Abstract:
A method for forming a network is disclosed with the network including a plurality of communication devices, a wire network for allowing a plurality of communication transmissions between the communications devices, and at least one connectivity device connected to the wire network,. The method includes utilizing the connectivity device to bring segments of the wire network together such that the communication devices are interconnected, utilizing the connectivity device to provide communication transmissions to the communications devices with independent paths through the wire network such that communication collisions are reduced, utilizing the connectivity device to regenerate a communication signal such that the distance between the communications device is extended, and utilizing the connectivity device to route communication transmissions by the communications devices through the wire network.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to computer networks, such as local area networks (LAN), and more specifically to network devices, such as network nodes, hubs, switches, repeaters and routers used in constructing such networks.  
           [0002]    In known network systems, especially small to medium sized control systems, separate hubs, switches, repeaters, and routers are used when creating a network. Hubs are used to bring media segments together in a central location, switches are used to provide each network transmission with an independent path through the network free of collisions with other network transmissions, repeaters are used to extend the distance covered by the network, and routers are used to route communication signals through the network. The use of hubs, switches, repeaters, and routers is an impediment to the customer in utilizing a network, such as an Ethernet network, because they add cost, devices and complexity in the creation of small to medium sized thin-wire or fiber network installations.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0003]    In one aspect, a method is provided for forming a network which includes a plurality of communication devices, a wire network for allowing a plurality of communication transmissions between the communications devices, and at least one connectivity device connected to the wire network. The method comprises utilizing the connectivity device to bring segments of the wire network together such that the communication devices are interconnected, utilizing the connectivity device to provide communication transmissions by the communications devices with independent paths through the wire network such that communication collisions are reduced, utilizing the connectivity device to regenerate a communication signal such that the distance between the communications device is extended, and utilizing the connectivity device to route communication transmissions by the communications devices through the wire network.  
           [0004]    In another aspect, a network system is provided which comprises a plurality of communications devices configured to communicate with each other, a wire network configured to interconnect said communications devices and allow a plurality of communication transmissions between said communication devices, and a network connectivity device connected to said wire network. The connectivity device is configured to bring segments of said wire network together such that said communication devices are interconnected, provide communication transmissions by said communications devices with independent paths through said wire network such that communication collisions are reduced, amplify communication transmissions such that the distance between said communications device is extended, and route communication transmissions through said wire network.  
           [0005]    In yet another aspect, a network connectivity device is provided which comprises a central processing unit connected to a electronic storage device, a hub module, a switch module, a repeater module and a router module. The connectivity device is connected to a wire network interconnecting a plurality of communication devices and further configured to utilize said hub module to bring segments of the wire network together, utilize said switch module to provide communication transmissions by the communications devices with independent paths through the wire network such that communication collisions are reduced, utilize said repeater module to amplify communication transmissions such that the distance between the communications devices is extended, and utilize said router module to route communication transmissions through the wire network. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network having a daisy-chain topology, which implements a connectivity device of the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network having a ring topology, which implements the connectivity device of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a network having a star topology, which implements the connectivity device of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a network having a mixed topology, which implements the connectivity device of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram of the connectivity device utilized in the system shown in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network  10  including a plurality of communication devices  1   6 , such as computers, programmers, programmable logic controllers, storage devices, servers, printers and other commonly used network devices, capable of transmitting and receiving communication transmissions, a plurality of interconnecting network wires  22  that carry communication transmissions between communications devices  16 , and a plurality of network connectivity devices  34 , such as network nodes, connected to interconnecting wires  22  forming network  10 . Interconnecting wires  22 , are any devices suitable to carry data and communication transmissions, such as coaxial cable, or fiber optic cable. Connectivity device  34  includes at least one connection port  36 , such as a hub port or a device port. FIG. 1 shows connectivity device  34  having two connection ports  36 , a hub port and a device port, however in alternate embodiments connectivity device  34  includes one, two, or more connection ports  36 . In one embodiment, network  10  is a local area network (LAN) and connectivity device  34  is implemented in a circuit card, such as an Ethernet card.  
