US 5,960,174 A · Arbitration method for a communication network

Abstract

A communications network is used to couple weld controllers and different operator interface units together, regardless of their data structures. An arbitration system provides a means for one operator interface unit to communicate to a selected weld controller at a given period of time. The operator interface units have one of three modes of operation. These include database master, primary master, and secondary master. During setup of the communications network, the master devices are assigned a physical address that defines the its type and priority within the network. The database master is the only device which can automatically download data to a weld controller. It has the highest priority as a network arbiter. The primary master will act as the network abitrator in the absence of a database master. A secondary master must listen for an access grant from the current network arbiter, before initiating a message packet on the network. When no database or primary device exists on a network, the secondary device with the highest priority, as defined by its address during startup, assumes the role of network arbitrator.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system communications network comprising:

A. a plurality of master control devices coupled to said communications network, each of said master control devices having an application program for controlling communications on said network, some of said master controls having dissimilar data structures;
B. a plurality of slave devices coupled to said communications network, some of said slave devices having dissimilar data structures;
C. a network arbiter for controlling network traffic of the communications network at a given period of time, said network arbiter operatively chosen from one of said master control devices;
D. at least one of said master control devices functioning as a master database device for the network;
E. wherein said network arbiter is chosen from said master control devices on a basis of an arbitration priority assigned to said master control devices, with said master database device having the highest priority;
F. wherein each of said master control devices, through its application program, monitors the network for network traffic, and assumes control of the network as network arbiter if no master control device with a higher priority is active on the network;
and
G. wherein said master database device will always attempt to assume control of the network as network arbiter when said master database device requires control.

5 more elements

A system communications network for coupling a plurality of weld controllers, said network comprising:

A. a plurality of operator interface units coupled to said communications network, each of said operator interface units having an application program for controlling communications on said network, and a program for sending data having dissimilar data structures, said data for monitoring and controlling selected ones of said weld controllers;
B. a network arbiter for controlling network traffic of the communications network at a given period of time, said network arbiter operatively chosen from one of said operator interface units;
C. at least one of said operator interface units functioning as a master database device for the network;
D. wherein said network arbiter is chosen from said operator interface units on a basis of an arbitration priority assigned to said operator interface units, with said master database device having the highest priority;
E. wherein each of said operator interface unit, through its application program, monitors the network for network traffic, and assumes control of the network as network arbiter if no operator interface unit with a higher priority is active on the network;
and
G. wherein said master database device will always attempt to assume control of the network as network arbiter when said master database device requires control.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Arbitration method for a communication network

Life of this patent

Arbitration method for a communication network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18