network as network arbiter when said master database device requires control.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
A system communications network comprising: A. a plurality of master control devices coupled to said communications network, each of said master control devices having an application program for controlling communications on said network, some of said master controls having dissimilar data structures; B. a plurality of slave devices coupled to said communications network, some of said slave devices having dissimilar data structures; C. a network arbiter for controlling network traffic of the communications network at a given period of time, said network arbiter operatively chosen from one of said master control devices; D. at least one of said master control devices functioning as a master database device for the network; E. wherein said network arbiter is chosen from said master control devices on a basis of an arbitration priority assigned to said master control devices, with said master database device having the highest priority; F. wherein each of said master control devices, through its application program, monitors the network for network traffic, and assumes control of the network as network arbiter if no master control device with a higher priority is active on the network; and G. wherein said master database device will always attempt to assume control of the network as network arbiter when said master database device requires control.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system communications network of claim 1 wherein said master database device includes a system database system, said data base for storing data associated with each master control and slave device coupled to the network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system communications network of claim 2 wherein one of said master control devices is a primary master control device, wherein said primary master control device will always attempt to assume control of the network as network arbiter in the absence of a master database device, and wherein said primary master control device will lose control as arbiter when said master database device reattaches to the network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system communications network of claim 3 wherein one of said master control devices is a secondary master control device, wherein said secondary master control device will assume control of the network as network arbiter by an access grant from a current network arbiter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system communications network of claim 4 wherein a secondary master control device with the highest assigned arbitration priority will assume control of the network as network arbiter in the absence of the master database device and primary master control device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system communications network of claim 5 wherein only one of said master control devices will assume control of the network as network arbiter at any one period of time, and wherein during said period of time said master control device for uploading and downloading data to a selected slave device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system communications network of claim 6 wherein said master control device as network arbiter, for uploading and downloading data to another selected master control device during said period of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system communications network of claim 7 wherein said master database device, as network arbiter, can broadcast a message to all slave devices at the same time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system communications network of claim 7 wherein said master database device, as network arbiter, can broadcast a message to all other master devices at the same time.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
213 words
A system communications network for coupling a plurality of weld controllers, said network comprising: A. a plurality of operator interface units coupled to said communications network, each of said operator interface units having an application program for controlling communications on said network, and a program for sending data having dissimilar data structures, said data for monitoring and controlling selected ones of said weld controllers; B. a network arbiter for controlling network traffic of the communications network at a given period of time, said network arbiter operatively chosen from one of said operator interface units; C. at least one of said operator interface units functioning as a master database device for the network; D. wherein said network arbiter is chosen from said operator interface units on a basis of an arbitration priority assigned to said operator interface units, with said master database device having the highest priority; E. wherein each of said operator interface unit, through its application program, monitors the network for network traffic, and assumes control of the network as network arbiter if no operator interface unit with a higher priority is active on the network; and G. wherein said master database device will always attempt to assume control of the network as network arbiter when said master database device requires control.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
213 words
A system communications network for coupling a plurality of weld controllers, said network comprising: A. a plurality of operator interface units coupled to said communications network, each of said operator interface units having an application program for controlling communications on said network, and a program for sending data having dissimilar data structures, said data for monitoring and controlling selected ones of said weld controllers; B. a network arbiter for controlling network traffic of the communications network at a given period of time, said network arbiter operatively chosen from one of said operator interface units; C. at least one of said operator interface units functioning as a master database device for the network; D. wherein said network arbiter is chosen from said operator interface units on a basis of an arbitration priority assigned to said operator interface units, with said master database device having the highest priority; E. wherein each of said operator interface unit, through its application program, monitors the network for network traffic, and assumes control of the network as network arbiter if no operator interface unit with a higher priority is active on the network; and G. wherein said master database device will always attempt to assume control of the network as network arbiter when said master database device requires control.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system communications network of claim 10 wherein said master database device includes a system database system, said database for storing data associated with each operator interface unit and weld controller coupled to the network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system communications network of claim 11 wherein one of said operator interface units functions as a primary master control device, wherein said primary master control device will always attempt to assume control of the network as network arbiter in the absence of a master database device, and wherein said primary master control device will lose control as arbiter when said master database device reattaches to the network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system communications network of claim 12 wherein one of said operator interface units functions as a secondary master control device, wherein said secondary master control device will assume control of the network as network arbiter by an access grant from a current network arbiter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system communications network of claim 13 wherein a secondary master control device with the highest arbitration priority will assume control of the network as network arbiter in the absence of the master database device and primary master control device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system communications network of claim 14 wherein only one of said operator interface units will assume control of the network as network arbiter at any one period of time, and wherein during said period of time said operator interface unit for uploading and downloading data to a selected weld controller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system communications network of claim 15 wherein said operator interface unit functioning as the master database device, for uploading and downloading data to another selected operator interface unit during said period of time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system communications network of claim 16 wherein said operator interface unit functioning as the master database device can broadcast a message to all weld controllers at the same time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system communications network of claim 17 wherein said operator interface unit functioning as the master database device as network arbiter can broadcast a message to all other operator interface units at the same time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |