A communication system for an industrial process includes multiple slave modules connected in series with a master controller. The master controller stores a communication schedule that defines an ordered sequence of messages and identifiers associated with each message. The master controller transmits messages downstream through the slave modules to a terminal one of the slave modules. The terminal slave module generates a return message that is transmitted upstream to the master controller. Each slave module receives each downstream message, identifies based on the message identifier whether the message is associated with response information from the slave module, and inserts the response information into corresponding upstream messages.

A device includes a master device, a set of slave devices and a bus. The master device is configured to transmit first messages carrying a set of operation data message portions indicative of operations for implementation by slave devices of the set of slave devices, and second messages addressed to slave devices in the set of slave devices. The second messages convey identifiers identifying respective ones of the slave devices to which the second messages are addressed requesting respective reactions towards the master device within respective expected reaction intervals. The slave devices are configured to receive the first messages transmitted from the master device, read respective operation data message portions in the set of operation data message portions, implement respective operations as a function of the respective operation data message portions read, and receive the second messages transmitted from the master device.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a safety control system having a processor that (1) automatically interrogates a portable data storage device, (2) determines whether a configuration profile of the safety control system matches a stored configuration profile in the portable data storage device, (3) obtains network settings of the safety control system, and (4) stores network settings into the portable data storage device. In an illustrative example, a safety control system may include a processor designed to perform operations to configure the safety control system with a configuration profile stored in the portable data storage device or download network settings of the safety control system to the portable data storage device under some predetermined conditions. By using the above method, the safety control system may be quickly configured, and network settings may be easily obtained and backed up.

A method for integrating a further bus subscriber into a bus system, and a bus system, having a master module and subscribers disposed in series, includes the temporally consecutive method steps: in a first method step, the further bus subscriber transmits a data packet to the master module in order to log in to the master module, in a second method step, a bus subscriber disposed between the further bus subscriber and the master module stops the data packet and checks whether the bus system has already received a release, in a third method step, the first bus subscriber forwards the data packet to the master module if the bus system has not yet received a release, or in a third, in particular an alternative, method step, if the bus system has already received a release, the bus subscriber stores the data packet and waits until the release of the bus system is revoked and after the release has been revoked, forwards the stored data packet to the master module.

This control device is connected to a master device and controls a drive target on the basis of the content of communication with the master device, and includes a communication unit which periodically transmits to and receives from the master device first information, which is information relating to control of the drive target, and second information, which is information relating to safety; a first processing unit which controls the drive target by processing the first information; a second processing unit which, by processing the second information, performs processing to ensure safety of the drive target; and an abnormality determining unit which determines that an abnormality has occurred if both the first information and the second information have not been processed within a prescribed period.

{Problem} In combining the master valve and the groups of slave valves, the configuration of the combination is made not for performing simply a uniform control, but is made to be such a form as capable of corresponding to the size and the inside configuration of the processing apparatus, or customer's requirements, which thereby allows a prompt adaptation to variety of demands. {Solution to Problem} In combining the master controller and the slave controller, the operation mode is set, and it is made possible to transmit the generated valve opening degree common signal and the generated valve opening degree individual signal from the master controller, corresponding to the operation mode, to the slave controllers that are connected in the sequential daisy-chain style, thereby the slave valves are opening-degree-controlled by any of such generated valve opening degree signals.

Described are platforms, systems, and methods to automatically discover, extract, map, merge, and enrich data found in on-premises in automated industrial and commercial environments and cloud systems for purposes of providing developers access to normalized, merged, and enriched data through an API. The platforms, systems, and methods identify a plurality of data sources associated with an automation environment; retrieve data from at least one of the identified data sources; apply a first algorithm to map the retrieved data to a predetermined ontology; merge the mapped data into a data store comprising timeseries of the mapped data; apply a second algorithm to identify patterns in the merged data and enriching the data based on one or more identified patterns; and provide one or more APIs or one or more real-time streams to provide access to the enriched data.

In a system, a plurality of controlled devices, including a first controlled device and a second controlled device, and a main control device configured to control the plurality of controlled devices are connected via a network. The main control device includes a communicator configured to transmit and receive a data frame including a plurality of data areas via the network in a predetermined cycle, and a setter configured to set a structure of the data frame. The setter has a function of setting the same data area in the data frame as a data area in which the first controlled device should write data and a data area from which the second controlled device should read data.

This application relates to clock synchronization methods optical head ends, and optical terminals. In an example method, the optical head end receives a first packet from a controller. The first packet includes service data to be transmitted to a plurality of slave stations. The optical head end generates a second packet based on the first packet. The second packet includes the service data and time information. The time information indicates an execution time point at which the plurality of slave stations perform an operation based on the service data. The optical head end further sends the second packet to the plurality of optical terminals to request the plurality of optical terminals to control the plurality of slave stations to perform the operation at the execution time point based on the service data.

A device is easily exchanged without changing a program of a controller. A device communication management unit generates digital input data that stores only ON/OFF information of a device in accordance with a copy setting information table set by a user.