Patent ID: 6226762
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
A method for providing delayed start-up of an activity monitor in a distributed I/O system, the distributed I/O system comprising a computer, at least one module bank coupled to the computer, and a network bus coupled between the computer and the at least one module bank, the module bank including a communication module, one or more I/O modules, and a local bus, wherein the local bus couples the communication module with the one or more I/O modules, the method comprising:the computer sending a monitor enable command to enable activity timer monitoring by the communication module;the communication module receiving the monitor enable command, wherein the communication module does not begin the timer in response to receiving the monitor enable command;the communication module detecting subsequent network traffic on the network bus after said receiving the monitor enable command;the communication module starting the activity timer in response to said detecting subsequent network traffic on the network bus and in response to having received the monitor enable command.