Patent Publication Number: US-7725635-B2

Title: Method of determining request transmission priority subject to request channel and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of fieldbus communication framework

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to request transmission methods and more particularly, to a method of determining request transmission priority subject to request channel and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework, which determines, by means of a communication device, whether the external requests came from the request channel that has the priority right, and then transmits every request subject to the priority order, preventing the slave device from receiving an external request from the master device at a late time. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Following fast development of communication technology, communication networks have also been well developed. LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network) are the original categories of networks categorized subject to their scope and scale. A LAN connects network devices over a relatively short distance. A WAN is a geographically-dispersed collection of LANs. The Internet is the largest WAN, spanning the Earth. 
   Either in LAN or WAN, Ethernet has proven itself as a relatively inexpensive, reasonably fast, and very popular LAN technology. Ethernet cables (fiber optics or twisted pair) are limited in their reach, and these distances are insufficient to cover medium-sized and large network installations. Therefore, repeaters are used in Ethernets. A repeater in Ethernet networking is a device that allows multiple cables to be joined and greater distances to be spanned. A bridge device can join an Ethernet to another network of a different type, such as a wireless network. Popular types of repeater devices are Ethernet hubs, switches and routers. By means of the combination of Ethernet cables with hubs, switches and/or routers, an Ethernet networking allows transmission or control of data or instructions among different LANs, computers, and/or other devices such as surveillance systems, security systems, automation systems, etc. 
   Further, there is known a network communication architecture commonly seen in industrial control and device communication protocol or rules, i.e., Fieldbus”. 
   Fieldbus is usually used on the industrial network system for real-time distributed control. Its basic configuration is to handle management through a central control unit so that an operator can monitor or program the whole system. The central control unit is typically linked to a middle layer of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) via a bus system. At the bottom of the control chain is the fieldbus which links the PLCs to the components which actually do the work such as sensors, electric motors, switches and contactors. 
   Following alternation of generations, there are now a wide variety of concurring fieldbus standards. Some of the most widely used ones include CAN, EtherCAT, DeviceNet, Modbus, PROFIBUS, SECS and CompuBus. 
   Further, Fieldbus is a new industrial digital communications network intended to replace the existing 4-20 mA analogue signal standard. The network is a digital, bi-directional, multi-drop, serial-bus, communications network used to link isolated field devices, such as controllers, transducers, actuators and sensors. Each field device has low cost computing power installed in it, making each device a “smart” device. Each device will be able to execute simple functions on its own such as diagnostic, control, and maintenance functions as well as providing bi-directional communication capabilities. With these devices not only will the engineer be able to access the field devices, but they are also able to communicate with other field devices for master/slave communication. The major advantage of the Fieldbus that is most attractive to the end user is its reduction in capital costs. The savings attained by the user stem from three main areas, initial savings, maintenance savings, and savings due to improved systems performance. One of the main features of the Fieldbus is its significant reduction in wiring. Only one wire is sufficient to build a Fieldbus system with varying number of devices. The cost of installing field equipment in a Fieldbus system is thus significantly reduced. Installation costs are further reduced due to the fact that the Fieldbus it is a multi-drop rather than point-to-point system and the multidrop network can offer a great reduction in field wiring expense. The fact that the Fieldbus system is less complex than conventional bus systems implies that there will be less overall need for maintenance. 
     FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing illustrating multiple requests receiving status of a communication gate according to the prior art. Under the Fieldbus architecture, when the master device or communication gateway A received multiple requests, it transmits the requests to the slave device B subject to the order of FIFO (first in first out), i.e., the master device or communication gateway A handles the received requests subject to the order of their received times, but is unable to arrange or transmit the received requests subject to order of their importance level. 
