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US 8,195,844 B2Granted
Systems, devices, and/or methods for managing communications
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsTemple L. Fulton, Steven M. Hausman, William K. Bryant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, which can comprise a programmable logic controller (PLC). The system can comprise a serial communications port connected to the PLC. In certain exemplary embodiments, the system can comprise a controller adapted to enable a customer application program to access and control the serial communications port.
Claims18
A system, comprising:
- a controller adapted to:
- provide a start condition system function that allows a user to define a start condition via a set of start condition parameters, said set of start condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of a beginning of a message transmitted via a serial communications port connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC), said message preceded by a plurality of predetermined sequential start characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential start characters one of said set of start condition parameters, wherein the transmitted message includes the sequential start characters, and wherein the predetermined sequential start characters determine whether the message is received;
- provide an end condition system function that allows a user to define an end condition via a set of end condition parameters, said set of end condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of an end of said message, said message followed by a plurality of predetermined sequential end characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential end characters one of said set of end condition parameters, and
- wherein said controller is adapted to permit a customer to specify multiple, different character sequences, that include don't-care characters, to satisfy a series of different start and/or end conditions;
- and
- wherein a don't care character is a set of bits adapted to represent a symbol indicative of a lack of preference for any particular alternative of a predetermined set of alternatives.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- via a controller, enabling a customer application program to access and control a serial communications port connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC), said controller adapted to:
- provide a system function that allows a user to define a start condition via a set of start condition parameters, said set of start condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of a beginning of a message transmitted via said communications port, said message preceded by a plurality of predetermined sequential characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential characters one of said set of start condition parameters, wherein the transmitted message includes the sequential start characters, and wherein the predetermined sequential start characters determine whether the message is received;
- provide a system function that allows a user to define an end condition via a set of end condition parameters, said set of end condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of an end of said message, said message followed by a plurality of predetermined sequential characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential characters one of said set of end condition parameters;
- and
- wherein said controller is adapted to permit a customer to specify multiple, different character sequences, that include don't-care characters, to satisfy a series of different start and/or end conditions;
- and
- wherein a don't care character is a set of bits adapted to represent a symbol indicative of a lack of preference for any particular alternative of a predetermined set of alternatives.
4 more elements
A computer-readable medium comprising
- computer-implementable instructions for activities comprising:
- via a controller, enabling a customer application program to access and control a serial communications port connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC), said controller adapted to:
- provide a system function that allows a user to define a start condition via a set of start condition parameters, said set of start condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of a beginning of a message transmitted via said communications port, said message preceded by a plurality of predetermined sequential characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential characters one of said set of start condition parameters, wherein the transmitted message includes the sequential start characters, and wherein the predetermined sequential start characters determine whether the message is received;
- and
- provide a system function that allows a user to define an end condition via a set of end condition parameters, said set of end condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of an end of said message, said message followed by a plurality of predetermined sequential characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential characters one of said set of end condition parameters;
- and
- wherein said controller is adapted to permit a customer to specify multiple, different character sequences, that include don't-care characters, to satisfy a series of different start and/or end conditions;
- and
- wherein a don't care character is a set of bits adapted to represent a symbol indicative of a lack of preference for any particular alternative of a predetermined set of alternatives.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.