Systems, methods, and apparatus are described that enable a serial bus to be operated in one or more modes that employ additional wires for communicating data. A method for transmitting data over a serial bus having multiple data lanes includes providing a plurality of frames, each frame being configured to carry up to a maximum number of data bytes, transmitting a first frame over the serial bus, where the first frame is filled with first data bytes, notifying one or more devices of unavailability of an alert opportunity prior to transmitting the first frame, transmitting a second frame over the serial bus, where the first frame includes second data bytes less in number than the maximum number of data bytes, and notifying the one or more devices that the second frame provides an opportunity to launch an alert after transmission of the second data bytes.

A bus node is capable of performing a method, for the assigning of bus node addresses to bus nodes of a serial data bus. The method is performed with the aid of bus shunt resistors in the individual bus nodes of the data bus system in an assignment time period. After the assigning of bus node addresses to the bus nodes in the assignment time period, there follows an operating time period. For this purpose, the bus node comprises such a bus shunt resistor. The bus node is characterized by a bus shunt bypass switch which, prior to assigning a bus node address to the bus node in the assignment time period is opened and which after the assignment of bus node address to the bus node in the assignment time period is closed, and which is closed in the operating time period.

A pin-configurable bus termination system may include a bus connector attached to an end of a bus. The bus connector may be configured for electrically connecting the bus to an input connector of a node. The node may include a bus termination resistance. The bus connector may include a first bus output pin, a second bus output pin and configurable first and second termination resistor pins. The configurable first and second termination resistor pins may be configurable to provide a first termination configuration and a second termination configuration. The first termination configuration may electrically interconnect the first and second bus output pins and the configurable first and second termination resistor pins to electrically connect the bus termination resistance for terminating the bus. The second termination configuration may include an open electrical circuit between the first and second bus output pins and the configurable first and second termination resistor pins.

A bus node is capable of performing a method, for the assigning of bus node addresses to bus nodes of a serial data bus. The method is performed with the aid of bus shunt resistors in the individual bus nodes in an assignment time period. After assigning bus node addresses to the bus nodes of the serial data bus system in the assignment time period, there follows an operating time period. For this purpose, the bus node comprises such a bus shunt resistor. The bus node is characterized by a bus shunt bypass switch which, prior to assigning a bus node address to the bus node in the assignment time period is opened and which after the assignment of bus node address to the bus node in the assignment time period is closed, and which is closed in the operating time period.

A control system is disclosed that includes a room controller transmitting signals to both a shade control network and a light control network, directing that motorized roller shades and dimmable lights be set to desired intensity levels. The control system further includes an intelligent hub that provides a trickle-charge re-charge current via power-over-Ethernet cables to batteries associated with each of the motorized roller shades for re-charging the batteries, thereby eliminating power supplies being installed within walls. The intelligent hub provides for communication with the room controller based on streaming protocol and with the shade control network based on event-based protocol. A computer running user-interface software can be connected to the system to facilitate programming.

The invention discloses a method for implementing a real-time industrial internet field broadband bus, the method including: determining, by a bus controller, the number of bus terminals connected therewith; and allocating, by the bus controller, time slices for the bus terminals according to the number of bus terminals, and transmitting, by the bus controller, the time slices to the bus terminals so that the bus terminals operate in the allocated time slices. Moreover data are transmitted in the bus system by removing Ethernet/IP message header information to thereby reduce the length of the message, and shorten a transmission delay and a bus scan periodicity so as to improve the real-time characteristic of the bus system.

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.

A two-wire interface (300) for connecting a first device (106) and a second device (108). The two-wire interface (300) is operable in a handshaking mode and a data transfer mode. In the handshaking mode the first wire (302) of the interface (300) is driven by the first device (106) and the second wire (304) of the interface (300) is driven by the second device (108) so that the first (106) and second (108) devices can perform a handshaking sequence. In the data transfer mode one of the first wire (302) and the second wire (304) is driven by one of the first (106) and second (108) devices to provide a clock signal, and the other wire is driven by either the first device (106) or the second device (108) depending which device is transmitting data. Accordingly, the two-wire interfaces (300) are operable in two modes (e.g. handshaking mode and data transfer mode) and one of the wires (302, 304) of the interface (300) may be driven by a different device in the two modes.

A control network communication arrangement includes tagging information being embedded within individual ones of bits of a message packet to distinguish bits having the tagging information as being either message packet protocol overhead bits or bits from the message data portion. So configured, a receiving module can readily exclude protocol overhead bits from message data portion bits.

An electronic device that includes a plug connector having a tab adapted to be inserted into a receptacle connector of a second device during a mating event, the tab including first and second opposing surfaces and a contact region formed at the first surface of the tab, the contact region including a plurality of contacts spaced apart along a first row, the plurality of contacts including a first contact, a power contact and a ground contact; a computer-readable memory having identification, configuration and authentication information relevant to the electronic device that can be communicated to the second device during a mating event stored therein; circuitry coupled to the first contact and configured to, after a mating event in which the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector, participate in a handshaking algorithm that includes receiving a command over the first contact from the second device and sending a response to the command that includes contact configuration information for the electronic device over the first contact to the second device; and power circuitry, coupled to the power contact, configured to deliver power to charge a device coupled to the electronic device via the plug connectors.