US 7,742,434 B2Granted

Ethernet chaining method

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorMatthew Allen Nelson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method for interconnecting modules using a local area network daisy chained architecture is disclosed. The architecture includes point-to-point connections between the module and the two modules preceding and/or the two modules following such module in the chain. This architecture allows the chain to be extended and for modules to be removed from the chain without interrupting service to the other modules. A microprocessor and additional Ethernet port provide an additional gateway for connection to an external device.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A local area network comprising:

a plurality of modules interconnected by a plurality of point-to-point links to form a first daisy chain, in which all of the modules are interconnected, and second and third daisy chains, in each of which less than all of the plurality of modules are interconnected so that each of the second and third daisy chains is partially redundant to the first daisy chain,
each of the plurality of modules including a multi-port switch capable of connecting the module, through first and second ports, to two of the plurality of modules preceding the module in the network, and, through third and fourth ports, to two of the plurality of modules following the module in the network,
the plurality of modules comprising:
a first end module, a second end module and a plurality of modules intermediate the first and second end modules,
the first end module being connected to two intermediate modules following the first end module in the network by two point-to-point links extending directly between a port of the multi-port switch of the first end module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two following intermediate modules,
the second end module being connected to two intermediate modules preceding the second end module in the network by two point-to-point links extending directly between a port of the multi-port switch of the second end module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two preceding intermediate modules,
each of the plurality of intermediate modules being connected (a) to two modules preceding and at least one module following the module in the network by at least three point-to-point links extending respectively between at least three ports of the multi-port switch of the intermediate module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two preceding and at least one following modules, and/or (b) to two modules following and at least one module preceding the intermediate module in the network by at least three point-to-point links extending respectively between at least three ports of the multi-port switch of the intermediate module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two following and at least one preceding modules,
whereby the first and second or third daisy chains of modules can be extended and/or each of the plurality of modules can fail and/or be removed, one at a time, from the network and replaced without affecting the operation of the network.

5 more elements

An Ethernet comprising:

a plurality of modules connected together to form a first daisy chain, in which all of the modules are interconnected, and second and third daisy chains, in each of which less than all of the plurality of modules are interconnected so that each of the second and third daisy chains is partially redundant to the first daisy chain,
each of the plurality of modules having at least two modules of the plurality of modules preceding said module in the Ethernet and/or at least two modules of the plurality of modules following the module in the Ethernet,
each of the plurality of modules including a multi-port switch capable of connecting the module, through first and second ports, to two of the plurality of modules preceding the module in the network, and, through third and fourth ports, to two of the plurality of modules following the module in the network,
the plurality of modules comprising:
a first end module, a second end module and a plurality of modules intermediate the first and second end modules,
the first end module being connected to two intermediate modules following the first end module in the network by two point-to-point links extending directly between a port of the multi-port switch of the first end module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two following intermediate modules,
the second end module being connected to two intermediate modules preceding the second end module in the network by two point-to-point links extending directly between a port of the multi-port switch of the second end module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two preceding intermediate modules,
each of the plurality of intermediate modules being connected (a) to two modules preceding and at least one module following the intermediate module in the Ethernet by at least three point-to-point links extending respectively between at least three ports of the multi-port switch of the intermediate module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two preceding and at least one following intermediate modules, and/or (b) to the two modules following and at least one module preceding the intermediate module in the Ethernet by at least three point-to-point links extending respectively between at least three ports of the multi-port switch of the intermediate module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two following and at least one preceding intermediate modules,
whereby the first and second or third daisy chains of modules can be extended and/or each of the plurality of modules can fail and/or be removed, one at a time, from the Ethernet and replaced without affecting the operation of the Ethernet.

6 more elements

A method of interconnecting modules to form a local area network comprising a plurality of modules and a plurality of point-to-point links extending between the plurality of modules so as to interconnect the modules to form a first daisy chain, in which all of the modules are interconnected, and second and third daisy chains, in each of which less than all of the plurality of modules are interconnected so that each of the second and third daisy chains is partially redundant to the first daisy chain, the plurality of modules comprising:

a first end module, a second end module and a plurality of modules intermediate the first and second end modules, the method comprising the steps of:
connecting the first end module to two intermediate modules following the first end module in the network by two point-to-point links extending directly between a port of the multi-port switch of the first end module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two following intermediate modules,
connecting the second end module to two intermediate modules preceding the second end module in the network by two point-to-point links extending directly between a port of the multi-port switch of the second end module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two preceding intermediate modules,
connecting each of the plurality of intermediate modules to two modules preceding and at least one module following the module in the daisy chain network by at least three point-to-point links extending respectively between at least three ports of the multi-port switch of the intermediate module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two preceding and at least one following intermediate modules, and/or
connecting each of the plurality of intermediate modules to the two modules following and at least one module preceding the module in the daisy chain network by at least three point-to-point links extending respectively between at least three ports of the multi-port switch of the intermediate module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two following and at least one preceding intermediate modules
whereby the first and second or third daisy chains of modules can be extended and/or each of the plurality of modules can fail and/or be removed, one at a time, from the network and replaced without affecting the operation of the network.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A local area network comprising:

a plurality of modules interconnected by a plurality of point-to-point links to form a first daisy chain, in which all of the modules are interconnected, and second and third daisy chains, in each of which less than all of the plurality of modules are interconnected so that each of the second and third daisy chains is partially redundant to the first daisy chain,
each of the plurality of modules including a multi-port switch capable of connecting the module, through first and second ports, to two of the plurality of modules preceding the module in the network, and, through third and fourth ports, to two of the plurality of modules following the module in the network,
the plurality of modules comprising:
a first end module, a second end module and a plurality of modules intermediate the first and second end modules,
the first end module being connected to two intermediate modules following the first end module in the network by two point-to-point links extending directly between a port of the multi-port switch of the first end module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two following intermediate modules,
the second end module being connected to two intermediate modules preceding the second end module in the network by two point-to-point links extending directly between a port of the multi-port switch of the second end module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two preceding intermediate modules,
each of the plurality of intermediate modules being connected (a) to two modules preceding and at least one module following the module in the network by at least three point-to-point links extending respectively between at least three ports of the multi-port switch of the intermediate module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two preceding and at least one following modules, and/or (b) to two modules following and at least one module preceding the intermediate module in the network by at least three point-to-point links extending respectively between at least three ports of the multi-port switch of the intermediate module and a port of each of the respective multi-port switches of the two following and at least one preceding modules,
whereby the first and second or third daisy chains of modules can be extended and/or each of the plurality of modules can fail and/or be removed, one at a time, from the network and replaced without affecting the operation of the network.

5 more elements