Automation network and method for transmitting data in an automation network

A method for transmitting data in an automation network comprising:

• at least one primary subscriber,
• at least one switch, and
• at least one network subscriber;
• wherein the primary subscriber comprises primary ports, the switch comprises switching ports, and the network subscriber comprises subscriber ports, each of which ports comprises a transmitter configured for transmitting telegrams and a receiver configured for receiving telegrams,
• wherein the transmitter of a first of the primary ports is connected to the receiver of a first of the switching ports via a first primary communication path and the transmitter of a second of the switching ports is connected to the receiver of a second of the primary ports via the first primary communication path,
• wherein the transmitter of the second primary port is connected to the receiver of the second switching port via a second primary communication path, and the transmitter of the first switching port is connected to the receiver of the first primary port via the second primary communication path to embody a first dual ring structure,
• wherein the transmitter of a third of the switching ports is connected to the receiver of a first of the subscriber ports via a first subscriber communication path and the transmitter of a second of the subscriber ports is connected to the receiver of a fourth of the switching ports via the first subscriber communication path, and
• wherein the transmitter of the fourth switching port is connected to the receiver of the second subscriber port via a second subscriber communication path and the transmitter of the first subscriber port is connected to the receiver of the third switching port via the second subscriber communication path to embody a second dual ring structure;
• wherein, in the method:
• the primary subscriber sends two telegrams based on the same data packet,
• a first of the two telegrams is output to the switch via the transmitter of the first primary port and via the first primary communication path, and a second of the two telegrams is output to the switch via the transmitter of the second primary port and via the second primary communication path,
• the switch receives the first telegram via the receiver of the first switching port and forwards the first telegram to the receiver of the first subscriber port via the transmitter of the third switching port and via the first subscriber communication path,
• after processing on the fly, the network subscriber forwards the first telegram via the transmitter of the second subscriber port and via the first subscriber communication path to the receiver of the fourth switching port,
• the switch forwards the first telegram received via the receiver of the fourth switching port to the receiver of the second primary port, via the transmitter of the second switching port and via the first primary communication path,
• the switch receives the second telegram via the receiver of the second switching port and forwards the second telegram to the receiver of the second subscriber port via the transmitter of the fourth switching port via the second subscriber communication path,
• the network subscriber forwards the second telegram to the receiver of the third switching port via the transmitter of the first subscriber port, via the second subscriber communication path, and
• the switch forwards the second telegram received via the receiver of the third switching port to the receiver of the first primary port, via the transmitter of the first switching port and via the second primary communication path;
• and
• wherein the switch and the network subscriber are configured to:
• return the first telegram to the primary subscriber when in an error mode, so that the primary subscriber receives the first telegram via the receiver of the first primary port, and/or
• return the second telegram to the primary subscriber when in an error mode, so that the primary subscriber receives the second telegram via the receiver of the second primary port.

A method for transmitting data in an automation network for an error mode, wherein the automation network comprises:

• at least one primary subscriber,
• at least one switch, and
• at least one network subscriber,
• wherein the primary subscriber comprises primary ports, the switch comprises switching ports, and the network subscriber comprises subscriber ports, each of the ports comprising a transmitter and a receiver;
• wherein, in the method:
• the primary subscriber is configured to output a first telegram to a first of the switching ports via a first of the primary ports and a first primary communication path, and to output a second telegram to a second of the switching ports via a second of the primary ports and a second primary communication path, and
• the switch is configured to forward the first telegram to a first of the subscriber ports via a first subscriber communication path, and to forward the second telegram to a second of the subscriber ports via a second subscriber communication path, and
• wherein, in an error mode, the switch and the network subscriber are configured to:
• return the first telegram to the primary subscriber such that the primary subscriber receives the first telegram via the first primary port, and/or
• return the second telegram to the primary subscriber such that the primary subscriber receives the second telegram via the second primary port.