Patent ID: 9720469
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: G06F,H04L

Claim:
1. A method of performing automated discovery and mapping of the topology of a network of interconnected hub modules and sensor modules, wherein the sensor modules include discovery and mapping-enabled sensor modules and standard sensor modules that are not discovery and mapping-enabled and wherein the network connections for the hub modules and the sensor modules include both data connections and power connections, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing a plurality of the hub modules, each hub module having a data and power input port connected to the network, a data and power output port, a power switch operatively connected on a power feed line between the input port and the output port and a data switch operatively connected on a data line between the input port and the output port; b) providing a plurality of sensor modules, each sensor module having a first data and power input/output port operatively connected to the network via the data and power output port of the one the hub modules, and a data switch operatively connected on a data line from the first input/output port; c) powering up all discovery and mapping-enabled sensor modules on the network with current trips of the hub modules set to maximum level; d) powering up all standard sensor modules; e) determining what hub modules and sensor modules are on the network; f) determining the topology of the network, including where the hub modules and the sensor modules are connected within the network; g) using the determined topology to determine power requirements for the sensor modules connected to the data and power output ports of each hub module on the network; and h) adjusting the power distribution on the network using the power switches in the hub modules to accommodate the identified power needs of the network.