         [0012]    In an exemplary embodiment, connectivity device  34  has at least one of a hub, switch, repeater, and router characteristics so that network  10  is constructed without using individual hub, switch, repeater, or router devices. In typical networks, hubs are used to bring segments of network wire, such as wire  22 , together, thereby interconnecting communication devices, such as communication devices  16  and switches are used to provide communication transmissions by communication devices with independent paths through a network reducing the opportunity for communication collisions with other communication transmissions. Additionally, in typical networks, repeaters amplify a signal to extend the distance between communication devices on the network, and routers route communication signal through the network. Connectivity device  34  is wired as at least one of a hub, a switch, a repeater, and a router, has electrical components similar to at least one of a hub, a switch, a repeater, and a router, has software capabilities similar to at least one of a hub, a switch, a repeater, and a router, and functions as at least one of a hub, a switch, a repeater, and a router.  
         [0013]    Additionally, since connectivity device  34  has at least one of hub, switch, repeater, and router characteristics, connectivity device  34  has flexibility of use such that connectivity device  34  will operate without modification in a network that utilizes at least one of known hubs, switches, repeaters and routers. Thus, connectivity device is capable of being utilized in existing network systems having individual hub, switch, repeater, and/or router devices, and in constructing new network systems absent individual hub, switch, repeater, and/or router devices. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, connectivity device  34  has the versatility to be implemented in network  10  as a stand-alone processing device and/or as a node connected at communications devices  16 .  
         [0014]    Further yet, connectivity device  34  provides network  10  with a single point of connect (SPOC) at connectivity devices  34  in network  10  where an open port  36  exists. SPOC provides the ability to add and remove network devices, such as hubs, switches, repeaters, routers, connectivity devices  34 , and communication devices  16 , by connecting and removing the device to and from any available port  36 . Also, connectivity device  34  provides flexibility in the topology of any network, such as network  10 . For example, without modifying connectivity device  34 , connectivity device  34  is utilized in networks having daisy-chain, Ring, and star topologies. Additionally, connectivity device  34  operates without modification in a network having mixed topologies. Thus, a network topology can be changed from one topology to another without modifying connectivity device  34  or any existing network components.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates network  10  having a daisy-chain topology and implementing connectivity device  34  as a node at a plurality of communications device  16  and as a stand alone network device. Additionally, FIG. 1 illustrates how connectivity devices  34  provide SPOC to add network devices to network  10 . For example, an additional communication device  40 , such as a programmer, is connected to network  10  using an additional wire  22  to connect connection port  44 , of device  40 , to an available connection port  36  on communication device  16 . Communication devices  40  may be added or removed from available ports  36  without effecting operation of network  10 . Furthermore, network  10  is expandable to include at least one additional, stand alone connectivity device  34 , communication device  16 , hub (not shown), switch (not shown), repeater (not shown) and/or router (not shown). Although FIG. 1 shows communication device  40  connected to network  10  al: port  44 , in another embodiment (not shown) communication device  40  is connected to network  10  using a connectivity device  34  implemented as node at device  40 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network  50  illustrating a network ring topology. Components in network  50  identical to components in network  10  (shown in FIG. 1) are identified in FIG. 2 using the same reference numerals as used in FIG. 1. Network  50  includes a plurality of communication devices  16 , such as computers, programmers, storage devices, controllers, servers, printers and other commonly used network devices, capable of transmitting, receiving, and processing communication transmissions. Additionally, network  50  includes a plurality of interconnecting wires  22  that carry communication transmissions between communications devices  16 , and a plurality of network connectivity devices  34 , such as network nodes, connected to communication devices  16  and interconnecting wires  22  forming network  50 . Connectivity device  34  includes at least one connection port  36 , such as a hub port or a device port. Additionally, network  50  includes a fault tolerant network device  56 . FIG. 2 shows network  50  having three communication devices  16 . However, since connectivity device  34  has hub, switch, repeater, and router characteristics, network  50  is expandable such that additional communication devices  16  can be added or removed without modification of connectivity device  34  or other network devices connected to network  50 . Additionally, each connectivity device  34  provides flexibility in configuration of network  50  such that at least one of hubs, switches, repeaters (not shown) and routers (not shown) can be added to network  50  without modification of connectivity devices  34  or other existing network components.  
