Patents by Inventor Dirk Janssen

Dirk Janssen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220086117
    Abstract: A receiving logic of a network subscriber can be configured in a first filter setting to forward telegrams having first and second addressing techniques to first and second processing units, with a transmitting logic configured to forward the telegrams to a transmitting port. In a second filter setting, the receiving logic can be configured to duplicate the telegrams and forward to the first and second processing units, with the first processing unit configured to discard telegrams using the second addressing technique and the second processing unit configured to discard telegrams using the first addressing technique. The receiving logic of a third filter setting can be configured to duplicate telegrams and forward to the first and second processing units, with the transmitting logic configured to forward only telegrams using the first addressing technique from the first processing unit, and only telegrams using the second addressing technique from the second processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Publication number: 20220038306
    Abstract: A network distributor comprises a plurality of input/output ports, a processor unit, and a memory unit. The input/output ports are configured to connect network subscribers via a data line network, where the network subscribers comprise protocol subscribers configured to process telegrams configured as protocol telegrams. The processor unit is configured to receive telegrams via one input/output port and to output telegrams via another input/output port, which is stored in a routing table in the memory unit. The processor unit is further configured to determine whether a telegram is a protocol telegram received via an input/output port for which it is preset that no protocol subscriber is connected, and to discard the telegram if so. Checking and discarding of telegrams can be subject to a precondition, where fulfillment of the precondition leads to an exception from discarding the telegram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Thorsten Bunte, Johannes Beckhoff
  • Publication number: 20210377069
    Abstract: An automation network with network subscribers is provided, in which the network subscribers are interconnected via a data line network. At least one network subscriber is configured as a master subscriber, which is adapted to send telegrams via the data line network. At least one network subscriber is configured as a network distributor, which is adapted to route telegrams. The network distributor has a plurality of input/output ports, and is connected to the master subscriber via a first input/output and data line network. The master subscriber is configured to use a telegram element to indicate that the telegram is enabled for processing by the network subscribers. In addition, the network distributor is configured to process a telegram received via the first input/output port when the telegram element indicates enablement of processing of the telegram by the network subscribers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Publication number: 20210359877
    Abstract: A method for routing telegrams in an automation network with network subscribers interconnected via a data line network. At least network subscriber is a master subscriber, which sends telegrams to the network subscribers via the data line network. At least one network subscriber is a network distributor having a plurality of input/output ports, where input/output ports to which segments with further network subscribers are connected are designated as end ports. The master subscriber assigns a port address to each end port, and assigns the port address as an identifier to a telegram intended for processing for a segment with further network subscribers. If the network distributor receives a telegram with a port address of an end port of the network distributor as an identifier, the network distributor outputs the telegram directly via the input/output port of the network distributor corresponding to the end port of the port address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Publication number: 20210281666
    Abstract: In an automation network comprising a plurality of network segments, fragmenting subscribers that support a fragmentation method as well as standard subscribers that do not support the fragmentation method can be provided for in the network. A distribution node in the automation network has at least one input/output interface that is in communication with a network segment. The switching unit in the distribution node checks whether a subscriber in a network segment to which a telegram is to be sent supports the fragmentation method, and whether the telegram to be sent is fragmented. If the subscriber does not support the fragmentation procedure and the telegram to be sent is fragmented, the switching unit in the distribution node assembles the telegram fragments to form the telegram and then sends the assembled telegram on to the subscriber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen
  • Patent number: 11109215
    Abstract: A message transmission between communication subscribers in an automation system is controlled, wherein publisher applications and/or subscriber applications are executed on each of the communication subscribers, wherein the automation system comprises a message broker configured to enter subscriptions for specified topics for designated subscriber applications into a topic tree. In reaction to a message on a specified topic of the topic tree being published by a publisher application of a first of the plurality of communication subscribers on the first communication subscriber offering one or a plurality of services, the message broker determines whether a subscriber application of a second of the plurality of communication subscribers has been entered for the specified topic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Pascal Dresselhaus, Dirk Janssen, Sven Goldstein, Timo Bracke, Manuel Auster, Simon Geldner
  • Patent number: 11068257
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing a software project comprising a primary code and a machine code on a first processing station by a user. The method comprises downloading a first copy of the primary code from a first memory to the first processing station, modifying the first copy of the primary code, and generating a first program version of the machine code, where the first program version of the machine code is generated from the first copy of the primary code, uploading the first program version of the machine code to a second memory, and automatically uploading the modified copy of the primary code into the first memory, triggered by the upload of the first program version of the machine code into the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Ramon Barth, Thomas Robert Ziegler, Michael Josef Schlottbom
