US 5,307,463 AGranted

Programmable controller communication module

AssigneeAllen-Bradley Company, Inc.

InventorsCraig S. Hyatt, Emmanuel G. D. Hostria

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A module interfaces a programmable controller to several serial communication networks for the exchange of data carrying messages. A central processor controls the transfer of data between the module and other programmable controller components. The module has a separate port circuit for each of the networks permitting communication using different protocols. Messages received through one port circuit can be routed to another port circuit or other programmable controller components as specified by routing data stored in the module. The module also can be configured to detect when a given sequence of data is contained in a received message or to parse a section of data from the message. In these cases, an indication of whether the data sequence was found or the parsed data is routed to a designated output of the module.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In a programmable controller having a processor module and a number of functional modules located in a rack and electrically interconnected by a backplane of the rack;

a communication module for interfacing the programmable controller to external devices via a plurality of communication links, said communication module comprising:
a plurality of ports including a plurality of link ports with each link port coupling one of the communication links to the communication module, and a backplane port coupling the communication module to the backplane of the rack;
a mechanism separate from the programmable controller, by which a user of the programmable controller is able to provide for each link port a designation of one or more of said plurality of ports to which messages are to be sent;
a first memory means, connected to said mechanism, for storing the designation for each link port;
and
means for transferring the messages received through a given link port to one or more ports as defined by the designation stored in said first memory means for that given link port.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/987,104Filed 7 Dec 1992 · continuation
Priority: 8 Mar 1990
Granted: 26 Apr 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G06F 13/128
Where hardware is a sequential transfer control unit, e.g. microprocessor, peripheral processor or state-machine: for dedicated transfers to a network
G06F 13/387
Using universal interface adapter: for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters…
H04L 9/40
Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols: network security protocols
H04L 49/15
Packet switching elements: interconnection of switching modules