PRIMARY COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COUPLING MODULE AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a primary communication device, in particular a communication master, a coupling module for a secondary communication device, in particular a communication slave, and a communication system comprising a primary communication device, several coupling modules and several secondary communication devices.

[0002] A data bus in the form of a copper cable can be used to transmit data between a central device and subordinate devices. The central device and the subordinate devices can be connected to this bus. Data transmission can be controlled, for example, by a communication protocol according to the IEC 60870-5-103 or IEC 60870-5-101 standard. In this case, the central device, which can be configured as a communication master, sends a telecommunications telegram to all subordinate devices. Only the addressed subordinate device can process the received communication telegram. If a fiber optic network is used as the communication network, a point-to-point connection must be implemented from the central device to each individual subordinate device. A fiber optic star coupler can be used for this purpose, which couples a light signal into multiple optical fibers simultaneously.

[0003] Such optical fiber star couplers are known and can be found, for example, on the internet at the URL https: / / de.wikipedia.org / wiki / sternkoppler , described. Such star couplers are designed as hardware-based network components and are used, for example, to couple a communication telegram in the form of light signals into multiple optical fibers simultaneously. A star coupler like this has a fixed number of ports for connecting optical fibers.

[0004] From DE 41 06 726 B4 a passive NxN star coupler of the reflection type is known, which is used in a communication network for motor vehicles. From WO 2020 / 232494 A1 a data communication system is also known in which a similar, hardware-based distributor is used.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of creating a primary communication device, a coupling module, and a communication system that enable cost-effective communication between a primary communication device and several secondary communication devices connected to the communication system via fiber optic cables, without requiring a hardware-based fiber optic star coupler with a fixed number of ports. An advantageous aspect of this is that a communication system can be scaled quickly and cost-effectively.

[0006] A key concept of the invention is to create a communication system that enables communication between a primary communication device and several secondary communication devices, particularly in a master / slave configuration, wherein the secondary communication devices are each connected to the communication system via at least one optical fiber. Instead of using a hardware-based star coupler, a software-based star coupler functionality is implemented in the primary communication device, which performs the functions of a hardware star coupler.

[0007] The aforementioned technical problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of claims 2 to 5.

[0008] Accordingly, a primary communication device is provided, which may have the following features: A bus interface configured for connecting the primary communication device to a data bus, a storage device in which software is stored, and a control unit configured to cause the primary communication device, while executing the software, to provide a communication telegram for a predetermined secondary communication device, to insert into the communication telegram a first address assigned to the predetermined secondary communication device, to copy the communication telegram n times, where n is greater than 1, to insert into each of the copied communication telegrams a second address, the second addresses being different and each assigned to a separate coupling module, and to send each of the copied communication telegrams via the bus interface.

[0009] It should be noted that the first address can be a broadcast address or an address uniquely assigned to the predetermined secondary communication device. Using a broadcast address, the primary communication device can send a single communication telegram to all secondary communication devices, for example, to synchronize the time.

[0010] The primary communication device functions as a master communication device, and the secondary communication devices function as slave communication devices.

[0011] The software stored in the memory device contains a first program that implements a communication protocol supporting master / slave operation, and a second program that implements star coupler functionality. Master / slave operation refers specifically to a call-based operation in which the primary communication device requests secondary communication devices to transmit data, such as current measurement values, to the primary communication device.

[0012] The second program, which performs a star coupler function, is aware of the implemented communication infrastructure, unlike the communication protocol. Therefore, when executed by the control unit, the second program causes the primary communication device to copy the communication telegram n times (where n is greater than 1), insert a second address into each copied communication telegram (these second addresses are different and each is assigned to a separate coupling module), and send each copied communication telegram via the bus interface. The parameter n preferably corresponds to the number of secondary communication devices with which the primary communication device forms a communication group.

[0013] The first program preferably implements a communication protocol for serial data transmission. Preferably, the communication protocol is, for example, a Modbus protocol, a communication protocol according to the IEC 60870-5-103 standard, or a communication protocol according to the IEC 60870-5-101 standard. The bus interface can be designed as a serial bus interface.

[0014] Preferably, the primary communication device functions as a control unit. It can be configured for use in remote control or station management systems. To increase the flexibility and scalability of the primary communication device, an additional bus interface can be provided for connecting the primary communication device to another data bus. The control unit can preferably be configured to execute the software stored in the primary communication device and cause it to send each of the copied communication telegrams via the bus interface or the additional bus interface. Preferably, an identifier for the bus interface or the additional bus interface can be inserted into each copied communication telegram for this purpose.

