Patent ID: 6675226
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
A multi-network interface connecting a computer in parallel with plurality of industrial control networks employing different communication protocols to communicate with remote I/O devices, the computer executing at least one application program and an operating system, the operating system providing an API allowing the application program to communicate with the computer, the multi-network interface comprising:(a) network connections communicating with at least two industrial control networks having at least two different communication protocols of operation; (b) an upgradable configuration database storing information indicating the communication protocol of each industrial control network attached to the network connections; (c) API extensions integrated with the API of the operating system defining common functions for communication on the different networks; (d) a processor communicating with the network connections and the computer and executing a run-time program to communicate data between the application programs and the network connections through the API extensions according to the protocols indicated in the configuration database; and (e) an asynchronous data area (ADA) managed by the run-time program, wherein the ADA is capable of storing data that is communicated over the industrial control networks; whereby a simple and uniform interface is provided between application programs and industrial control networks.