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US 12,675,097 B2Granted
High availability networking device
AssigneeFisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
InventorsNeil Peterson, Gary Law, Alexandra Griffith, Scott J. Nicolet, Sergio Diaz, Mark Nixon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A networking device and networking method for use in industrial automation applications. The networking device includes redundant circuitry that can allow the networking device to continue normal operation in the event of a failure that occurs with hardware of the networking device. The networking device includes both primary and secondary network switch circuits, and associated components. The networking device can be an advanced physical layer (APL) switch that interfaces with APL field devices.
Claims20
A networking device, comprising:
- a primary network switch circuit;
- a secondary network switch circuit;
- a first physical layer circuit connected to the primary network switch circuit;
- a second physical layer circuit connected to the secondary network switch circuit;
- a first communication port connectable to a first field device;
- a second communication port connectable to a second field device;
- a first output control circuit connected to the first communication port, the first physical layer circuit, and the second physical layer circuit, the first output control circuit configured to selectively connect the first communication port to either the first physical layer circuit or the second physical layer circuit;
- a second output control circuit connected to the second communication port;
- and
- a controller connected to the primary network switch circuit, the secondary network switch circuit, the first output control circuit, and the second output control circuit, the controller comprising circuitry configured to:
- determine that a failure associated with the first physical layer circuit has occurred;
- and
- responsive to determining that the failure has occurred, operate the first output control circuit to route data between the first field device and the second physical layer circuit instead of the first physical layer circuit without disconnecting the first field device from the first communication port.
10 more elements
A method, comprising:
- establishing, via a communication port of a first networking device, a first connection between a field device and a first physical layer circuit that is connected to a primary network switch circuit of the first networking device;
- receiving, via the communication port of the first networking device, first data from the field device;
- routing, by the first networking device via the primary network switch circuit, the first data received from the field device to a second networking device;
- determining, by a processor of the first networking device, that a failure associated with the first connection between the field device and the first physical layer circuit of the first networking device has occurred;
- establishing, via the communication port of the first networking device, a second connection between the field device and a second physical layer circuit that is connected to a secondary network switch circuit of the first networking device responsive to determining that the failure has occurred;
- receiving, via the communication port of the first networking device, second data from the field device;
- and
- routing, by the first networking device via the secondary network switch circuit, the second data received from the field device to the second networking device.
5 more elements
A networking device, comprising:
- a primary network switch circuit;
- a secondary network switch circuit;
- a first physical layer circuit connected to the primary network switch circuit;
- a second physical layer circuit connected to the secondary network switch circuit;
- a communication port connectable to a field device;
- an output control circuit connected to the communication port, the first physical layer circuit, and the second physical layer circuit, the output control circuit configured to selectively connect the communication port to either the first physical layer circuit or the second physical layer circuit;
- and
- a controller connected to the primary network switch circuit, the secondary network switch circuit, and the output control circuit, the controller comprising circuitry configured to:
- determine that a failure associated with the first physical layer circuit has occurred;
- and
- responsive to determining that the failure has occurred, operate the output control circuit to route data between the field device and the second physical layer circuit without disconnecting the field device from the communication port.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.