Patent ID: 6587900
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: G05B,H04L,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for communicating non-I/O data between components of an industrial control system (ICS), the ICS having components including control or automation devices and a programmable logic controller, the method comprising the steps of:a) having one of the components transmit the non-I/O data formatted as a message frame in the same way as I/O data is formatted as a message frame, including having a message type identifier to identify that the message frame bears non-I/O data; and b) having another of the components, one for which the non-I/O data is intended, receive the encapsulated non-I/O data as a message frame, wherein the receiving component identifies the non-I/O data based on the message type identifier conveyed with the message frame, and further wherein the receiving component extracts the non-I/O data from the message frame.