Automation system having a subscriber structure, distributor and method for telegram transmission

A method for telegram transmission in an automation system having a plurality of subscribers and a ring-shaped data bus, wherein:

• the subscribers comprise a first primary unit, a first distributor, a second primary unit, a second distributor and at least a secondary unit;
• wherein the first primary unit and the second primary unit each comprise a controller which generates telegrams, wherein the telegrams each comprise a control data block having an individual identifier and a user data block,
• wherein the first distributor comprises a switching device, a first transmitting/receiving device and a second transmitting/receiving device, wherein the switching device is connected to the controller of the first primary unit and to the first and second transmitting/receiving devices, to transmit the telegrams between the controller of the first primary unit, the first transmitting/receiving device and the second transmitting/receiving device after evaluating individual identifiers contained in the telegrams on the basis of a first switching control set defined in the switching device, and
• wherein the second distributor comprises a switching device, a first transmitting/receiving device and a second transmitting/receiving device, wherein the switching device is connected to a controller of the second primary unit and the first and second transmitting/receiving device to transmit the telegrams between the controller of the second primary unit, the first transmitting/receiving device and the second transmitting/receiving device after evaluating individual identifiers contained in the telegrams on the basis of the second switching control set defined in the switching device;
• wherein the method comprises:
• the first transmitting/receiving device of the first distributor and the second distributor being connected via the ring-shaped data bus to transmit the telegrams between the first transmitting/receiving devices of the first distributor and of the second distributor, and
• the second transmitting/receiving devices of the first distributor and of the second distributor being connected via the ring-shaped data bus to transmit the telegrams between the second transmitting/receiving device of the first distributor and of the second distributor;
• wherein the secondary unit comprises a processing device, a first transmitting/receiving device and a second transmitting/receiving device, the processing device being connected to the first transmitting/receiving device and the second transmitting/receiving device to process said telegrams exchanged between the first transmitting/receiving device and the second transmitting/receiving device, the first transmitting/receiving device being connected to the data bus to exchange the telegrams on the data bus with the first transmitting/receiving device of the first distributor, and the second transmitting/receiving device being connected to the data bus to exchange the telegrams on the data bus with the first transmitting/receiving device of the second distributor;
• and further wherein, in a first operating mode:
• the first switching control set defined in the switching device of the first distributor forwards said telegrams received from the first primary unit to the first transmitting/receiving device the first switching control set defined in the switching device of the first distributor forwards the telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first primary unit, and the second switching control set defined in the switching device of the second distributor forwards first telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second transmitting/receiving device;
• and
• wherein, in a second operating mode;
• the second switching control set defined in the switching device of the second distributor forwards said telegrams received by the second primary unit to the second transmitting/receiving device, the second switching control set defined in the switching device of the second distributor forwards the telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second primary unit, and the first switching control set defined in the switching device of the first distributor forwards the telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first transmitting/receiving device.

An automation system comprising:

• a plurality of subscribers, wherein each of the subscribers comprises a first primary unit, a first distributor, a second primary unit, a second distributor and at least a secondary unit;
• first transmitting/receiving devices of the first distributor and first transmitting/receiving devices of the second distributor, which are connected via a ring-shaped data bus;
• and
• second transmitting/receiving devices of the first distributor and second transmitting/receiving devices of the second distributor, which are connected via the ring-shaped data bus;
• wherein, in a first mode of operation:
• the first distributor forwards telegrams received from the first primary unit to the first transmitting/receiving device and furthermore, the first distributor forwards said telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first primary unit, and
• the second distributor forwards first telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second transmitting/receiving device;
• and
• wherein, in a second mode of operation:
• the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the second primary unit to the second transmitting/receiving device and furthermore, the second distributor forwards said telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second primary unit, and
• the first distributor also forwards the telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first transmitting/receiving device.