  • Publication number: 20210218584
    Abstract: A method for detecting network subscribers in an automation network by query telegrams provides that a protocol-network subscriber enters network-subscriber information into a query telegram and sends the query telegram to a subsequent network subscriber. If no subsequent network subscriber is connected to a data line, other than the receiving data line, it sends the query telegram back to the configuration subscriber. A network distributor enters port information on the further input/output ports of the network distributor, to which further data lines are connected into the query telegram, and returns it to the configuration subscriber. The configuration subscriber subsequently generates further query telegrams, each with routing information on the basis of the port information, and sends them to the network distributor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Publication number: 20210203720
    Abstract: At least one distribution node with a plurality of input/output interfaces is provided in an automation communication network. Data is exchanged via telegrams with priority levels. The distribution node interrupts transmission of a telegram having a first priority level if a telegram with a second, higher priority level is received. The distribution node terminates the interrupted telegram, which forms a first fragment defined by sending first fragmentation information at the end of the first fragment. A part that has not been sent forms a second fragment. The distribution node stores the second fragment together with second fragmentation information. After sending the telegram having the second, higher priority level, the distribution node sends the second fragment together with the second fragmentation information. A node, for which the telegram having the first priority level is intended, assembles the first and second fragments on the basis of the first and second fragmentation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen
  • Patent number: 11050585
    Abstract: A communications network having a master subscriber M and at least one slave subscriber. At least one distribution node CU1, CU2, CU3, CU4 is provided which has a plurality of input/output interfaces, each of which is connected to a network segment, the master subscriber M arranged in a first network segment M1 and the slave subscriber arranged in a second network segment S1, S2, S3, S4, S5. Data is exchanged between the master subscriber M and the slave subscriber in the form of telegrams initiated by the master subscriber. The telegrams to be sent from the slave subscriber to the master subscriber are each assigned control data containing a forwarding time information when the corresponding telegram is to be output from the distribution node via the input/output interface in the direction of the first network segment comprising the master subscriber, the forwarding time information determined by the master subscriber M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation Gmbh
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Erik Vonnahme
  • Publication number: 20210135900
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in an automation network by telegrams, where the automation network comprises a master subscriber, slave subscribers and at least one unlocker, connected to each other via a data-line network. The slave subscribers are divided into segments. The master subscriber sends locked telegrams for processing by the slave subscribers, each having a telegram identifier used to assign a locked telegram to a segment. At least one segment is assigned to at least one unlocker. If the unlocker receives a locked telegram, the unlocker checks, by the telegram identifier in the locked telegram, whether the locked telegram for the assigned segment is intended to release the locked telegram, as an unlocked telegram for processing by the slave subscribers, provided that the locked telegram is intended for the segment assigned to the unlocker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 10873536
    Abstract: A distribution node for an automation network comprises at least two input/output interfaces for transmitting and receiving real-time-relevant and non-real-time-relevant data packets, and a switching device connected to the input/output interfaces. The switching device forwards data packets received via an input/output interface via a further input/output interface using a switching table, where the switching table contains at least a data packet identifier and a transmission time in a data transfer cycle for each real-time-relevant data packet. Inter alia, the switching device can detect a data packet identifier on reception of a real-time-relevant data packet, and output the real-time-relevant data packet at the transmission time allocated to the detected data packet identifier in the switching table via an input/output interface as a transmission interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Erik Vonnahme, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 10848419
    Abstract: Data transmission in a communication network is performed via a transmission path with which a master participant and at least one slave participant communicate. The master participant outputs messages on the data transmission path with which the slave participants exchange data on the fly. The messages output by the master participant contain datagrams which comprise a control data field and a payload field, where the control data field has a command field and an address field. In the case that at least one message has at least one datagram which is a write datagram in which the command field defines the data transmission procedure to be performed by a slave participant with the payload field as a write procedure, at least the control data field of a further datagram is arranged between the control data field of the write datagram and the payload field of the write datagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Erik Vonnahme, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 10782667
