The present disclosure resides in a method for monitoring an automated plant, which has a fieldbus access unit connected with a first communication network, wherein the first communication network has a plurality of field devices and network nodes, wherein a communication driver, which runs in a first frame application, which is implemented in a client computer connected with the fieldbus access unit via a second communication network, queries structure data of network nodes and field devices present in the first communication network, wherein the structure data are generated by the fieldbus access unit in the context of the query by scanning the address space of the network level and determining the network nodes and field devices present in the address space. The present disclosure further resides in a fieldbus access unit and an arrangement, comprising a client computer and a fieldbus access unit.

An apparatus such as a node in a daisy chain of electronic devices includes a serial data input port receive input from an electronic device in the daisy chain. The apparatus includes a serial data output port to send output to another electronic device in the daisy chain. The apparatus includes a chip select input port configured to receive input from a master control unit, and an interface circuit configured to, in a daisy chain streaming mode, and based on a received command and changed edge of a signal on the chip select input port, repeatedly: read data from a data source of the apparatus to yield data, output the data to the serial data output port, and copy other data received at the serial data input port to the serial data output port after the data.

Disclosed is a communication terminal for constructing a daisy chain communication network without distinction between an input connector and an output connector.

In some embodiments, systems, devices, and methods are provided that allow a host device to communicate video information, network information, and USB information over USB via a USB host controller. The video information and the network information are encapsulated within USB and communicated by the USB host controller. In some embodiments, the USB information communicated by the USB host controller is further communicated over a non-USB extension medium by an upstream facing port device and one or more downstream facing port devices.

Techniques for supporting USB and video communication over an extension medium are provided. In some embodiments, an upstream facing port device (UFP device) is coupled to legacy connectors of a host device, and a downstream facing port device (DFP device) is coupled to a USB Type-C receptacle of the sink device that may provide both USB and DisplayPort information. The UFP device and DFP device communicate to properly configure the USB Type-C connection for use in the extension environment. In some embodiments, a source device is coupled to the UFP device via a USB Type-C connection, and legacy video and USB devices are coupled to the DFP device. The UFP device and DFP device again communicate to cause the source device to properly configure the USB Type-C connection for use in the extension environment.

An apparatus includes a plurality of output ports and a processor. The output ports may each be configured to connect to a respective trigger device and generate an output signal to activate the respective trigger device. The processor may be configured to determine a number of the trigger devices connected to the output ports, determine a timing between each of the number of the trigger devices connected, convert the timing for each of the trigger devices to fit a standard timing using offset values specific to each of the trigger devices and perform a trigger routine to trigger the output signal for each of the trigger devices connected. The trigger routine may activate each of the trigger devices connected according to an event. The offset values may delay triggering the trigger devices to ensure that the trigger devices are sequentially activated at intervals that correspond consistently with the standard timing.

Several systems and methods of chip select are described. In one such method, a device maintains two identifiers, (ID_a and ID_m). When the device receives a command, it examines the values of ID_a and ID_m relative to a third reference identifier (ID_s). If either ID_a or ID_m is equivalent to ID_s, the device executes the command, otherwise, the device ignores the command. By using two different identification methods, a system has options in choosing to activate devices, being able to selectively switch between selecting multiple devices and single devices in a quick manner. In another such method, a device may have a persistent area that stores identification information such as an ID_a. Thus, system functionality may remain independent from any defect/marginality associated with the physical or logical components required for initial ID_a assignment of all devices in the system.

A method, apparatus, and computer program product provide for dynamically reprogrammable topologically unique integrated circuit identification. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit may be arranged among multiple integrated circuits. The integrated circuit may be configured to derive a topologically unique identifier by performing input measurements of stimuli provided by a host circuit. The integrated circuit may be topologically indistinguishable from at least one other integrated circuit of the multiple integrated circuits from a perspective of the host circuit.

A serial communication branching device and a serial communication system are provided. The serial communication branching device, which branches a plurality of slaves connected to the master by a daisy chain into a plurality of paths, is equipped with a first communication circuit that carries out communication with the master connected to a preceding stage side, a plurality of second communication circuits that carry out communication with the slaves of the paths connected to a subsequent stage side, and a path selection circuit disposed between the first communication circuit and the second communication circuits. In the case that a slave connected on the subsequent stage side transmits a reply signal to the master responsive to a transmission signal transmitted from the master, the path selection circuit selects a path of the slave that transmits the reply signal, and outputs the reply signal from the selected path to the master.

A daisy-chain storage synchronization (DSS) system and method that permits a daisy-chain of interconnected pass-thru disk drive controllers (PTDDCs) each connected to a SATA local disk drive (LDD) disk storage element (DSE) to support state synchronization within PTDDCs in the daisy-chain is disclosed. The PTDDCs within the daisy-chain are configured to individually maintain drive state information (DSI) relating to the LDD as well as chain state information (CSI) relating to the individual PTDDCs within the daisy-chain. This state information may be modified on receipt of out-of-band signaling (OBS) from other PTDDC elements up the daisy-chain as well as OBS from other PTDDC elements down the daisy-chain, CSI is determined in part by conventional SATA OBS state register protocols that are modified by internal state registers (ISR) in each individual PTDDC daisy-chain element so as to make the DSS transparent to existing SATA OBS single-disk standard hardware command protocols.