An intelligent current distribution system, comprising
- a current distribution cable (3) for supplying current to loads (31);
- a message communication bus (17) for controlling the current supply;
- a plurality of predefined control messages for performing a plurality of predefined functions, each control message including specified data for performing a predefined function;
- intelligent contact sockets (1,2) connected to the current distribution cable (3) and message communication bus (17);
- output connectors (8/20) included in a plurality or all of the sockets (1,2) for supplying current to the loads (31);
- input connectors (10) included in a plurality or all of the sockets (1,2) for inputting said control messages into the system;
- switches (18a) included in a plurality or all of the sockets (1,2) for distributing current to the output connectors (8/20) in a controlled manner;
- control electronics (19) included in each socket for receiving and transmitting various messages and for controlling the switches (18a) on the basis of the control messages received from the communication bus (17) or from the socket input connector (10), the control electronics (19) comprising a basic program (25) which is similar in said plurality or all of the sockets and is capable to perform all desired functions of any of said sockets;
- and is capable to perform all desired functions of any of said sockets;
- and a programmable behave program (26) which controls the basic program such that the basic program performs only the functions preselected to be performed by the socket containing the behave program;
- wherein
- any of the sockets or of a plurality of the sockets is arranged to control or to be controlled by at least one other socket of said sockets with direct communication between the sockets via the bus, without intermediation of a central control unit, to perform at least a portion of desired socket specific functions of the controlled socket;
- at least a portion of the predefined control messages are provided with function identification addresses and are received from the communication bus (17) by a plurality or all of the sockets (1,2);
- the behave program (26) of each socket is provided with one or more function control programs to perform one or more of the predefined functions upon receipt and identification of corresponding predefined control message;
- each individual control message is identified on the basis of said function identification address for performing the corresponding function only by the sockets (1,2) having in their behave program (26) such a function control program which performs the function corresponding to the addressed predefined function;
- each or several of said sockets (1,2) are provided with means (27, 28, 29) for transmitting at least one of the plurality of the predefined control messages to the communication bust (17) for receipt by the other sockets (1,2);
- whereby the system is controlled by a net-like controller composed of said plurality or all of the sockets (1,2) such that any of the sockets which is transmitting is temporarily a master controller while any other of the sockets which is receiving is a slave controller, the mutual relationship between master and slave controllers being automatically switchable upon change of their relation to transmission and receipt of the control message.