# US 6,067,612 A · Distributed processing type control system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 6,067,612 A
- Document ID: US6067612A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 09/111,763
- Filed: 1998-07-08
- Granted: 2000-05-23
- Earliest claimed: 1997-07-09
- Assignees: Denso Corporation
- Inventors: Akihiro Sasaki; Yasushi Kanda; Kazunori Sakai; Akihiro Tanaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6067612A

## CPC

- G05B 19/0421: {Multiprocessor system}
- G06F 15/17: using an input/output type connection, e.g. channel, I/O port
- G05B 2219/2221: Only common memory in host, leader, no local memory in follower, local controller
- G05B 2219/25032: CAN, canbus, controller area network bus
- G05B 2219/25265: Flash memory
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A relaying controller communicates with an external tool through a first communication path based on a first communication protocol and communicates with sub-controllers through a second communication path based on a second communication protocol, thus relaying communications between the external tool and the sub-controllers. The relaying controller includes a rewritable non-volatile memory having predetermined storage areas divided in correspondence with the sub-controllers. The relaying controller transmits, in response to a memory reading request from the sub-controller, a stored data in the corresponding storage area to the sub-controller through the second communication path, and writes, in response to a memory writing request from the sub-controller, a writing data received through the second communication path in the corresponding storage area. That is, the relaying controller executes accesses of the sub-controllers to the non-volatile memory.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A distributed processing type control system comprising:
a plurality of sub-controllers for controlling individually a plurality of local devices different from each other; and
a relaying controller including a rewritable non-volatile memory having predetermined storage areas divided in correspondence with the sub-controllers, the relaying controller being for communicating with an external tool through a first communication path based on a first communication protocol and for communicating with each of the sub-controllers through a second communication path based on a second communication protocol,
the relaying controller including data communication relaying means for executing, when receiving a data from the first communication path to be transmitted to the sub-controller, a data configuration conversion of the received data between the communication protocols to transmit the converted data to the second communication path, and for executing, when receiving a data from the second communication path to be transmitted to the external tool, a data configuration conversion of the received data between the communication protocols to transmit the converted data to the first communication path, and
the relaying controller including common non-volatile memory managing means for transmitting a stored data in the corresponding storage area of the non-volatile memory to the sub-controller through the second communication path when receiving a memory reading request from the sub-controller, and for writing, when receiving a memory writing request and a writing data from the sub-controller, the writing data in the corresponding storage area of the non-volatile memory.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The distributed processing type control system as in claim 1, wherein:
the relaying controller includes local control means for controlling a predetermined local device different from the local devices which is controlled by the sub-controllers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The distributed processing type control system as in claim 2, wherein:
the local control means is a microcomputer including the non-volatile memory therein.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The distributed processing type control system as in claim 1, wherein:
the relaying controller includes a first communication circuit connected to the first communication path and a second communication circuit connected to the sub-controllers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The distributed processing type control system as in claim 1, wherein:
the relaying controller includes a microcomputer having the non-volatile memory, and a first and second communication circuits connecting the microcomputer to the first and second communication paths, respectively; and
each of the sub-controllers includes a microcomputer having no non-volatile memory, and a communication circuit connecting the microcomputer to the second communication path.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The distributed processing type control system as in claim 5, wherein:
the microcomputer in the sub-controller uses data stored in the non-volatile memory in the microcomputer of the relaying controller.