[0015] In order to enable flexible data transmission, preferably decoupled from the transmission speed, the control unit of the primary communication device can be configured, by executing the software, to cause the primary communication device to segment at least some of the copied communication telegrams and to send the segments of each segmented communication telegram individually via the bus interface.

[0016] The aforementioned technical problem is further solved by the features of claim 6. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of claims 7 to 10.

[0017] Accordingly, a coupling module is provided which can have the following features: A bus interface configured for connecting the coupling module to a data bus, wherein the coupling module is assigned a unique address, an electro-optical converter device with an optical transmitting and receiving device, a single optical fiber connection device configured for connecting a single secondary communication device by means of at least one optical fiber, a storage device in which software is stored, and a control and evaluation device configured to cause the coupling module to execute the software stored in the coupling module from a communication telegram arriving at the bus interface, which contains a first address assigned to a secondary communication device and a second address assigned to a coupling module.to read the second address and only feed the communication telegram via the electro-optical converter device to the single fiber optic connection device if the read second address matches the unique address assigned to the coupling module.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the electro-optical converter device can include a light-emitting device that can be used not only as a light transmitter but also as a receiver photodiode. In this case, the optical fiber connection device has only one connection for connecting a single optical fiber, which can be used in both transmit and receive modes. This is particularly advantageous when the coupling module is to operate in half-duplex mode.

[0019] To ensure full-duplex communication, the electro-optical converter unit comprises two separate electro-optical converters: one for optical transmission and one for optical reception. In this case, the single fiber optic connection unit has two separate terminals, each capable of accepting a fiber optic cable for transmission and a fiber optic cable for reception.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the control and evaluation unit of the coupling module can be configured to cause the coupling module, by executing the software stored in the coupling module, to remove the second address from the communication telegram and to transmit only the correspondingly processed communication telegram via the single fiber optic connection device.

[0021] The bus interface of the coupling module can be designed as a serial bus interface.

[0022] According to an advantageous further development, the control and evaluation unit of the coupling module can further be configured to cause the coupling module, by executing the software stored in the coupling module, to send a communication telegram arriving at the single fiber optic connection device, which contains an address uniquely assigned to a secondary communication device, via the bus interface using the electro-optical converter device.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment, the control and evaluation unit of the coupling module can be configured to cause the coupling module, by executing the software stored in the coupling module, to reassemble the segments of a segmented communication telegram arriving at the bus interface into the original communication telegram.

[0024] The aforementioned technical problem is also solved by the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of claims 12 to 15.

[0025] The communication system is particularly suitable for use in remote control or station control technology.

[0026] The communication system may have the following features:

[0027] A data bus, a primary communication device according to one of claims 1 to 5, which is connected to the

[0028] connected to the data bus, several first coupling modules according to one of claims 6 to 10, each of which is connected to the data bus, wherein each of the first coupling modules is assigned a unique address.

[0029] A single first secondary communication device is connected to the single fiber optic connection of each coupling module via at least one fiber optic cable, with each first secondary communication device being assigned a unique address, where n, i.e., the number of copy operations, is equal to the number of first coupling modules. It should be noted that n can be stored as an adjustable or programmable parameter in the primary communication device.

[0030] Each of the first secondary communication devices has a storage device in which software is stored, an optical fiber connection device, an electro-optical converter device with an optical transmitting and

[0031] A receiving unit and a control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit of each of the first secondary communication devices is configured to cause the first secondary communication device to, by executing the software stored in the first secondary communication device, from a communication telegram received via the fiber optic connection device, which contains a first address, to read the first address and check it for correspondence with the unique address assigned to the respective first secondary communication device, and if there is a match, to generate a reply telegram depending on the received communication telegram and to send this via the electro-optical converter device of the fiber optic connection device.

[0032] The data bus is preferably designed as a serial bus. The data bus can also be a peripheral bus, for example. In this case, the primary communication device and the coupling modules can preferably be housed in a common enclosure.

[0033] According to an advantageous further development, the primary communication device can be configured to receive a response telegram from one of the first secondary communication devices at its bus interface, wherein the control unit of the primary communication device can be configured to evaluate and / or forward and / or process the received response telegram by executing the software stored in the primary communication device.

