Patent ID: 8880641
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for redundant communication in a communication system having a plurality of automation networks connected to each other by at least one node, the automation networks comprising a plurality of network devices, the method comprising: transmitting data by a transmission at least one of from a first network device of a first automation network of the plurality of networks to a second network device of a second automation network of the plurality of automation networks through the at least one node and from the first network device to a third network device of the first automation network of the plurality of automation networks, such that the transmission at least one of from the first network device to the second network device and from the first to the third network device is undertaken over at least two redundant transmission paths based on (i) a real-time communication protocol and (ii) at least one further communication protocol for at least one of configuring, reprogramming and changing parameters for at least one control unit in the plurality of automation networks; and preventing the data from being transmitted back from the second automation network to the first automation network during a transmission from the first network device to the second network device based on predefined information that is predefined before the transmission; wherein the predefined information comprises a first part and a second part and is read from the at least one node, the data comprising the first part of the predefined information, and the at least one node comprises the second part of the predefined information, the prevention of data from being transmitted from the second automation network back to the first automation network being based on whether the data comprising the first part of the predefined information matches data in an entry of a database of the at least one node; and wherein the at least one node includes a plurality of ports, the data is receivable and sendable by each of the plurality of ports, the second part of the predefined information is located in the database including a plurality of entries, each entry includes for each of the plurality of ports one of an unassociated send port and at least one associated send port, and the first part of the predefined information includes a data destination, the method further comprising: