	US 12,276,957 B2
	Automation network and method for transmitting data in an automation network
Holger Büttner, Berlin (DE); Dirk Janssen, Verl (DE); Erik Vonnahme, Salzkotten (DE); Thorsten Bunte, Gütersloh (DE); and Thomas Rettig, Rheda-Wiedenbrück (DE)
Assigned to Beckhoff Automation GmbH, Verl (DE)
Filed by Beckhoff Automation GmbH, Verl (DE)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/723,696.
Application 17/723,696 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2020/082075, filed on Nov. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 131 823.8 (DE), filed on Nov. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0236712 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. G05B 19/05 (2006.01); H04L 12/42 (2006.01)

CPC G05B 19/052 (2013.01) [H04L 12/42 (2013.01); G05B 2219/1214 (2013.01); G05B 2219/1215 (2013.01); H04L 2012/421 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. An automation network comprising:

at least one primary subscriber,

at least one switch, and

at least one slave network subscriber;

wherein the primary subscriber comprises primary ports, the switch comprises switching ports, and the network subscriber comprises subscriber ports, each of which ports comprises a transmitter configured for transmitting telegrams and a receiver configured for receiving telegrams,

wherein the transmitter of a first of the primary ports is connected to the receiver of a first of the switching ports via a first primary communication path and the transmitter of a second of the switching ports is connected to the receiver of a second of the primary ports via the first primary communication path,

wherein the transmitter of the second primary port is connected to the receiver of the second switching port via a second primary communication path and the transmitter of the first switching port is connected to the receiver of the first primary port via the second primary communication path to embody a first dual ring structure,

wherein the transmitter of a third of the switching ports is connected to the receiver of a first of the subscriber ports via a first subscriber communication path and the transmitter of a second of the subscriber ports is connected to the receiver of a fourth of the switching ports via the first subscriber communication path,

wherein the transmitter of the fourth switching port is connected to the receiver of the second subscriber port via a second subscriber communication path and the transmitter of the first subscriber port is connected to the receiver of the third switching port via the second subscriber communication path to embody a second dual ring structure,

wherein the primary subscriber is configured to send two telegrams based on a same data packet,

wherein the primary subscriber is configured to output a first of the two telegrams to the switch via the transmitter of the first primary port and via the first primary communication path, and to output a second of the two telegrams to the switch via the transmitter of the second primary port and via the second primary communication path,

wherein the switch is configured to receive the first telegram via the receiver of the first switching port and to forward the first telegram via the transmitter of the third switching port to the receiver of the first subscriber port, via the first subscriber communication path,

wherein the network subscriber is configured to forward the first telegram to the receiver of the fourth switching port after processing on the fly, via the transmitter of the second subscriber port and via the first subscriber communication path,

wherein the switch is configured to forward the first telegram received via the receiver of the fourth switching port and via the transmitter of the second switching port to the receiver of the second primary port, via the first primary communication path,

wherein the switch is configured to receive the second telegram via the receiver of the second switching port and to forward the second telegram via the transmitter of the fourth switching port to the receiver of the second subscriber port, via the second subscriber communication path,

wherein the slave network subscriber is configured to forward the second telegram to the receiver of the third switching port via the transmitter of the first subscriber port, via the second subscriber communication path,

wherein the switch is configured to forward the second telegram received via the receiver of the third switching port and via the transmitter of the first switching port to the receiver of the first primary port, via the second primary communication path, and

wherein the switch and the network subscriber are, when in an error mode, configured to:

return the first telegram to the primary subscriber, so that the primary subscriber receives the first telegram via the receiver of the first primary port, and/or

return the second telegram to the primary subscriber, so that the primary subscriber receives the second telegram via the receiver of the second primary port.