Abstract: A method of configuring a communication network including a network device includes obtaining a first parameter associated with a predetermined topological characteristic of the communication network, a second parameter associated with a communication protocol of the communication network and a third parameter associated with a performance characteristic of the communication network, and calculating a connection timeout value based on the first parameter, the second parameter and the third parameter. The network device is configured to determine whether a communication timeout has occurred on the communication network based on the connection timeout value. Calculating the connection timeout value may include calculating a sum of the first parameter, the second parameter and the third parameter.

Abstract: A networking system is discussed. The system may be used for industrial networks, where deterministic behavior is often valued. Bounded message travel times may be achieved for a first set of network traffic. Additional traffic may be routed over the networking system without interfering with the message travel times associated with the first set of network traffic. Systems and methods for assigning priority to various sets of network traffic are discussed.

Abstract: An enhanced synchronized communication device within a control system may allow output data delivered to various input/output (I/O) devices to be synchronized to the time at which the output data has been generated by a programmable logic controller (PLC). In this scheme, a central processing unit (CPU) associated with the PLC may generate and transmit output data to the enhanced synchronized communication device. When the output data arrives at the enhanced synchronized communication device, the enhanced synchronized communication device may associate the output data to a trigger mechanism (e.g., the application trigger feature of Common Industrial Protocol, etc.) for immediately triggering the transfer of the output data to the I/O devices. This process may remove possible jitter associated with output data delivery in control systems.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media support diagnosing a communications network using a network protocol that ensures a loop-free topology to prevent bridge loops. One of the network devices is identified as a selected device in a network ring, where the selected device interacts with the network ring through first and second ports. The values of some of the parameters of the selected device are modified to be distinguishable from that of any network device in the ring, and diagnostics about the functioning of the network protocol are then performed to obtain state information about the first and second ports. When one of the ports is determined to be in the blocking state, network redundancy for the network ring is verified. However, when neither of the ports is not in the blocking state, a redundancy problem may be detected.