Patent ID: 7021216

Claim:
A method of controlling a blasting network including an assembly of detonators, said blasting network being in a blasting system which further includes a control unit, a communication link for transmitting messages between the control unit and the assembly of detonators, said messages consisting of safe and unsafe messages, and a communication firewall comprising a locking device for placing the communication link in a control mode or an operational mode, an electronic filter and two communication interfaces adapted to allow communication to take place with the communication link, said method including the steps of designating at least one message as unsafe, placing the communication link in said control mode, in which the communication link is monitored for the designated at least one unsafe message, in said control mode preventing the designated at least one unsafe message from reaching the assembly of detonators, and placing the communication link in said operational mode, in which the designated at least one unsafe message is allowed to reach the assembly of detonators, and wherein in both the control mode and the operational mode the safe messages are permitted to be transmitted to the assembly of detonators via the communication link.