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 first participant transmits a clocked data sequence to a second participant of a communication network, wherein one data unit of the data sequence is transmitted per clock cycle by the first participant and wherein the data sequence contains a datagram as a write datagram which contains a header, an intermediate field following the header and a data field following the intermediate header, wherein the header, the intermediate field and the data field in each case have one or more data units. The second participant reads the header of the datagram, defines input data depending on the content of the header within a response time, and records the input data in the datagram while the data sequence passes through the second participant. The length of the intermediate field of the datagram is matched to the clock frequency of the data sequence and the response time of the second participant.

Abstract: A network includes a first network participant connected via a first connection to a further network participant. The first network participant receives a data message containing information that a parameter must be set to a first value, via the first connection. The first network participant checks whether it is connected via a second connection to a still further network, and whether the parameter is not set to the first value in the second connection. In this case, the first network participant forwards the data message via the second connection, clearing down the second connection, and re-establishes the second connection, where the parameter for the second connection is set to the first value.

Abstract: A method for operating a network that has a network subscriber that is connected to a superordinate bus and to a subordinate bus comprises steps for the reception of a first superordinate data message by the network subscriber via the superordinate bus, the extraction of first data from the first superordinate data message by the network subscriber and for the transmission of a first subordinate data message by the network subscriber via the subordinate bus. In one case, the first subordinate data message comprises the first data.

Abstract: A network subscriber comprises a plurality of individual functional units, each individual functional unit comprising an application interface. The network subscriber further comprises a network subscriber comprises at least a shared functional unit, a first interface for establishing a physical connection and a second interface for establishing a further physical connection.

Abstract: A first participant transmits a clocked data sequence to a second participant of a communication network, wherein one data unit of the data sequence is transmitted per clock cycle by the first participant and wherein the data sequence contains a datagram as a write datagram which contains a header, an intermediate field following the header and a data field following the intermediate header, wherein the header, the intermediate field and the data field in each case have one or more data units. The second participant reads the header of the datagram, defines input data depending on the content of the header within a response time, and records the input data in the datagram while the data sequence passes through the second participant. The length of the intermediate field of the datagram is matched to the clock frequency of the data sequence and the response time of the second participant.

Abstract: A method for operating a communication network comprising a master and a number of subscribers. A message comprising a data field is transmitted by the master, wherein at least one of the subscribers, on receiving the message, reads data out of the data field of the message, and forwards the message to at least one other one of the subscribers after the readout, and wherein the at least one other one of the subscribers, on receiving the message, writes data into the data field.

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=0, . . . , N?1). Each of the N messages contains a field defining a waiting time assigned to the respective message W_I=T_(N?1)?T_I+?W_I (I=0, . . . ,N?1), where ?W_I is a non-negative tolerance 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: 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.

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 for operating a node in a communications network comprises the following steps: The node receives a reference time via the communications network. A transmit clock of the node, which was determined for an earlier clock cycle on the basis of a local clock of the node, is compared with the reference time. The local clock of the node is corrected on the basis of the comparison result. On the basis of the corrected local clock a transmit clock is determined to be used by the node for the current clock cycle.

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: In a network, a control node is connected to a plurality of network subscribers via a closed ring-shaped data path, wherein the network subscribers form a chain, starting from the control node, with a head subscriber as a termination for the chain. The ring-shaped data path transits through the network subscribers on an outbound route and an inbound route, wherein the network subscribers are designed to perform data interchange both on the outbound route and on the inbound route with data messages circulating on the ring-shaped data path. The control node is additionally designed such that it outputs data messages with an identifier on the data path, wherein the head subscriber has a filter function to use a prescribed identifier to block the further transport of data messages with the corresponding identifier on the inbound route following transit of data messages through the head subscriber on the outbound route.

Abstract: A data network comprises a master, a network distributor and a plurality of network users. The network distributor is connected to a master data path, a first and a second user data path. A method for transferring data telegrams in this data network includes the reception of a first master data telegram sent by the master through the network distributor, the compilation transfer of a first and a second transmission data telegram through the network distributor, and the reception of a first and a second reception data telegram through the network distributor. Further, the network distributor compiles a second master data telegram and transfers it to the master. In this connection, an access indicator of the second master data telegram represents accesses of the network user to the first master data telegram, the first and second transmission data telegrams as well as the first and second reception data telegrams.

Abstract: A network includes a first network participant connected via a first connection to a further network participant. The first network participant receives a data message containing information that a parameter must be set to a first value, via the first connection. The first network participant checks whether it is connected via a second connection to a still further network, and whether the parameter is not set to the first value in the second connection. In this case, the first network participant forwards the data message via the second connection, clearing down the second connection, and re-establishes the second connection, where the parameter for the second connection is set to the first value.

Abstract: A network subscriber comprises a plurality of individual functional units, each individual functional unit comprising an application interface. The network subscriber further comprises a network subscriber comprises at least a shared functional unit, a first interface for establishing a physical connection and a second interface for establishing a further physical connection.

Abstract: A method for operating a node in a communications network comprises the following steps: The node receives a reference time via the communications network. A transmit clock of the node, which was determined for an earlier clock cycle on the basis of a local clock of the node, is compared with the reference time. The local clock of the node is corrected on the basis of the comparison result. On the basis of the corrected local clock a transmit clock is determined to be used by the node for the current clock cycle.

Abstract: In a network, a control node is connected to a plurality of network subscribers via a closed ring-shaped data path, wherein the network subscribers form a chain, starting from the control node, with a head subscriber as a termination for the chain. The ring-shaped data path transits through the network subscribers on an outbound route and an inbound route, wherein the network subscribers are designed to perform data interchange both on the outbound route and on the inbound route with data messages circulating on the ring-shaped data path. The control node is additionally designed such that it outputs data messages with an identifier on the data path, wherein the head subscriber has a filter function to use a prescribed identifier to block the further transport of data messages with the corresponding identifier on the inbound route following transit of data messages through the head subscriber on the outbound route.

Abstract: A method for operating a network that has a network subscriber that is connected to a superordinate bus and to a subordinate bus comprises steps for the reception of a first superordinate data message by the network subscriber via the superordinate bus, the extraction of first data from the first superordinate data message by the network subscriber and for the transmission of a first subordinate data message by the network subscriber via the subordinate bus. In one case, the first subordinate data message comprises the first data.

Abstract: A data network comprises a master, a network distributor and a plurality of network users. The network distributor is connected to a master data path, a first and a second user data path. A method for transferring data telegrams in this data network includes the reception of a first master data telegram sent by the master through the network distributor, the compilation transfer of a first and a second transmission data telegram through the network distributor, and the reception of a first and a second reception data telegram through the network distributor. Further, the network distributor compiles a second master data telegram and transfers it to the master. In this connection, an access indicator of the second master data telegram represents accesses of the network user to the first master data telegram, the first and second transmission data telegrams as well as the first and second reception data telegrams.