         [0017]    Connectivity device  34  operates in network  50  using redundancy to detect faults. In one embodiment, network  50  has redundant connections to connectivity devices  34 , via fault tolerant device  56 , so that faults can be detected in network  50  without effecting operation of communication device  16  or communications on network  50 . Fault tolerant device  56  is any network device having fault tolerant characteristics, such as a hub, a switch, a repeater, a router and a communications device  16 .  
         [0018]    Ring topology requires fault tolerant capability in at least one network device, such as fault tolerant device  56 , to protect against faults in network  50 . For example, if a standard network programmer, that does not use connectivity device  34  as a node, is temporarily connected to network  50  by breaking connection of wire  22 , because the programmer lacks connectivity device  34 , the temporary addition of the programmer will temporarily reduce fault tolerance of network  50 . In an alternate embodiment, connectivity device  34  incorporates fault tolerant characteristic such that the network device using connectivity device  34  as node becomes a fault tolerant device.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a network  70  illustrating a network star topology. Components in network  70  identical to components in network  10  (shown in FIG. 1) are identified in FIG. 3 using the same reference numerals as used in FIG. 1. Network  70  includes a plurality of communication devices  16 , such as computers, programmers, storage devices, servers, printers and other commonly used network devices, capable of processing, transmitting and receiving communication transmissions. Additionally, network  70  includes a plurality of interconnecting wires  22  that carry communication transmissions between communications devices  16 , a central connection device  76 , and a plurality of network connectivity devices  34 , such as network nodes, connected to communication devices  16  and interconnecting wires  22  forming network  70 . Connectivity device  34  includes at least one connection port  36 , such as a hub port or a device port. Additionally, central connection device  76  includes a plurality of connection ports  82 , such as a hub port.  
         [0020]    In one embodiment, central connection device  76  is a hub, and is a central connection point for interconnecting communication devices  16  and other network devices (not shown). Communications devices  16  and other network devices are connected to central connection device  76  using wires  22 , which are connected at open ports  36  of connectivity devices  34 . In yet another embodiment, central connection device  76  is a switch, thereby providing communication transmissions from communication devices  16  with independent paths through, into and out of network  70 . Since connectivity device  34  has hub, switch, repeater and router characteristics, no modification to connectivity device  34  is needed for implementation in network  70 . Furthermore, additional communication devices  16 , other network devices, hubs, switches, repeaters, and routers can be added to network  70  without modification to connectivity device  34  or existing network devices.  
         [0021]    Connectivity device  34  provides network  70  with a single point of connect (SPOC) such that communication devices  16  are added to network  70  by connecting the additional communication device  16  to any open communication port e.g. port  36  or port  82 . For example, a communication device  86 , such as a programmer, is added to network  70  by using additional wire  22  to connect a connection port  88 , of device  86 , to an available connection port  36  of connectivity device  34 , or connection port  82  of central connection device  76 . Other network components, hubs, switches, repeaters, and routers are added and removed in the same manner. Although FIG. 3 shows communication device  86  using port  88  to connect to network  70 , in another embodiment (not shown) communication device  86  is connected to network  70  using a connectivity device  34  as a node at device  86 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a network  90  illustrating a network having a mixed topology. Components in network  90  identical to components in network  10  (shown in FIG. 1) are identified in FIG. 4 using the same reference numerals as used in FIG. 1. Network  90  includes a plurality of communication devices  16 , such as computers, programmers, storage devices, controllers, servers, printers and other commonly used network devices, each capable of processing, transmitting and receiving communication transmissions. Additionally, network  90  includes a plurality of interconnecting wires  22  that carry communication transmissions between communications devices  16 , a central connection device  96 , and a plurality of network connectivity devices  34 , such as network nodes, connected to communication devices  16  and interconnecting wires  22  forming network  90 . Connectivity device  34  includes at least one connection port  36 , such as a hub port or a device port. Additionally, central connection device  96  includes a plurality of connection ports  102 , such as hub ports. Network  90  has one communication device  16  independently connected to central connection device  96  and a plurality of communication devices  16 , configured in a daisy-chain topology also connected to central connection device  96 .  
