Abstract: An automation system has a plurality of subscribers including a first primary unit, first distributor, second primary 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 primary unit to the first transmitting/receiving device, and forwards telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first primary 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 primary unit to the second transmitting/receiving device, and the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second primary unit.

Abstract: An automation network comprises at least one primary subscriber, at least one switch, and at least one network subscriber. The primary subscriber comprises primary ports, the switch comprises switching ports, and the subscriber comprises subscriber ports, each comprising a transmitter and a receiver. The primary subscriber is configured to output first and second telegrams to first and second switching ports via first and second primary ports and first and second primary communication paths. The switch is configured to forward the first telegram to a first port of a network subscriber via a first subscriber communication path, and to forward the second telegram to a second port of a network subscriber via a second subscriber communication path. In an error mode, the switch and network subscriber are configured to return the first and/or second telegrams to the primary subscriber via the first and/or second primary 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 data communication between subscribers of an automation system includes a first passive subscriber and a second passive subscriber receiving a write request sent by an active subscriber, determining a first transmission time point for transmitting a first reply message by the first passive subscriber, transmitting the first reply message at the first transmission time, and receiving the first reply message. The method also includes determining a second transmission time for transmitting a second reply message by the second passive subscriber, transmitting the second reply message at the second transmission time, receiving the second reply message, and interpreting the first reply message and the second reply message as segments of a data packet.

Abstract: In a data-transmission system, a first amount of data can be transmitted in each transmission cycle. A data generator provides a second amount of data for each transmission cycle. The first amount of data exceeds the second amount of data by a percentage. The data generator transmits the data provided by the data generator to a data processor at the data transmission rate of the data-transmission channel. The data processor processes the data received from the data generator on the data-transmission channel, delayed by the number of transmission cycles required for the data generator to respond to a command from the data processor. The data processor indicates a transmission cycle as faulty with the aid of a repeat command if an error has occurred in the data transmission, and the data generator repeats the transmission of the data of the cycle indicated as faulty upon receiving the repeat command.

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 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: 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 network distributor has a plurality of input-output ports, a processor unit, and a memory unit. The ports connect network subscribers via a data line network, where the network subscribers include protocol subscribers to process telegrams as protocol telegrams. The processor unit receives telegrams via one port and outputs telegrams via another port, which is stored in a routing table in the memory unit. The processor unit further determines whether a telegram is a protocol telegram received via a port for which no port identifier is stored in the memory unit, 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 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: 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.

Abstract: In an automation system, a protocol converter is provided between a first network and a second network for converting safety-related messages between the first and second networks that use different network protocols for message exchange. In the protocol converter, a single-channel filter connected to a single-channel interface determines messages having a first safety communication protocol from messages received from the interface over the first network and messages having a second safety communication protocol received over the second network. An at least dual-channel safety module connected to the single-channel filter then converts the messages with the first safety communication protocol determined by the single-channel filter into messages with the second safety communication protocol, or converts the messages with the second safety communication protocol determined by the single-channel filter into messages with the first safety communication protocol.

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.

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.

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: 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.

Abstract: In an automation system, a protocol converter is provided between a first network and a second network for converting safety-related messages between the first and second networks that use different network protocols for message exchange. In the protocol converter, a single-channel filter connected to a single-channel interface determines messages having a first safety communication protocol from messages received from the interface over the first network and messages having a second safety communication protocol received over the second network. An at least dual-channel safety module connected to the single-channel filter then converts the messages with the first safety communication protocol determined by the single-channel filter into messages with the second safety communication protocol, or converts the messages with the second safety communication protocol determined by the single-channel filter into messages with the first safety communication protocol.

Abstract: A base module for a switch-cabinet system, having a plurality of communication units and connection elements for a plurality of functional modules. The connection elements are configured to engage in module-connection elements of functional modules. Each connection element has at least one data connection. Each communication unit is in each case connected to at least one data connection of a connection element. The communication units are connected to one another by a data bus. The base module has a first field-bus connection. The data bus is connected to the first field-bus connection to connect the communication units to a field-bus.

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.

Abstract: A method for data communication between subscribers of an automation system includes a first passive subscriber and a second passive subscriber receiving a write request sent by an active subscriber, determining a first transmission time point for transmitting a first reply message by the first passive subscriber, transmitting the first reply message at the first transmission time, and receiving the first reply message. The method also includes determining a second transmission time for transmitting a second reply message by the second passive subscriber, transmitting the second reply message at the second transmission time, receiving the second reply message, and interpreting the first reply message and the second reply message as segments of a data packet.