   Because the master device or communication gateway A handles received requests subject to the order of FIFO (first in first out), it may be unable to transmit a request to the slave device B in time. When communication traffic is low, a communication gateway can always handle all received requests in time. However, when traffic gets higher, the gateway needs much more time to handle received requests in received time order. If there is an important request arrived at this time, the gateway may unable to transmit it to the slave in time since there are too many un-handled requests received before. This could result in many problems. For example, in a regular industrial manufacturing line (such as wafer plant, plastic materials plant), when a request to alter the set values of a slave device B (for example, the revolving speed of a motor) is given to the communication gate A, an abnormal or interruption of the manufacturing line may occur if the slave device B cannot receive the accurate request in time to execute the request on accurate time, thereby resulting in paralysis or damage of the machinery of the industrial manufacturing line. Further, in a building control, the temperature control, emergency exit system and other control actions need to make an accurate response at the accurate time point. If responding tactics cannot be started at the accurate time point, it will get no help in reducing the probability of occurrence of disaster and the loss resulted from the disaster. 
   Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method of handling requests according to priority of importance. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a method of determining request transmission priority subject to request channel and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework, which determines, by means of a communication device, whether the external requests came from the request channel that has the priority right, and then lets the communication gateway/master device transmit every request subject to the priority order. Therefore, the main control end or manager can send the request to the triggering system or device of an emergency facility, for example, the auto-control system of a building, on real time. Because the triggering of a triggering system or device must be executed on time when necessary, the main control end or manager must send the request to the triggering system or device on time. Sending a triggering request in priority prevents the triggering system or device of the emergency facility from receiving the request at a late time. Therefore, the application of the present invention helps lower the chance of disaster and the loss from any disaster, and also helps evacuation of people from a disaster. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of determining request transmission priority subject to request channel and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework, which uses different determination conditions, such as the numerical number of a counter or timer, the number of requests on queue, the switching of an external switch, the value detected by an external device, and etc. to enable the priority right of requests received by the communication device come from a request channel that has the priority right. By means of this method, the user can set the triggering condition of a controlled device in a specific industry or technical field to satisfy different industrial control requirements. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of determining request transmission priority subject to request channel and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework, which categorizes the priority right into kinds or levels so that all external requests that come from one same request channel can be categorized into one same class. Thus, any external request that has the highest priority will not be arranged behind an external request that has a second-highest priority, and the user can obtain more right to control the communication gate and will not be constrained by the existing Fieldbus communication protocol. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing illustrating a communication architecture according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a priority determination flowchart according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing illustrating multiple requests receiving status of a communication gate according to the prior art. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   From the aforesaid prior art technique, we know that Fieldbus is a master/slave communication protocol, and the master device or communication gateway under the Fieldbus architecture handles requests subject to the order of FIFO (first in first out). Therefore, all requests are sorting subject to their received times. Normally, in one same Fieldbus network, it is allowed that different slave devices connect to one communication gateway or master device. However, there are many different communication standards compatible to Fieldbus, including CAN, EtherCAT, DeviceNet, Modbus, PROFIBUS, SECS and CompuBus. These communication standards have the common characteristics of shared multi-transmission channel, multi-serial channel, bi-directional and multidrop characteristics. Under Fieldbus communication protocol, the method of determining request transmission priority subject to request channel and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework, of the present invention is applicable to every of the aforesaid various communication standards that are compatible to Fieldbus communication protocol. The following description uses the term of Fieldbus to substitute for terms of CAN, EtherCAT, DeviceNet, Modbus, PROFIBUS, SECS and CompuBus. Further, the Fieldbus used in the present specification means the protocol applied to automatic control having a master/slave architecture, and a request, response or exception communication mode. 
   As stated earlier, Fieldbus is a master/slave communication protocol. In a network under the Fieldbus architecture, it is allowed that different slave devices connect to one master device. Further, there are two standards also included in Fieldbus. The first standard is Fieldbus TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) standard that treats each device as a RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) for message passing in Intranet or Internet. The second standard is Fieldbus UDP (User Datagram Protocol) that has a Fieldbus TCP-like framework but transmits data in the form of a package format. The Fieldbus TCP standard and the Fieldbus UDP standard both have the common feature of being equipped with different communication ports. To fit TCP/UDP standard, the invention treats TCP/UDP ports as request channels and determines whether requests came from a TCP/UDP port has priority right. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing illustrating a communication architecture according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, when the communication gateway  1  has a slave device  2  connected thereto and when the communication gateway  1  receives from a remote control end multiple control requests (sorting to be an ordinary request  12   a , an ordinary request  12 , and an important request  11 ), the communication gateway  1  determines the priority of the instructions or requests subject to their communication ports, so that the slave device  2  can receive the important request  11  prior to the ordinary requests  12  and  12   a.    
   Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 1  again, the determination of priority according to the present invention includes the steps of:
     ( 100 ) When requests are transmitted to the communication gateway  1 , run step ( 101 ) and ( 102 );   ( 101 ) Confirm operation conditions are established or not, and then run step ( 103 );   ( 102 ) The communication gateway  1  confirms whether the received request is coming from the communication port having the transmission priority, and then run step ( 103 );   ( 103 ) Couple all conditions which includes conditions in step ( 101 ) and ( 102 ) subject to the user&#39;s requirement;   ( 104 ) Determine whether the coupling conditions are established or not, and then run step ( 106 ) when the coupling conditions are established, or run step ( 105 ) when the coupling conditions are not established;   ( 105 ) Transmit the request as an ordinary request, and end the procedure;   ( 106 ) Transmit the request as a priority request, and then end the procedure.   

   Briefly speaking, the invention uses two or more methods to determine or couple conditions of external requests and then see whether they are in satisfaction of the conditions required for priority. At first, in step ( 101 ), the operation conditions can be the numerical value of a counter or timer, the number of requests in queue, switching of external switch or any logical operation conditions detected by an external device (such as whether or not in proximity to a predetermined temperature or humidity). These conditions can be used in step ( 101 ) as judgment values for AND or OR on logic coupling. Further, in step ( 102 ), the communication port through which the requests passed can be the address or number of any communication port opened or set by the user. Therefore, based on the aforesaid determination conditions, the communication gateway  1  can determine whether the received external requests have the priority to transmit or not, and can proceed with transmission of requests early. When an external request is determined to be a priority request, the communication gateway  1  tags this priority request in the priority position on the original queue, or uses any other method that allows sending of a request in priority to transmit this priority request so as to obtain an earlier transmission time prior to ordinary requests  12  and  12   a . Further, during step ( 100 ), if the format of the external request is not in conformity with the format under Fieldbus communication architecture or the format of the external request is compatible to Fieldbus communication architecture (for example, Ethernet), the request can be converted into a suitable format during step ( 105 ) or step ( 106 ) before transmission. Therefore, the external request can be transmitted at the format of its source or after a format conversion. 
   For easy understanding of the so-called different communication ports, the status of use of communication port is described hereinafter in brief. At first, the so-called communication ports are divided into three classes. The ports of the first class are the Well Known Ports that are those in the range 0-1023. For example, the familiar port 80 is the communication port for HTTP that is a service typically used for web servers. The ports of the second class are the Registered Ports that are those in the range 1024-49151. Registered ports can commonly be used by ordinary user processes or programs executed by ordinary users. The ports of the third class are the Dynamic and/or Private Ports that are those in the range 49152-65535. These ports are not used by any defined application. Based on the explanation of network communication ports under the aforesaid communication protocol architectures to give different priority to specific communication ports, the communication gateway  1  can determine whether or not the channel of an external request to be the communication port that has a higher priority (for example, the communication port which connect to the main control device), and can then transmit the important request  11  to the slave device  2  in advance. 
   In actual practice, when too many external requests are received, the communication gateway  1  may be unable to sort the priority of the received external requests. The invention uses the aforesaid method to determine whether the requests are coming from the communication ports having the priority right. Therefore, the invention eliminates the problem of being unable to sort external requests when too many external requests are received. Further, the invention could also provide multi-level priorities and give one same level priority to all external requests that came from one same communication port. Thus, any external request that has the highest priority will not be arranged behind an external request that has a second-highest priority. Therefore, the communication gateway  1  can be operated under current communication protocol standards, and can have more right to control. 
