Patent ID: 7162510

Claim:
A method of communicating within a connectionless network having a plurality of devices operably connected via Ethernet, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first intra-level cluster of devices, the first intra-level cluster of devices including a first intelligent device and a first plurality of simple devices; publishing a first data frame via user datagram protocol (UDP) and internet protocol (IP), the first data frame being published by a first one of the first intra-level cluster of devices; associating a first refreshment status with the published first data frame, the first refreshment status corresponding to the time of publication of the first data frame onto the network; receiving the published first data frame, the first data frame being received by a second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices; and, providing a first promptness status responsive to the second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices, the first promptness status being associated with the received first data frame and indicative of the time of receipt of the published first data frame wherein the second one of the first intra-level cluster of devices being capable of determining the duration of the published first data frame; setting a timer upon one of publication of the first data frame and receipt of the published first data frame; maintaining one of the refreshment status and the promptness status as valid until the timer expires; providing a first inter-level cluster of devices, the first inter-level cluster of devices including the first intelligent device and a second intelligent device; publishing a second data frame via user datagram protocol (UDP) and internet protocol (IP), the second data frame being published by the first intelligent device; associating a second refreshment status with the published second data frame, the second refreshment status corresponding to the time of publication of the second data frame onto the network; receiving the published second data frame, the second data frame being received by the second intelligent device; providing a second promptness status responsive to the second intelligent device, the second promptness status being associated with the received second data frame and indicative of the time of receipt of the published second data frame wherein the second intelligent device being capable of determining the duration of the published second data frame; and, providing a second intra-level cluster of devices, the second intra-level cluster of devices including the second intelligent device and a second plurality of simple devices.