Automation system and connecting apparatus for communication between two networks that use two different protocols with conversion between TCP/IP and PCP
US6701377B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/66
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention concerns a heterogeneous automation system (10) including a first physical network (15, 17, 20) in which all connected devices can communicate on the basis of a first communication protocol and at least one second physical network (52, 58, 59; 54, 56, 57, 60) which is connected to the first network (15, 17, 20) by way of a first control device (25, 30) functioning as a gateway, and in which all devices (54, 56, 57, 60) connected thereto can communicate on the basis of a second communication protocol, wherein the first and second networks and the first and second communication protocols are different.The object of the present invention is to provide a system and a connecting apparatus, by means of which communication is simplified, in particular upon start-up, configuration and maintenance of the system, in the entire automation system.The invention attains that object in that each first control device (25; 30) has a logic interface for the substantially transparent communication between at least one device connected to the first network (17) and at least one device connected to the second network (52; 54), on the basis of the first communication protocol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.