Abstract: Method for transmitting data packets in an Ethernet automation network, wherein the method comprises receiving a first data packet having a first priority by a transmitter, starting a transmit operation to send the first data packet from the transmitter to a receiver, receiving a second data packet having a second priority at an instant in time by the transmitter, where the second priority is higher than the first priority, and where the second data packet is to be transmitted to the receiver. The method further comprises aborting the transmit operation of the first data packet within one of the data frames of the first data packet which is located in the transmit operation at the time of the reception of the second data packet, and thereupon transmitting the second data packet from the transmitter to the receiver.

Abstract: Upon reception of a message which is relevant to synchronization, the circuitry in a device forms a piece of reception-time information and this information is inserted into or appended to the received message and forwarded such that the reception-time information can be received by at least one synchronization application in the device. When a message is transmitted, the circuitry in the device forms a piece of transmission-time information, and this information is sent to at least one synchronization application initializing the message in the device. A fundamental advantage can be seen in that the economic outlay, particularly the outlay in terms of circuitry, for implementing the synchronization of the clocks and the determination of the communication-network or transmission-medium delay times, particularly on the basis of the IEEE standard 1588, m is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A method for redundant communication in a communication system having a plurality of communication networks connected to one another by at least one node, wherein data that originates from a first communication network is prevented from being transmitted back from the second the communication network into the first communication network as a result of information that is predefined before the transmission.

Abstract: The invention relates to a switching node comprising a dynamic address table in a data network, in addition to a method for creating a dynamic address table of this type for a switching node. The method comprises the following steps: receipt of a first data message with a source address at a port of the switching node; entry of the source address, details of the port and a counter initial value in a line of the address table that is assigned to the source address as the target address, whereby the current counter value indicates the validity of the entry and the current counter value is modified, if a second data message with the source address as the target address is received and the entry is valid.

Abstract: A method for transmitting real time data packets in a cyclic communication system, each transmission cycle having a first partial cycle (IRT-Z) for a real time communication portion and a second partial cycle (NRT-Z) for a non-real-time communication portion. The method includes determination (118) of a cycle number and processing of a transmission sequence of real time data packets in the first partial cycle. The transmission sequence is composed of one or more partial sequences (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and the composition depends on the cycle number.

Abstract: There is described a method for transmitting synchronization messages in a communication network, the communication network comprising a plurality of network nodes communicating with one another, each containing an internal clock, which is timed with a node clock frequency assigned to the respective network node. The synchronization messages transmitted in the communication network serve to synchronize the times of the internal clocks of the network nodes and contain the pulse counter status of a synchronization clock operating at a predefined synchronization clock frequency. The pulse counter status is estimated by each network node and updated in the synchronization message. Changes in the synchronization clock frequency are taken into account when estimating the pulse counter status.

Abstract: A processing of consistent data sets by asynchronous application of a subscriber in an isochronous, cyclical communication system is provided. Accordingly, by connecting a communication memory and a consistency, transmission and reception buffer, copying processes leading delay can be kept to a minimum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting a data telegram from a non-real-time domain to a real-time domain, comprising the following steps: generation of a non-real-time data telegram comprising a useful data zone, the data telegram containing a real-time or a non-real-time identifier in addition to a data telegram identifier (identifier i) in the useful data zone thereof when the real time identifier is provided; monitoring of the non-real-time data telegram for the presence of a real time identifier by the coupling unit if the real-time identifier is provided; transmission of the useful data and real-time identifier (identifier i) from the useful data zone of the non-real-time data telegram to a user interface of the coupling node; storage of the useful data in a storage zone of a communication memory which is associated with the identifier.

Abstract: A method for controlling runtime behavior of processes of an automation system is provided. A priority is assigned to each of the processes, wherein an operating system of the automation system assigns runtime to the processes as a function of their priority. A scheduling service monitors starting and ending of all processes, wherein the highest priority available in the operating system is assigned to the scheduling service. Metadata is assigned to at least one process, the data including at least one rule on the priority of the process. The scheduling service analyzes the metadata and registers the process for monitoring when starting a process to which metadata is assigned, wherein the scheduling service monitors the registered processes for compliance with the at least one rule per process, and wherein the scheduling service modifies the priorities of the registered processes, the at least one rule of which is in non-compliance, according to the rule.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synchronizing a communications cycle and a communications node in a network. The node is formed with devices for receiving a desired value for a time base of a communications cycle of the communications node in a communications link to an additional communications node of the network. The node also includes devices for determining a system deviation between the desired value and an actual value of the time base, and a device for generating a manipulated variable for correcting the time base in accordance with the system deviation.

