Abstract: An electrical distribution system includes a plurality of electrical substations. Each of the electrical substations includes a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), and a communications network interconnecting the plurality of IEDs at that substation. The communications networks at the plurality of substations are configured as at least one virtual network spanning multiple ones of the plurality of electrical substations, and interconnecting at least some of the IEDs within the multiple ones of the plurality of electrical substations, and so that delays experience by messages on the at least one virtual network are below a defined threshold. The virtual networks may be reconfigured when/if the threshold is not met.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system includes a plurality of electrical substations. Each of the electrical substations includes a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), and a communications network interconnecting the plurality of IEDs at that substation. The communications networks at the plurality of substations are configured as at least one virtual network spanning multiple ones of the plurality of electrical substations, and interconnecting at least some of the IEDs within the multiple ones of the plurality of electrical substations, and so that delays experience by messages on the at least one virtual network are below a defined threshold. The virtual networks may be reconfigured when/if the threshold is not met.

Abstract: A redundantly operable industrial communication system having a plurality of communication devices redundantly linked to an industrial communication network within a ring or tree topology, and a plurality of communication devices inter connected within a linear topology, wherein a communication device configured as a ring portion redundancy manager within the linear topology comprises a monitoring and control unit that detects an interruption within the linear topology using transmitted test messages and controls forwarding of messages containing useful data between two ports, associated with the linear topology, of the communication device configured as a ring portion redundancy manager when an interruption is detected, and first and second communication devices return test messages received within the linear topology to the communication device configured as a ring portion redundancy manager or send test messages to the communication device configured as the ring portion redundancy manager.

Abstract: For redundant message transmission in an industrial communication network having an arbitrarily meshed network topology, mutually independent paths are ascertained for a communication link that is redundant at least in sections between two network nodes within the industrial communication network, where the mutually independent paths comprise separate network nodes of a single communication network, and messages with duplicate identifiers are interchanged between transmission and reception units of communication devices of the industrial communication network in accordance with forwarding rules that correspond to the ascertained paths.

Abstract: A network node for a communication network comprising a first subnetwork and a second subnetwork connected to the first subnetwork, wherein the first subnetwork uses a spanning tree protocol and the second subnetwork uses a second protocol differing from the protocol of the first subnetwork, and the network node is configured as an element for the second subnetwork and is configured for communication within the second subnetwork. In addition, the network node configured by a spanning tree functionality as a spanning tree master node for checking and controlling the second subnetwork in such a way that the second subnetwork is handled or is able to be handled by the spanning tree protocol of the first subnetwork as a virtual network node.

Abstract: A communication device for a redundantly operable industrial communication network comprises at least one first and one second transmitting and receiving unit each having an interface for a network connection of the industrial communication network. A signal processing unit is connected to the first and second transmitting and receiving units. A singly linked network node is connected to the signal processing unit via a coupling element. The signal processing unit is connected to the coupling element via a first and second interface. In this case, the first interface is provided exclusively for communicating data packets received by the first receiving unit, while the second interface is provided exclusively for communicating data packets received by the second receiving unit.

Abstract: A method for transmitting messages in a redundantly operable communication network includes a first subnetwork with a tree topology and a second subnetwork, wherein messages are transmitted in the first subnetwork in accordance with a spanning tree protocol, communication devices associated with network nodes of the first subnetwork interchange messages containing topology information with one another in order to form a tree topology, messages are transmitted in the second subnetwork in accordance with a parallel or ring redundancy protocol, and a virtual network node which is connected to all network nodes of the second subnetwork via a respective virtual connection which is uninterruptable by an error is configured as the root network node of the first subnetwork.

Abstract: A communication device for an industrial communication network which can be operated in a redundant manner comprises a first and a second transmitting and receiving unit that transmit data packets in a bumpy or bumpless manner inside the industrial communication network and are selectively changeable over to a bumpy or bumpless transmission mode. An evaluation unit is connected to the first and/or second transmitting and receiving unit(s) and detects data packets to be transmitted in the bumpy or bumpless manner inside the industrial communication network. Redundancy handling and filter units for received redundant data packets are deactivated when a data packet to be transmitted in the bumpy manner is detected. A memory unit is assigned to the first and/or second transmitting and receiving unit(s) and buffers at least one data packet to be transmitted in the bumpy manner during a predefined period of time in the bumpy transmission mode.

Abstract: For redundant message transmission in an industrial communication network having an arbitrarily meshed network topology, mutually independent paths are ascertained for a communication link that is redundant at least in sections between two network nodes within the industrial communication network, where the mutually independent paths comprise separate network nodes of a single communication network, and messages with duplicate identifiers are interchanged between transmission and reception units of communication devices of the industrial communication network in accordance with forwarding rules that correspond to the ascertained paths.

