Method for detecting network subscribers in an automation network and automation network

US11398919B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Beckhoff Automation GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Dirk Janssen · Verl, DE
• Florian Essler · Augsburg, DE
• Guido Beckmann · Verl, DE
• Hans Beckhoff · Verl, DE
• Holger Büttner · Verl, DE
• Martin Rostan · Nuremberg, DE
• Thomas Rettig · Rheda-Wiedenbrück, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 31, 2021
• Grant date: Jul 26, 2022
• Expiry date: Mar 31, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02D30/50
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for detecting network subscribers in an automation network by query telegrams provides that a protocol-network subscriber enters network-subscriber information into a query telegram and sends the query telegram to a subsequent network subscriber. If no subsequent network subscriber is connected to a data line, other than the receiving data line, it sends the query telegram back to the configuration subscriber. A network distributor enters port information on the further input/output ports of the network distributor, to which further data lines are connected into the query telegram, and returns it to the configuration subscriber. The configuration subscriber subsequently generates further query telegrams, each with routing information on the basis of the port information, and sends them to the network distributor. The network distributor outputs them on the further input/output port assigned to the respective routing information, in order to detect network subscribers connected to the respective further input/output ports.