Abstract: A method for receiving data messages in communications systems having redundant network paths. Received data of a peripheral representation or image is routed to a node along at least two different network paths. This makes it possible to store a consistent peripheral representation or image in a memory (12) of a node, if there is a disturbance in the data transmission along one network path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an isochronous, cyclic communication system, wherein one communication cycle can be subdivided into a first part for real-time communication and a second part for non-real-time communication. The communication system comprises subscribers and a memory is provided to store configuration data in each subscriber. The inventive method comprises the following steps: the communication system is operated with first configuration data for real-time communication; second configuration data is transmitted for real-time communication in a second part of one or several communication cycles; the second configuration data is stored in the memories of the subscribers; a transfer time indicating the moment in time when transfer occurs from the first configuration data to the second configuration data.

Abstract: A method and a system for transmitting data by means of a first data network (1) have first means for transmitting data in at least one first transmission cycle, the first transmission cycle being subdivided into a first area (4) for transmitting real-time-critical data and a second area (5) for transmitting non-real-time-critical data, and by means of a second data network (2) having second means for transmitting data in at least one second transmission cycle, the second transmission cycle being subdivided into a third area (7) for transmitting real-time-critical data and into a fourth area (8) for transmitting non-real-time-critical data, and with a switching unit (13) for transmitting real-time-critical data of the first area into the third area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synchronizing nodes of a communication system comprising the following steps: receipt of a first synchronization message by a first node, whereby the first synchronization message contains a desired receipt time by a first node; correction of a time base of the first node, based on a deviation between an actual receipt time, determined as a result of the base time, and the desired receipt time.

Abstract: A method for arbitrating access to a data bus among subscribers or bus devices (Tn 1,Tn 2, . . . ), wherein the bus devices are coupled by at least one arbitration ring (12; 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48). The method comprises the following steps: a) requesting access by a first bus device; b) checking whether a first signal, which indicates that the arbitration ring is enabled, is present at an input (16) of the first bus device; c) if the first signal is present, outputting (18) a second signal by the first bus device; d) checking whether, at the end of a predetermined time period, the first signal is still present at the input (16) of the first bus device; and e) if the first signal is still present at the end of the predetermined time period, accessing the data bus by the first bus device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing consistent data sets by asynchronous application of a subscriber in an isochronous, cyclical communication system. According to the invention, by connecting a communication memory and a consistency, transmission and reception buffer, copying processes leading ti delay can be kept to a minimum.

Abstract: A method for receiving data messages in communications systems having redundant network paths. Received data of a peripheral representation or image is routed to a node along at least two different network paths. This makes it possible to store a consistent peripheral representation or image in a memory (12) of a node, if there is a disturbance in the data transmission along one network path.

Abstract: A method for transmitting real time data packets in a cyclic communication system, each transmission cycle having a first partial cycle (IRT-Z) for a real time communication portion and a second partial cycle (NRT-Z) for a non-real-time communication portion. The method includes determination (118) of a cycle number and processing of a transmission sequence of real time data packets in the first partial cycle. The transmission sequence is composed of one or more partial sequences (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and the composition depends on the cycle number.

Abstract: A method and a subscriber (100) of a data network (102) including a command unit (116) for accessing the data network (102); an operating assembly for operating a plurality of applications (104, 106, 108, . . . ) that access a data bus (110) of the subscriber (100); a first writer for a first one of the applications to write at least one command structure (118) into an address space of a memory of the subscriber (100) via the data bus (110); a second writer for the first application to write a pointer (124) to the address space into an input register (126) of the command unit (116) via the data bus (110); an enabling assembly for enabling the command unit (116) to access the address space via the data bus (110) and to process the command structure (118); and a third writer for writing the pointer (124) into an output register (136, 130) that is assigned to the first application, once the subscriber (100) has processed the command structure (118).

Abstract: A method for arbitrating access to a data bus among subscribers or bus devices (Tn 1, Tn 2, . . . ), wherein the bus devices are coupled by at least one arbitration ring (12; 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48). The method comprises the following steps: a) requesting access by a first bus device; b) checking whether a first signal, which indicates that the arbitration ring is enabled, is present at an input (16) of the first bus device; c) if the first signal is present, outputting (18) a second signal by the first bus device; d) checking whether, at the end of a predetermined time period, the first signal is still present at the input (16) of the first bus device; and e) if the first signal is still present at the end of the predetermined time period, accessing the data bus by the first bus device.