Abstract: A network for providing sensing and control using cells having distributed intelligence. A link between a first cell and a second cell is established by assigning some cells as repeaters. A first packet is modified with the ID of the cells that rebroadcast the packet as it makes its way in the network from the first cell to the second cell. The second cell returns a packet causing cells in the link to be assigned as repeaters.

Abstract: A cell for use in a network which provides sensing, control and communications. Each cell, as part of its manufacturing process, includes a unique 48-bit identification number. A terminal on the cell enables the broadcast of this unique number onto the network during initialization of the network so that each cell can be identified. The input/output section of each cell communicates with the plurality of processors in the cell allowing one processor to interpret messages received from the network without interrupts of functions performed by other processors.

Abstract: A general purpose programmable communications interface designed to support a wide variety of serial synchronous and asynchronous communication protocols. A universal protocol communications (UPC) interface is designed to operate on a VME bus in conjunction with a CPU board which contains the application software that utilizes the communications capabilities of the UPC interface. Per channel DMA is available on input/output lines of the interface together with bit level control for message processing so that a variety of bit oriented communications protocols may be supported by simple reconfiguration of the receiver/transmitter of the programmable UPC interface. In a preferred embodiment, a dynamically variable bit length shift register is used to organize the received and transmitted data into serial packets of the appropriate size on a per channel basis independent of the actual width of the shift register.

Abstract: A network for providing sensing, communications and control is described. A plurality of intelligent cells each of which comprises an integrated circuit having a processor and input/output section are coupled to the network. Each of the programmable cells receives when manufactured a unique identification number (48 bits) which remains permanently within the cell. The cells can be coupled to different media such as power lines, twisted, pair, radio frequency, infrared ultrasonic, optical coaxial, etc., to form a network. The preferred embodiment of the cell includes a multiprocessor and multiple I/O subsections where any of the processors can communicate with any of the I/O subsections. This permits the continual execution of a program without potential interruptions caused by interfacing with the I/O section. The I/O section includes programmable A-to-D and programmable D-to-A converters as well as other circuits for other modes of operation.

Abstract: A network for sensing, communicating and controlling employing a plurality of cells which communicate through packets. First cells are assigned an announcer function, others a listener function with at least one announcer or listener cell also performing the function of repeating at least some of the packets. The cells are organized into groups, each group being assigned a group function. Group identification numbers are included in the packets to allow the cells for a particular group to identify packets intended for it.

Abstract: A cell for a network which provides for sensing of conditions, communicating messages and controlling objects through messages encoded into segments of six bit codes each containing 3 binary ones and 3 binary zeros. The messages begin with one predetermined code which provides bit synchronization followed by a second predetermined code which provides byte synchronization.

Abstract: A network for sensing, communcating and controlling including a plurality of cells. Each cell is identified by a permanent, unique identification number. Groups of cells are programmed to perform group functions and are assigned group identification numbers. Communication is performed via a medium using the cell identification numbers and group identification numbers.