A method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network, that communicates bidirectionally, includes communicating at least one primary participant and at least two secondary participants with one another by a data transmission device; communicating the secondary participants with one another directly by the data transmission device, indirectly by the primary participant and the data transmission device, or both; and exchanging by the participant the data to be exchanged between the secondary participants, between its data transmission device connections.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a redundant communications network operating without malfunctions; and
FIG. 2 shows a redundant communications network that is malfunctioning.
Claims
1. A method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network that communicates bidirectionally, comprising the steps of communicating at least one primary participant and at least two secondary participants with one another by a data transmission device; communicating the secondary participants with one another in a manner selected from the group consisting of directly by the data transmission device, indirectly by the primary participant and the data transmission device, and both; and exchanging by the primary participant the data, to be exchanged between the secondary participants, between its data transmission device connections.
2. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined by claim 1, wherein said exchanging includes exchanging the data by the primary participant, to be exchanged between the secondary participants, between its data transmission device connections on a specification of a transmission speed.
3. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 1, wherein said exchanging by the primary participant includes exchanging by the primary participant all data sent by the secondary participants solely in an event of a malfunction in a data transmission between two of the secondary participants.
4. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 1, wherein said exchange by the primary participant includes exchange by the primary participant solely data from the secondary participants intended for the secondary participants in an event of a malfunction in a data transmission between the secondary participants.
5. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 3, wherein the exchanging by the primary participant includes communication by the primary participant solely of those of the secondary participants which because of the malfunction can no longer communicate directly with one another; further comprising providing by the secondary participants an action selected from the group consisting of detection of the malfunction, location of the malfunction, and both.
6. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 5; further comprising communicating the malfunction to the primary participant by the data transmission device; and coordinating by the primary participant the communication on a basis of the located malfunction.
7. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 6; further comprising subjecting the data forwarded by the primary participant to additional data processing by a participant selected from the group consisting of the secondary participants, the primary participant, and both.
8. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 4, wherein the exchanging by the primary participant includes communication by the primary participant solely of those of the secondary participants which because of the malfunction can no longer communicate directly with one another; further comprising providing by the secondary participants an action selected from the group consisting of detection of the malfunction, location of the malfunction, and both.
9. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 8; further comprising communicating the malfunction to the primary participant by the data transmission device; and coordinating by the primary participant the communication on a basis of the located malfunction.
10. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 9; further comprising subjecting the data forwarded by the primary participant to additional data processing by means of a participant selected from the group consisting of the secondary participants, the primary participant, and both.
11. A redundant ringlike communications network that communicates bidirectionally, comprising at least one primary participant; at least two secondary participants; and a data transmission device communicating said at least one primary participant and said at least two secondary participant with one another, so that secondary participants communicate with one another in a manner selected from the group consisting of directly by said data transmission device, indirectly by said primary participant and said data transmission device, and both, wherein said primary participant exchanges the data, to be exchanged between secondary participants, between its data transmission device connections.
12. A redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 11, wherein the network is based on a technology selected from the group consisting of Ethernet technology and fiber optical technology, wherein said data transmission is based on a field bus standard.
13. A drive system comprising a redundant ring-like communications network that communicates bidirectionally, comprising at least one primary participant; at least two secondary participants; and a data transmission device communicating said at least one primary participant and said at least two secondary participants with one another, so that secondary participants communicate with one another in a manner selected from the group consisting of directly by said data transmission device, indirectly by said primary participant and said data transmission device, and both, wherein said primary participant exchanges the data, to be exchanged between secondary participants, between its data transmission device connections.
14. A drive system as defined in claim in claim 13, wherein the system includes a first element selected from the group consisting of an electrical controller, an electrical drive regulator, and both as a primary participant, and second elements selected from the group consisting of electrical controllers, electrical drive regulators, and both as the secondary participants.
15. The method for operating a redundant ringlike communications network as defined in claim 1; further comprising processing the data exchanged by the primary participant between the secondary participants, between its data transmission device connections in such a way that the data can be distinguished from data exchanged directly between the secondary participants.
Patent Application
20070192449
