Patent ID: 9218230
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for transmitting messages in a redundantly operable industrial communication network, comprising: transmitting messages in a first subnetwork having a tree topology in accordance with a spanning tree protocol, communication devices associated with network nodes of the first subnetwork interchanging messages containing topology information with one another to form a tree topology, a root network node being determined as a basic element of the tree topology by the communication devices associated with the network nodes of the first subnetwork based on the interchanged topology information, and loop-free connections being set up from the root network node to remaining network nodes of the first subnetwork; transmitting messages in a second subnetwork in accordance with a parallel or ring redundancy protocol; coupling the first and second subnetworks to one another via a plurality of communication devices; configuring a virtual network node, which is connected to all network nodes of the second subnetwork via a respective virtual connection which cannot be interrupted by an error, as a root network node of the first subnetwork; configuring topology information for the first subnetwork, which comprises the virtual network node, as received topology information for the first subnetwork at a respective virtual terminal connection of communication devices associated with the network nodes of the second subnetwork; and handling failure of a communication device associated with one of (i) a network node of the second subnetwork and (ii) a connection between two network nodes of the second subnetwork solely in accordance with one of a parallel or ring redundancy protocol, a configuration of the virtual network node as the root network node of the first subnetwork being retained.