An illustrative example embodiment of a method of communicating between controllers on a vehicle includes communicating a first operation request from a first controller to a second controller. The first operation request is indicative of the second controller performing a first operation. The second controller attempts to perform the first operation at a time when it cannot be performed, determines that the first operation cannot be performed, and communicates an indication that the first operation request cannot currently be satisfied. The second controller continues to attempt to perform the first operation at a subsequent time.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method (300, 400), comprising communicating (310, 410), from first control means (110) to a second control means (120), a first operation request indicative of the second control means (120) performing a first operation, determining (320, 420), at the second control means, whether the first operation can be performed, communicating (330, 430), if the operation cannot be performed, from the second control means to the first control means, an indication that the first operation request cannot currently be satisfied, and continuing (320, 330), by the second control means, to attempt to perform the first operation.

A management device of a component mounting system includes a management storage unit, a data generating unit, and a display control unit. The management storage unit stores management data in which production factor information for identifying production factors in a mounting machine and suction error information output from the mounting machine are associated with one another. The data generating unit generates suction error count data and suction error loss amount data in association with the production factor information based on a data group of the management data. The display control unit controls a display unit such that a suction error data set is displayed with the suction error count data and the suction error loss amount data associated with the production factor information selected via an operating unit as one set.

A segment of a two wire combined power and data network for automation has a trunk, a spur mounted thereon and a fault protection device. The fault protection device includes a controller adapted to monitor the spur current, and isolation means to fully or partially isolate the spur from the trunk upon receiving of an activation signal from controller. The controller comprises a failure status determination algorithm comprising an intermittent fault count over time step and a fault duration step. The intermittent fault count step is satisfied if a pre-determined number of separate faults are detected over a first time period. The fault duration step is satisfied if a fault is detected which persists for longer than a second time period. The controller issues the activation signal upon determination of a failure status on the spur which satisfies the intermittent fault count and/or the fault duration step of the algorithm.