An automation system has a plurality of subscribers including a first master unit, first distributor, second master unit, second distributor, and at least another subscriber unit. First and second transmitting/receiving devices of the first and second distributor are connected via a ring-shaped data bus. In a first mode, the first distributor forwards telegrams received from the first master unit to the first transmitting/receiving device, and forwards telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first master unit. The second distributor also forwards first telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second transmitting/receiving device. In a second mode, the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the second master unit to the second transmitting/receiving device, and the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second master unit. The first distributor also forwards telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first transmitting/receiving device.

This control system is provided with a controller, a controller which is a loopback communication device, a first communication route, and a second communication route. The controller generates and transmits control frames to slave devices. The controller performs loopback communication of the control frames. In the first communication route, multiple slave devices are connected between the controller and the controller using communication cables. In the second communication route, the first controller and the second controller are connected over a communication cable.

A communication path in a loop form is formed by trunk lines and a redundant communication path, which is formed by a switch and a backup line. In order to be applied to a bus-type communication network such as a CAN, the switch is normally off, and the backup line is disconnected from a path in a steady state. A disconnection detection unit is provided at each of joint connectors. When any disconnection detection unit detects disconnection, the switch is closed to enable use of the redundant path. Further, content of a routing map of a central gateway is automatically rewritten to preferentially select the redundant path that is not disconnected, and thus the path is changed.

Methods of synchronizing sequence numbers of a number of devices of a network are disclosed. A method may include incrementing, at each of a first device and a second device of a network, a sequence number, wherein the sequence number is indicative of a number of frames generated at the associated device since the timing event. The method may also include inserting, at each of the first device and the second device, the sequence number into an associated frame. Related networks and devices are also disclosed.

A data processing device includes a first CPU (Central Processing Unit), a first memory, a CAN (Controller Area Network) controller and a system bus coupled to the first CPU, the first memory and the CAN controller, wherein the CAN controller comprises a receive buffer that stores a plurality of messages each of which has a different ID, and a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller that selects the latest message among messages having a fist ID stored in the receive buffer and transfers the selected latest message to the first memory, wherein the message is one of CAN, CAN FD and CAN XL messages.

One or more commercial appliances for handling food and/or one of more subsystems of commercial appliances for handling food are linked to a master controller for controlling the operation of the commercial appliance(s) and/or its subsystem(s) via one or more CAN modules and a CAN bus.

An apparatus for providing a redundant communication within a vehicle architecture is disclosed. The vehicle architecture includes a plurality of commanded units, each being configured to be controlled by redundant communication lines. The apparatus includes at least a first control unit and a second control unit, which are connected by an interlink communication line and which are each configured to: communicate with the commanded units through one of the redundant communications lines; and communicate with each other through the communication lines by controlling at least one of the plurality of commanded units to act as a gateway unit and to forward information between the redundant communication lines.

A vehicle (2) comprising at least one working unit (4) and a vehicle control system (6) comprising control units for controlling the vehicle to work in accordance with one or many working procedures. The vehicle is provided with a plurality of sensor units (12) configured to generate a sensor signal (14). Each control unit (8) is configured to determine control signals (18) to control its working unit (4), and the control unit designated to the vehicle is configured to determine control signals to control the vehicle, and also to determine control signals (18) for controlling at least one of the other working units (4) or the vehicle, and specifically to determine control signals (18) capable of controlling steps of a working procedure. At each point in time one of the control units is a master control unit being the control unit that is responsible for controlling its own working unit (4) and also at least one other working unit (4), and that at least two control units (8) are configured to be a master control unit. A determination procedure is provided to continuously determine if handover to another control unit, then being the new master control unit, should be made, and enabling the new master control unit to take control in accordance with the current working procedure if handover has been determined.

Methods of synchronizing sequence numbers of a number of devices of a network are disclosed. A method may include incrementing, at each of a first device and a second device of a network, a sequence number, wherein the sequence number is indicative of a number of frames generated at the associated device since the timing event. The method may also include inserting, at each of the first device and the second device, the sequence number into an associated frame. Related networks and devices are also disclosed.

A fail-safe system for a cluster application is disclosed. The system includes a first subsystem comprising a graphic processing unit (GPU) that executes a high-level operating system renders a first set of parameter data, and a second subsystem that executes a real-time operating system and renders a second set of parameter data. The system also includes a controller area network connected to a parameter data source input and to the first subsystem and the second subsystem. The system further includes a quality of service (QoS) switch executing a QoS monitor module that decides to display the first set of parameter data being rendered by the first subsystem or the second set of parameter data being rendered by the second subsystem depending on an availability and load of the first subsystem as determined by a lag and a stability threshold. The system further includes a display connected to the QoS switch.