         [0023]    In one embodiment central connection device  96  is a hub providing a central connection point for interconnecting independently connected communication devices  16  with each other and with a plurality of communication devices  16  connected in a daisy-chain topology. In another embodiment, central connection device  96  is a switch, thereby providing communication transmissions from independently connected communication devices  16 , and daisy-chained communication devices  16 , with an independent path through, into and out of network  90 . Connectivity devices  34  provide hub, switch, repeater, and router features for communication devices  16  configured in a daisy-chain or ring (not shown) topology. Since connectivity device  34  has hub, switch, repeater, and router characteristics, no modification to connectivity device  34  is needed for implementation in network  90 . Furthermore, additional communication devices  16 , other network devices, hubs, switches, repeaters, and routers can be added to network  90  without modification to connectivity device  34  or existing network devices.  
         [0024]    Connectivity device  34  provides network  90  with a single point of connect (SPOC) such that communication devices  16  are added to network  90  by connecting the additional communication device  16  to any open communication port  36  or  102 . For example, a communication device  104 , such as a programmer, is added to network  90  by using additional wire  22  to connect a connection port  106 , of device  104 , to an available connection port  36  of connectivity device  34 , or connection port  102  of central connection device  96 . Other network components, hubs, switches, repeaters, and routers are added and removed in the same manner. Although FIG. 4 shows communication device  104  using port  106  to connect to network  90 , in another embodiment (not shown) communication device  104  is connected to network  90  using a connectivity device  34  as a node at device  104 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram of connectivity device  34 . In an exemplary embodiment, connectivity device  34  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  150  connected to, an electronic data storage device  154 , a hub module  158 , a switch module  162 , a repeater module  166 , a router module  172 , and at least one connection port  36 . CPU  150  utilizes communications with storage device  154 , hub module  158 , switch  162 , repeater  166 , router  172 , and port  36 , to execute functions of connectivity device  34 . Connectivity device  34  is connected to a network (not shown), such as network  10 , shown in FIG. 1, via port  36 . Hub module  158  functions as a network hub, switch module  162  functions as a network switch, repeater module  166  functions as a network repeater, and router module  172  functions as a network router, thereby enabling connectivity device  34  with at least one of hub, switch, repeater, and router characteristics. Although FIG. 5 shows connectivity device  34  having individual modules  158 ,  162 ,  166 , and  172 , in an alternate embodiment, connectivity device  34  includes a single module (not shown). The single module functions as at least one of hub module  158 , switch module  162 , repeater module  166 , and router module  172 , thereby enabling connectivity device  34  with hub, switch, repeater, and/or router characteristics. Additionally, although FIG. 5 shows modules  158 ,  162 ,  166 , and  172  separate from CPU  150 , in another embodiment the functions of modules  158 ,  162 ,  166 , and  172  are performed by CPU  150 , thereby enabling connectivity device  34  with hub, switch, repeater, and/or router characteristics.  
         [0026]    The connectivity device of the present invention has hub, switch, repeater, and router characteristics, providing flexibility in network topologies without the need for standard network hubs, switches, repeaters, and/or routers thereby permitting the reduction of the number of standard network hubs, switches, repeaters, and routers required in the construction of a network. Additionally, the connectivity device provides networks with a SPOC for easy addition and removal of communication devices. For example, devices such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), stand alone central processing units (CPUs), various type of industrial processing devices having CPUs, and input/output (I/O) racks, can be added or removed from an existing network incorporating the connectivity device without the need for adding or removing hubs, switches, routers and/or repeaters. Additionally, a network can be constructed free of standard network hubs, switches, routers, and repeaters, by incorporating the connectivity device. For example, a network including devices such as PLCs, CPUs, and I/O racks can be constructed by using the connectivity device as a stand alone device within the network or using the connectivity device in combination with network devices, or both.  
         [0027]    While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.