Abstract: A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning slot addresses to modules in an industrial control system is disclosed. The modules are set up in a daisy chain topology. On power-up, a first module in the chain reads its slot address from a user configurable input or sets its slot address to a default value. The first module communicates to its immediate right neighbor using a special, one-hop message. The neighboring modules communicate to receive each other's information. The first module then sets an enable signal between the modules and sends a slot number to the neighbor in a firmware message. The neighbor checks if the enable signal is set and verifies that the slot number is a valid slot number. If so, then the neighboring module accepts the slot and repeats the same procedure to its next immediate neighbor, and so on until the last module.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data. packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning slot addresses to modules in an industrial control system is disclosed. The modules are set up in a daisy chain topology. On power-up, a first module in the chain reads its slot address from a user configurable input or sets its slot address to a default value. The first module communicates to its immediate right neighbor using a special, one-hop message. The neighboring modules communicate to receive each other's information. The first module then sets an enable signal between the modules and sends a slot number to the neighbor in a firmware message. The neighbor checks if the enable signal is set and verifies that the slot number is a valid slot number. If so, then the neighboring module accepts the slot and repeats the same procedure to its next immediate neighbor, and so on until the last module.

Abstract: An industrial control system communicating among various control elements via a serial network synchronizes the scanning loops associated with collecting and forwarding data along the network so as to substantially reduce transmission delay and jitter, using synchronization information passed along the network.

Abstract: An industrial control system communicating among various control elements via a serial network synchronizes the scanning loops associated with collecting and forwarding data along the network so as to substantially reduce transmission delay and jitter, using synchronization information passed along the network.

Abstract: A high reliability network provides for measurements of network delays through pairs of transmissions of local clock values used in a first message to deduce clock value offsets and in a second message to reveal network delays.

Abstract: A high reliability network provides for measurements of network delays through pairs of transmissions of local clock values used in a first message to deduce clock value offsets and in a second message to reveal network delays.