Abstract: A method for redundant communication in a communication system having a plurality of communication networks connected to one another by at least one node, wherein data that originates from a first communication network is prevented from being transmitted back from the second the communication network into the first communication network as a result of information that is predefined before the transmission.

Abstract: A redundantly operable industrial communication system having a plurality of communication devices redundantly linked to an industrial communication network within a ring or tree topology, and a plurality of communication devices inter connected within a linear topology, wherein a communication device configured as a ring portion redundancy manager within the linear topology comprises a monitoring and control unit that detects an interruption within the linear topology using transmitted test messages and controls forwarding of messages containing useful data between two ports, associated with the linear topology, of the communication device configured as a ring portion redundancy manager when an interruption is detected, and first and second communication devices return test messages received within the linear topology to the communication device configured as a ring portion redundancy manager or send test messages to the communication device configured as the ring portion redundancy manager.

Abstract: A method for transmitting messages in a redundantly operable communication network includes a first subnetwork with a tree topology and a second subnetwork, wherein messages are transmitted in the first subnetwork in accordance with a spanning tree protocol, communication devices associated with network nodes of the first subnetwork interchange messages containing topology information with one another in order to form a tree topology, messages are transmitted in the second subnetwork in accordance with a parallel or ring redundancy protocol, and a virtual network node which is connected to all network nodes of the second subnetwork via a respective virtual connection which is uninterruptable by an error is configured as the root network node of the first subnetwork.

Abstract: A communication device for an industrial communication network which can be operated in a redundant manner comprises a first and a second transmitting and receiving unit that transmit data packets in a bumpy or bumpless manner inside the industrial communication network and are selectively changeable over to a bumpy or bumpless transmission mode. An evaluation unit is connected to the first and/or second transmitting and receiving unit(s) and detects data packets to be transmitted in the bumpy or bumpless manner inside the industrial communication network. Redundancy handling and filter units for received redundant data packets are deactivated when a data packet to be transmitted in the bumpy manner is detected. A memory unit is assigned to the first and/or second transmitting and receiving unit(s) and buffers at least one data packet to be transmitted in the bumpy manner during a predefined period of time in the bumpy transmission mode.

Abstract: A method for redundant communication in a communication system having a plurality of communication networks connected to one another by at least one node, wherein data that originates from a first communication network is prevented from being transmitted back from the second the communication network into the first communication network as a result of information that is predefined before the transmission.

Abstract: A network node for a communication network comprising a first subnetwork and a second subnetwork connected to the first subnetwork, wherein the first subnetwork uses a spanning tree protocol and the second subnetwork uses a second protocol differing from the protocol of the first subnetwork, and the network node is configured as an element for the second subnetwork and is configured for communication within the second subnetwork. In addition, the network node configured by a spanning tree functionality as a spanning tree master node for checking and controlling the second subnetwork in such a way that the second subnetwork is handled or is able to be handled by the spanning tree protocol of the first subnetwork as a virtual network node.

Abstract: There is described a network having redundancy properties, an Ethernet switch, and a method for configuring the network. At least two network segments which are formed with a plurality of Ethernet switches are connected to one another by means of a redundant connection comprising at least two coupling channels. During configuration, a programming device stores a logic name for the redundant connection in the respective memory of associated coupling devices. In a network startup phase, said coupling devices determine the respective other connection partner associated with the same redundant connection by distributing special messages in which they enter the logic name of the redundant connection. They use an order criterion to determine which coupling channel is active and which coupling channel is deactivated during trouble-free operation.

Abstract: There is described a network having redundancy properties, an Ethernet switch, and a method for configuring the network. At least two network segments which are formed with a plurality of Ethernet switches are connected to one another by means of a redundant connection comprising at least two coupling channels. During configuration, a programming device stores a logic name for the redundant connection in the respective memory of associated coupling devices. In a network startup phase, said coupling devices determine the respective other connection partner associated with the same redundant connection by distributing special messages in which they enter the logic name of the redundant connection. They use an order criterion to determine which coupling channel is active and which coupling channel is deactivated during trouble-free operation.

Abstract: An Ethernet network with redundancy properties and an associated method for detecting and eliminating errors in the network. A redundancy manager (6), which is connected to the line ends of the network (1), checks the status of the network by transmitting and receiving test telegrams. If there is an interruption in the network, the redundancy manager (6) connects the line ends (7, 8) and thereby ensures continued network operation within milliseconds. The network has a loop structure that is less expensive than a dual bus structure even though fast media redundancy is ensured.