Abstract: A network subscriber of an automation communication network is provided to exchange data with further network subscribers in the automation communication network at a predetermined clock frequency. The network subscriber has an internal clock for synchronizing the data exchange with at least one other network subscriber. The internal clock is embodied to provide a time as an integer count value. The clock frequency is determined in such a way that a period duration per clock pulse cannot be represented as an integer count value by the internal clock. A method of operating the network subscriber in the automation communication network comprises the following method step: the internal clock is incremented with a predetermined sequence of integer increments. The sequence of integer increments is predetermined such that a sum of the integer increments corresponds to an integer multiple of the period duration.

Abstract: An automation system has a plurality of subscribers including a first master unit, first distributor, second master unit, second distributor, and at least another subscriber unit. First and second transmitting/receiving devices of the first and second distributor are connected via a ring-shaped data bus. In a first mode, the first distributor forwards telegrams received from the first master unit to the first transmitting/receiving device, and forwards telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first master unit. The second distributor also forwards first telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second transmitting/receiving device. In a second mode, the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the second master unit to the second transmitting/receiving device, and the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second master unit.

Abstract: A method is provided for communicating between passive subscribers of a bus system. A first passive subscriber encodes an original static pattern in a first transmit SERDES element and encodes original user data in a time-synchronized manner with the original static pattern in a second transmit SERDES element. The second passive subscriber receives the encoded static pattern and user data, and generates a sampling clock having a first phase offset and a clock synchronous with a transmit-receive clock having a second phase offset, from the encoded static pattern. The second passive subscriber decodes the encoded static pattern using a first receive SERDES element and the encoded user data, using a second receive SERDES element to obtain a receive data word. The first receive SERDES element and the second receive SERDES element are operated based on the sampling clock, and the receive data word is output synchronously with the synchronous clock.

Abstract: A method of operating a network subscriber comprises receiving an input-data stream containing an input-transmission frame according to a field-bus protocol, where the input-data stream is received in chronologically successive data units having a defined processing width, decoding fields of the input-transmission frame by a plurality of field-processing units arranged in series, each field-processing unit decoding a predetermined field of the input-transmission frame, and generating an output-data stream comprising an output transmission frame according to the field-bus protocol from the input-data stream.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing time in an Ethernet-based network having a master network subscriber and a slave network subscriber includes sending out a first telegram via the master network subscriber, where the slave subscriber receives the first telegram at a first receipt time value of a local system time and stores the first receipt time value. The method can also include reading out the first receipt time value via the master subscriber, sending out a second telegram by the master subscriber, where the slave subscriber receives the second telegram at a second receipt time value of the local system time and stores the second receipt time value, and reading out the second receipt time value via the master network subscriber. A speed parameter of the local system time can be calculated from the receipt time values via the master network subscriber, and transmitted to the slave subscriber.

Abstract: A method for processing telegrams in an automation network provides a master subscriber to at least partially encrypt and output telegrams, respectively, to another subscriber. The other subscriber comprises an input port, a receiving logic connected to the input port, a decryption unit connected to the receiving logic, and a processing unit connected to the decryption unit and the receiving logic. The receiving logic is configured, when a telegram at least partially encrypted by the master subscriber is present at the input port, to forward an encrypted portion of the telegram to the decryption unit. The decryption unit is configured to decrypt the encrypted portion of the telegram with a key, and to forward the encrypted portion to the processing unit for processing. If an unencrypted telegram is present at the input port, the receiving logic is configured to forward the unencrypted telegram to the processing unit for processing.

Abstract: An automation network comprises at least one master subscriber, at least one switch, and at least one subscriber. The master subscriber comprises master ports, the switch comprises switching ports, and the subscriber comprises ports, each comprising a transmitter and a receiver. The master subscriber is configured to output first and second telegrams to first and second switching ports via first and second master ports and first and second master communication paths. The switch is configured to forward the first telegram to a first port of a subscriber via a first communication path, and to forward the second telegram to a second port of a subscriber via a second communication path. In error mode, the switch and the subscriber are configured to return the first telegram to the master subscriber via the first master port, and/or to return the second telegram to the master subscriber via the second master port.

Abstract: In an automation communication network, a distribution node is provided with a plurality of input/output interfaces, each connected to a network segment having at least one subscriber. The network segments are each assigned segment telegrams for processing by the subscriber. The segment telegrams have a data field with sequence information indicating the priority of a subsequent segment telegram. The distribution node is configured to receive the segment telegram on an input/output interface and transmit it according to a routing specification on a further input/output interface.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing time in an Ethernet-based network having a master network subscriber, a first segment and a second segment. Each segment has at least one network subscriber. The second segment is connected to the first segment by a first network distributor, arranged in the second segment. The method comprises steps for sending out a synchronization telegram addressed to the second segment by the master network subscriber, the synchronization telegram being of the first type; receiving the synchronization telegram by the first network distributor, for conversion into a second type; forwarding the synchronization telegram to a network distributor of the second segment, by the first network distributor; reading out a synchronization value stored in the synchronization telegram by the first network distributor of the second segment; and adjusting a speed of a local system time of the network distributor of the second segment, using the synchronization value.

Abstract: A method is described for operating a communication network with a plurality of subscribers. Data exchange between the subscribers takes place in the form of telegrams, which comprise data sections. The subscribers interpret an end portion of the telegrams as a check value for the absence of errors in preceding data sections. The telegrams are processed in pass-through, so that the telegrams are forwarded to a respective next subscriber while being received. If an error is detected when receiving a telegram, the subscribers send the telegram to the next subscriber with a characterizing data section at the end, so that the telegram has an end portion representing an invalid check value. The telegram is characterized by the characterizing data section, which is part of the end portion, so that the telegram is not to be considered as an initial error but as a subsequent error.

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.

Abstract: A network subscriber of an automation communication network is provided to exchange data with further network subscribers in the automation communication network at a predetermined clock frequency. The network subscriber has an internal clock for synchronizing the data exchange with at least one other network subscriber. The internal clock is embodied to provide a time as an integer count value. The clock frequency is determined in such a way that a period duration per clock pulse cannot be represented as an integer count value by the internal clock. A method of operating the network subscriber in the automation communication network comprises the following method step: the internal clock is incremented with a predetermined sequence of integer increments. The sequence of integer increments is predetermined such that a sum of the integer increments corresponds to an integer multiple of the period duration.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method of operating a network subscriber comprises receiving an input-data stream containing an input-transmission frame according to a field-bus protocol, where the input-data stream is received in chronologically successive data units having a defined processing width, decoding fields of the input-transmission frame by a plurality of field-processing units arranged in series, each field-processing unit decoding a predetermined field of the input-transmission frame, and generating an output-data stream comprising an output transmission frame according to the field-bus protocol from the input-data stream.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A microcontroller unit of an input/output module checks whether a communication connection can be set up from the microcontroller unit to a communication subscriber of a data cable plugged into the one portion of a electrical plug connection of the input/output module, wherein the microcontroller unit of the input/output module actuates DC voltage supplies of the input/output module such that the DC voltage supplies apply a respective DC voltage to applicable electrical contacts of electrical contact elements of the input/output module only if the check has revealed that a communication connection has been able to be set up to the communication subscriber of the data cable.