Method, system, and apparatus for communicating using multiple controllers
AssigneeGE Intelligent Platforms, Inc.
InventorsWilliam H. Lueckenbach, Giovanni Tonno, Michael Yoensky, Gary Pratt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Operating a control system includes repeatedly transmitting a first interrupt to at least one interface unit by a first controller of a plurality of controllers, wherein the first interrupt is transmitted at a first frequency. A first response is received at the first controller from the at least one interface unit responsive to the first interrupt, and a second response is received at a second controller of the plurality of controllers from the at least one interface unit, wherein the second response is aperiodic with respect to the first frequency.
Claims18
A method of operating a control system that includes a plurality of controllers and at least one interface unit coupled to the plurality of controllers via a single network, said method comprising:
- repeatedly transmitting a first interrupt to the at least one interface unit by a first controller of the plurality of controllers, the first interrupt transmitted at a first frequency;
- receiving a first response at the first controller from the at least one interface unit responsive to the first interrupt;
- repeatedly transmitting a second interrupt to the at least one interface unit by the second controller at the first frequency;
- and
- receiving a second response at a second controller of the plurality of controllers from the at least one interface unit, the second response being aperiodic with respect to the first frequency;
- wherein the first and second controllers operate simultaneously on the single network.
A system comprising:
- at least one interface unit comprising at least one input/output (I/O) module;
- a first controller coupled to said at least one interface unit via a network, said first controller configured to:
- repeatedly transmit a first interrupt to said at least one interface unit, the first interrupt transmitted at a first frequency;
- and
- receive a first response from said at least one interface unit responsive to the first interrupt;
- a second controller coupled to said at least one interface unit via said network, said second controller configured to:
- repeatedly transmit a second interrupt to the at least one interface unit at the first frequency;
- and
- receive a second response from said at least one interface unit, the second response being aperiodic with respect to the first frequency;
- wherein the first and second controllers operate simultaneously on the single network.
An interface unit for use with a control system, said interface unit coupled to a first controller and to a second controller via a single network, said interface unit comprising:
- a processor configured to:
- repeatedly receive a first interrupt from the first controller, the first interrupt received at a first frequency;
- transmit a first response to the first controller responsive to the first interrupt;
- repeatedly receive a second interrupt from the second controller at the first frequency;
- transmit a second response to the second controller, the second response being aperiodic with respect to the first frequency;
- and
- wherein the first and second controllers operate simultaneously on the single network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.