Abstract: A method includes receiving inputs including a serial communication protocol specification and serial port settings associated with a serial communication channel. The method includes determining a transmission speed, a request size, and a response size of the serial communication channel based on the inputs. The method includes determining a timeout value corresponding to the serial communication channel based on the transmission speed, the request size, and the response size. The method includes automatically setting a timeout parameter for the serial communication using the determined timeout value. The timeout parameter defines a length of time between a start time of a transmission of a request through the serial communication channel and an end time of waiting to receive a response. The method includes in response to not receiving the response before the end time, determining that a first device is not connected to a second device through the serial communication channel.

Abstract: A communication method includes receiving data messages at a specified one of a plurality of communication devices in a ring network and detecting a status of the ring network. The communication method also includes changing a port of the specified communication device from a blocking state to a forwarding state in response to detecting a failure in the ring network. The communication method further includes filtering and forwarding the received data messages in the ring network, where the received data messages that originated from the specified communication device are blocked from further forwarding at the specified communication device. In addition, the communication method includes changing the port of the specified communication device from the forwarding state to the blocking state in response to detecting a recovery of the ring network.

Abstract: A system includes a remote terminal unit (RTU) and a portable storage medium (PSM), such as a secure digital (SD) card. The RTU includes processing circuitry. The RTU includes a portable storage interface configured to physically connect to the PSM and electrically couple the PSM to the processing circuitry. The RTU includes on-chip memory. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that the PSM is coupled to the processing circuitry and access a specified folder of the PSM. The processing circuitry is configured to: in response to determining that the PSM stores function code in the specified folder, perform a specified function corresponding to the function code by executing the function code.

Abstract: A system includes a remote terminal unit (RTU) and a portable storage medium (PSM), such as a secure digital (SD) card. The RTU includes processing circuitry. The RTU includes a portable storage interface configured to physically connect to the PSM and electrically couple the PSM to the processing circuitry. The RTU includes on-chip memory. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that the PSM is coupled to the processing circuitry and access a specified folder of the PSM. The processing circuitry is configured to: in response to determining that the PSM stores function code in the specified folder, perform a specified function corresponding to the function code by executing the function code.

Abstract: A communication method includes receiving data messages at a specified one of a plurality of communication devices in a ring network and detecting a status of the ring network. The communication method also includes changing a port of the specified communication device from a blocking state to a forwarding state in response to detecting a failure in the ring network. The communication method further includes filtering and forwarding the received data messages in the ring network, where the received data messages that originated from the specified communication device are blocked from further forwarding at the specified communication device. In addition, the communication method includes changing the port of the specified communication device from the forwarding state to the blocking state in response to detecting a recovery of the ring network.

Abstract: A method includes receiving inputs including a serial communication protocol specification and serial port settings associated with a serial communication channel. The method includes determining a transmission speed, a request size, and a response size of the serial communication channel based on the inputs. The method includes determining a timeout value corresponding to the serial communication channel based on the transmission speed, the request size, and the response size. The method includes automatically setting a timeout parameter for the serial communication using the determined timeout value. The timeout parameter defines a length of time between a start time of a transmission of a request through the serial communication channel and an end time of waiting to receive a response. The method includes in response to not receiving the response before the end time, determining that a first device is not connected to a second device through the serial communication channel.