Fiber optic control network and related method

A method for configuring and operating a control network, comprising the steps of:

• connecting a plurality of network nodes in a loop configuration using at least one fiber optic ring;
• configuring a first plurality of said network nodes as master nodes;
• configuring a second plurality of network nodes as slave nodes;
• and
• sharing concurrent control by said master nodes over said network nodes,
• wherein each of said master nodes controls a distinct, non-overlapping subset of said slave nodes, and
• wherein said master nodes share a common circuit path of said at least one fiber optic ring for transmission of master commands to the controlled slave nodes.

A fiber optic control network, comprising:

• a plurality of master nodes;
• a plurality of slave nodes;
• and
• a plurality of optical fiber sections connecting said master nodes and said slave nodes in a loop configuration, said optical fiber sections collectively comprising a fiber optic ring;
• wherein each of said master nodes is responsible for controlling one or more of said slave nodes;
• wherein said master nodes share concurrent control of said slave nodes over said fiber optic ring by alternating communications with one another over a common circuit path of said fiber optic ring such that each master node communicates with its slave nodes over said common circuit path without collisions by the other master nodes;
• and
• wherein each master node is responsible for controlling a distinct, non-overlapping subset of said slave nodes.

A fiber optic control network, comprising:

• a plurality of master nodes;
• a plurality of slave nodes;
• a plurality of optical fiber sections connecting said master nodes and said slave nodes in a loop configuration, said optical fiber sections collectively comprising a fiber optic ring;
• and
• a memory coherency fiber connected to said master nodes, whereby said master nodes maintain substantially identical data in their respective volatile memories;
• wherein each of said master nodes is responsible for controlling one or more of said slave nodes;
• wherein said master nodes share concurrent control of said slave nodes over said fiber optic ring by alternating communications with one another such that each master node communicates with its slave nodes without collisions by the other master nodes;
• and
• wherein, upon detection of a failure of one of said master nodes, some or all of the failed master node's responsibilities are automatically taken over by a different master node, said different master node located adjacent to the failed master node in the fiber optic ring.