    Abstract: In a real-time environment at least one task is executed with a pre-defined task run-time, wherein at least one auxiliary function with indeterminate function run-time is to be processed within the specified task run-time by means of a time monitoring function. The time monitoring function, which defines a termination time for the auxiliary function within the pre-defined task run-time, is started. Then the auxiliary function is executed, wherein the time monitoring function monitors the function run-time and a function abort is initiated if the pre-defined abort time point is exceeded. Finally, the time monitoring function is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Marko Tscherepanow, Dirk Janssen, Andre Folkers
  • Publication number: 20200293308
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing a software project comprising a primary code and a machine code on a first processing station by a user. The method comprises downloading a first copy of the primary code from a first memory to the first processing station, modifying the first copy of the primary code, and generating a first program version of the machine code, where the first program version of the machine code is generated from the first copy of the primary code, uploading the first program version of the machine code to a second memory, and automatically uploading the modified copy of the primary code into the first memory, triggered by the upload of the first program version of the machine code into the second memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Ramon Barth, Thomas Robert Ziegler, Michael Josef Schlottbom
  • Patent number: 10735219
    Abstract: A communications network comprises a plurality of participants. A first participant transmits a message repeating sequence of N?2 successive messages to a second participant. An action which can be performed by the second participant is assigned to each message in the sequence. The first participant begins to transmit one of the N messages at N successive transmission times T_I (I=O, . . . , N?1). Each of the N messages contains a field defining a waiting time. The second participant selects one message from among the messages in the sequence which are successfully received by the second participant as a useful message, measures a time elapsed since reception of the useful message, and performs the action assigned to the useful message when the elapsed time has reached the assigned waiting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Erik Vonnahme, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 10735218
    Abstract: In an automation-communication network, at least one distribution node comprises input/output interfaces each connected to at least one network segment. In a first network segment a first subscriber and in a second network segment a second subscriber are arranged. Data are exchanged between the first and the second subscriber by telegrams realized as scheduled telegrams and unscheduled telegrams. The distribution node receives an unscheduled telegram on an input/output interface and sends an unscheduled telegram on a further input/output interface. The distribution node determines a transmission duration for transmission of the unscheduled telegram. The distribution node transmits the unscheduled telegram. Prior to transmission, the distribution node deposits a first telegram information in a data field. The distribution node fragments the unscheduled telegram if the telegram cannot be transmitted within a time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhofff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Erik Vonnahme
  • Patent number: 10732608
    Abstract: A transmission module for a machine control is designed to process an input program code of a control program, and based thereon, to generate a uniform intermediate code having work instructions for execution by the machine control. The input program code comprises a first program code component and a second program code component, where the first program code component is written in a first programming language and the second program code component is written in a second programming language. The work instructions of the intermediate code comprise a first work instruction and a second work instruction, where the first work instruction is generated on the basis of the first program code component and the second work instruction is generated on the basis of the second program code component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Klaus Bernzen, Ralph Dreesen
  • Publication number: 20200244480
    Abstract: A communications network having a master subscriber M and at least one slave subscriber. At least one distribution node CU1, CU2, CU3, CU4 is provided which has a plurality of input/output interfaces, each of which is connected to a network segment, the master subscriber M arranged in a first network segment M1 and the slave subscriber arranged in a second network segment S1, S2, S3, S4, S5. Data is exchanged between the master subscriber M and the slave subscriber in the form of telegrams initiated by the master subscriber. The telegrams to be sent from the slave subscriber to the master subscriber are each assigned control data containing a forwarding time information when the corresponding telegram is to be output from the distribution node via the input/output interface in the direction of the first network segment comprising the master subscriber, the forwarding time information determined by the master subscriber M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Erik Vonnahme
  • Patent number: 10496075
    Abstract: A network module is specified for controlling an automation process via a data network with superordinate and subordinate data paths. The network module is configured to successively receive, during a communication cycle, via the superordinate data path, a first portion of a sum total of first output data transmitted to signal units connected to a first subordinate data path, a first portion of a sum total of second output data transmitted to signal units connected to a second subordinate data path, a second portion of the first output data and a second portion of the second output data. The network module is configured to send the first and second portions of the first output data immediately subsequently to one another via the first subordinate data path and the first and second portions of the second output data immediately subsequently to one another via the second subordinate data path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Pruessmeier, Dirk Janssen