   The method of determining request transmission priority and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework as described above is simply an example of application of the present invention. In actual practice, the invention could be implemented on a master device, or a communication device or repeater having different communication ports. Further, the operation condition to be coupled subject to the user&#39;s requirement can be the numerical value of a counter or timer, the number of requests in queue, switching of an external switch, or the value detected by an external device (for example, specific temperature or humility). 
   Further, the aforesaid external requests can be WRITE, READ, REPLACE, DETECT, or any other specific requests. The request channel can be a TCP port or UDP port. 
   When compared to the prior art technology, the invention has the following advantages: 
   1. In regular building automation applications, proximal/remote or master/slave concept is adopted. All events management and emergency handling are connected to a computer in the main control room through a transmission interface. When a condition happens, a person in the main control room or the computer issues a request to an external input/output device to execute a specific action, for example, turning on the radiation fan when the temperature is excessively high, turning on the alarm lamp when the exist exit door is abnormally opened, starting the automatic sprinkling system when the temperature surpasses a predetermined fire temperature, etc. Because the trigging time of these actions is critical, the communication gateway  1  that is in charge of transferring the request must transmits the request in priority. If the communication gateway  1  cannot handle the priority request from a specific source channel (for example, the main control end) on time due to reception of a big number of other unimportant requests, the main control end or manager may be unable to start the related emergency facility accurately on time. Therefore, by means of determining the priority of each received request subject to the request channel from which the received request came, the invention prevents the communication gateway  1  from sending out an important request  11  at a late time, enabling the important request  11  to trigger the related facility so as to lower the chance of disaster and the loss from any disaster, and to help evacuation of people from a disaster. Therefore, the invention eliminates the problem of being unable to transmit an important request on time as encountered in the prior art technology, which handles all external requests subject to the order of first-in first-out. 
   2. According to the existing communication protocols under Fieldbus architecture, it is to handle external requests subject to the order of first-in first-out. This request transmission order does not allow transmission of an important request in priority, and may result a system failure. In an industrial manufacturing line (for example, a wafer plant or plastic materials plant), if the communication gateway  1  cannot transmit a control request to the slave device  2  or the slave device  2  cannot execute the request from the communication gateway  1  at the accurate time point, the manufacturing line may be interrupted or an abnormal condition may occur in the manufacturing line, thereby resulting in paralysis or damage of the machinery of the industrial manufacturing line. Therefore, by means of determining whether the channel from which the request comes has the priority right, the communication gateway  1  can transmit every important request to the slave device or operating end on time, preventing a delay of trigging time. 
   3. By means of different determination conditions such as the numerical number of a counter or timer, the number of requests on queue, the switching of an external switch, the value detected by an external device, and etc. to determine whether the request channel from which the request comes has the priority right, the user can set the triggering condition of the controlled end subject to a specific industry or technical field, i.e., the user can satisfy different industrial control requirements subject to different situations. 
   4. Following alternation of generations, Fieldbus communication architecture has become a communication standard in industrial field, and devices in conformity with Fieldbus architecture are intensively used to connect different industrial electronic devices. An industrial application of the method of determining request transmission priority subject to request channel and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework does not need to add extra physical devices or elements. When matching with the widely applied Fieldbus architecture, the invention can achieve determination of priority right after installation or setting of a software. Therefore, the application of the invention eliminates installation cost of any physical device. 
   5. The invention directly uses the requests under Fieldbus protocol standards, and needs not to define other special requests or to alter their architecture. Therefore, the requests used do not affect the normal functioning of the slave device. Further, either using the Fieldbus master device or Fieldbus communication gateway to transmit external requests, the priority right of the requests can be determined through a software. Therefore, the user needs not to worry about the system operational problem that the control end cannot receive the request from the communication gateway on time and that may affect the client&#39;s confidence in the reliability of the product, causing the client to reject the product. 
   6. By means of categorizing priority right into kinds or levels, all external requests that come from one same request channel can be categorized into one same class. Thus, any external request that has the highest priority will not be arranged behind an external request that has a second-highest priority, and the user can obtain more right to control the communication gateway and will not be constrained by the existing Fieldbus communication protocol. 
   Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.