METHOD OF OPERATING A NETWORK

Abstract

For operating a network having a primary station and at least two secondary stations, the primary station communicates with the at least two secondary stations, and the at least two secondary stations communicate with one another to furnish a cross communication, and the cross communication is effected by telegrams which are generated in the context of communications cycles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a, 1b show two different topologies with which a preferred embodiment of a method of the invention and a network of the invention can advantageously be implemented; and

FIG. 2 shows a preferred telegram construction with which a communication according to the invention between primary stations and secondary stations as well as a cross communication between the secondary stations can be implemented.

Claims

1. A method for operating a network having a primary station and at least two secondary stations, comprising the steps of communicating the primary station with the at least two secondary stations; communicating the at least two secondary stations with one another to furnish a cross communication; and effecting the cross communication by telegrams which are generated in a context of communications cycles.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said effecting includes effecting the cross communication by telegrams which are generated by the primary station and/or at least one of the secondary stations.

3. The method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising transmitting the cross-communication data in a data telegram of their own.

4. The method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising transmitting the cross-communication data in a common data telegram with the communications data between the primary station and the at least two secondary stations, or between the at least two secondary stations and the primary station, or in a common telegram that contains only cross-communication data.

5. The method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising jointly transmitting the cross-communication data in the context of an existing data telegram.

6. The method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising embodying the cross-communication connections as logical point-to-point connections.

7. The method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising forming the cross-communication connections or including in them logic connections from one station to a plurality of other stations.

8. The method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising signaling in a context of the communication between the secondary stations, a refreshment of the cross-communication data.

9. The method as defined in claim 8; and further comprising performing the signaling of the refreshment of the cross-communication data by secondary stations that produce these data.

10. The method as defined in claim 8; and further comprising effecting the signaling in a context of an administration field of the telegram used.

11. The method in claim 8; and further comprising performing the signaling of the refreshment operation by an alternating bit (toggle bit).

12. The method as defined in claim 8; and further comprising setting the signaling of the refreshment individually for each data field produced.

13. The method as defined in claim 8; and further comprising providing that consuming or data-receiving secondary stations know the refreshment cycle times and/or refreshment times of the cross-communication data produced.

14. The method as defined in claim 8; and further comprising forming a refreshment cycle time as a multiple of the communications cycle time.

15. The method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising basing the method on ethernet technology or SERCOS III technology.

16. A network, comprising a primary station and at least two secondary stations; means for assuring communication of the primary station with the at least two secondary stations; means for assuring communication between the at least two secondary stations for furnishing a cross communication; and telegrams for furnishing the cross communication, which are generatable in a context of communications cycles.

17. A system selected from the group consisting of an autonomous system and a control system, the system using a method for operating a network having a primary station and at least two secondary stations, comprising the steps of communicating the primary station with the at least two secondary stations, communicating the at least two secondary stations with one another to furnish a cross communication, and effecting the cross communication by telegrams which are generated in a context of communications cycles.

18. A system selected from the group consisting of an autonomous system and a control system, the system including a network comprising a primary station and at least two secondary stations, means for assuring communication of the primary station with the at least two secondary stations, means for assuring communication between the at least two secondary stations for furnishing a cross communication, and telegrams for furnishing the cross communication, which are generatable in the context of communications cycles.