Abstract: A system, method, and software product are provided for updating parameters, such as requested packet intervals (RPIs), in a network. The system may include one or more PLCs, communication controllers, and I/O devices coupled in a communication network, such as EtherNet/IP. A request to change a parameter (e.g., scanning rate or timeout value) is transmitted from the PLC to an I/O device specifying a new parameter value or time-out value. The I/O device may receive the message, use a temporary time-out value while processing the message, and transmit an acknowledgement confirming the new value to the PLC. The I/O device may use the updated parameter and new time-out value. The updated parameter may be implemented without the need to take down and re-establish network connections to the affected devices.

Abstract: A system, method, and software product are provided for updating parameters, such as requested packet intervals (RPIs), in a network. The system may include one or more PLCs, communication controllers, and I/O devices coupled in a communication network, such as EtherNet/IP. A request to change a parameter (e.g., scanning rate or timeout value) is transmitted from the PLC to an I/O device specifying a new parameter value or time-out value. The I/O device may receive the message, use a temporary time-out value while processing the message, and transmit an acknowledgement confirming the new value to the PLC. The I/O device may use the updated parameter and new time-out value. The updated parameter may be implemented without the need to take down and re-establish network connections to the affected devices.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide apparatuses, systems, and computer readable media for supporting redundant network management. When the primary device (101, 103) fails, its Ethernet IP address is transferred or controlled by a backup Ethernet device. System information is provided to a network adapter so that programmable logic controllers are in agreement about the mode of operation. A central processing unit (201, 203) determines a calculated mode of operation from the operational statuses of the programmable logic controller and the mated programmable logic controller. The central processing unit provides an address indication (503) based on the calculated mode of operation and a selection indication (501) that is indicative of a selected address criterion. The corresponding network adapter determines the assigned network address from the selection indication and the address indication.

Abstract: An enhanced synchronized communication device within a control system may allow output data delivered to various input/output (I/O) devices to be synchronized to the time at which the output data has been generated by a programmable logic controller (PLC). In this scheme, a central processing unit (CPU) associated with the PLC may generate and transmit output data to the enhanced synchronized communication device. When the output data arrives at the enhanced synchronized communication device, the enhanced synchronized communication device may associate the output data to a trigger mechanism (e.g., the application trigger feature of Common Industrial Protocol, etc.) for immediately triggering the transfer of the output data to the I/O devices. This process may remove possible jitter associated with output data delivery in control systems.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide apparatuses, systems, and computer readable media for supporting redundant network management. When the primary device (101, 103) fails, its Ethernet IP address is transferred or controlled by a backup Ethernet device. System information is provided to a network adapter so that programmable logic controllers are in agreement about the mode of operation. A central processing unit (201, 203) determines a calculated mode of operation from the operational statuses of the programmable logic controller and the mated programmable logic controller. The central processing unit provides an address indication (503) based on the calculated mode of operation and a selection indication (501) that is indicative of a selected address criterion. The corresponding network adapter determines the assigned network address from the selection indication and the address indication.