[0034] To increase the flexibility and application possibilities of the communication system, several second coupling modules according to any one of claims 6 to 10 can be provided, each connected to the data bus. Each of the second coupling modules is assigned a unique address, and a second secondary communication device is connected to the single fiber optic connection of each of the second coupling modules via at least one fiber optic cable, with each of the second secondary communication devices also being assigned a unique address. The primary communication device and the first coupling modules can be considered a first communication group, whereas the primary communication device and the second coupling modules can be considered a second communication group.The control unit of the primary communication device is preferably further configured to cause the primary communication device to function by executing the software stored in the primary communication device. to provide a second communication telegram for a predetermined second secondary communication device, to insert into the second communication telegram a first address assigned to the predetermined second secondary communication device, to copy the second communication telegram m times where m is greater than 1 and equal to the number of second coupling modules, to insert into each of the copied communication telegrams a second address, the second addresses being different and each assigned to one of the second coupling modules, and to send each of the copied communication telegrams via the bus interface.

[0035] To further increase flexibility and application possibilities, an additional data bus can be provided to which the primary communication device and several third coupling modules according to any one of claims 7 to 11 are connected. Each of the third coupling modules is assigned a unique address, and a third secondary communication device is connected to the single fiber optic connection of each of the third coupling modules via at least one fiber optic cable. Each of the third secondary communication devices is assigned a unique address.

[0036] The invention is subsequently described in conjunction with the only Figure 1 explained in more detail.

[0037] In Figure 1 An exemplary communication system 10 is shown, which can be used, for example, in remote control or station control technology.

[0038] The exemplary communication system preferably includes a primary communication device 20, which can, for example, be operated as a communication master. The primary communication device 20 can function as a control unit, for example as a programmable logic controller (PLC).

[0039] The exemplary primary communication device 20 has, among other things, a bus interface 26, which is designed for connecting the primary communication device 20 to a data bus 70. It should be noted at this point that the data bus is preferably designed for bit-serial data transmission. The data bus can also be a peripheral bus.

[0040] Several coupling modules can be connected to the data bus. According to the exemplary communication system 10, four coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 110 are connected to the data bus 70. For this purpose, coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 110 each have a bus interface 35, 55, 85, and 105, respectively. It should be noted at this point that the bus interfaces 26, 35, 55, 85, and 105 can be configured, for example, according to the Modbus communication protocol, a communication protocol according to the IEC 60870-5-101 standard, or the IEC 60870-5-103 standard.

[0041] The primary communication device 20 can, for example, have a further bus interface 25, which is configured for connecting the primary communication device to a further data bus 71. The bus interface 25 can also be configured, for example, according to the Modbus communication protocol, a communication protocol according to the IEC 60870-5-101 standard, or the IEC 60870-5-103 standard. Additional connection modules can be connected to the further data bus 71 in a similar manner to the data bus 70, with two connection couplings 120 and 140 being shown in the exemplary communication system.

[0042] The exemplary primary communication device 20 further preferably comprises a storage device 23 in which software for monitoring and controlling the primary communication device 20 is stored. The storage device can have several separate memories. Furthermore, a control unit 22, which can be configured as a microcontroller or microprocessor, is arranged in the primary communication device.

[0043] The control unit 22 is designed to cause the primary communication device 20 to function by executing the software stored in the storage device 23. a) to generate or provide a communication telegram for a predetermined secondary communication device, b) to insert a first address assigned to the predetermined secondary communication device into the communication telegram, c) to copy the communication telegram n times, where n is greater than 1, d) to insert a second address into each of the copied communication telegrams, the second addresses being different and each assigned to a separate coupling module, and e) to transmit each of the copied communication telegrams via bus interface 26 or, if the primary communication device 20 has the additional bus interface 25, via the additional bus interface 25.

[0044] Advantageously, the software comprises a first program that implements a communication protocol supporting master / slave operation, and a second program that implements star coupler functionality. Preferably, the software also includes firmware or an operating system.

[0045] It should be noted here that, when executing the first program, the control unit 22 causes the primary communication system 20 to execute steps a) and b). Advantageously, when executing the second program, the control unit 22 causes the primary communication device 20 to execute steps c) to e).

[0046] The first program, when executed by the control unit 22, can cause the primary communication device to, for example, control serial data transmission, using, for example, a Modbus protocol, a communication protocol according to standard IEC 60870-5-101, or according to standard IEC 60870-5-103. Bus interface 26 and, if present, bus interface 25 can be configured as serial bus interfaces.

[0047] To enable flexible data transmission, i.e., data transmission decoupled from the transmission speed, the control unit 22 can be configured to cause the primary communication device 20, by executing the software stored in the primary communication device 20, and more precisely by executing the first program, to segment at least some of the copied communication telegrams and to send the segments of each segmented communication telegram individually via the bus interface 26 or, if available, via the bus interface 25. The primary communication device 20 can include a further storage device 21 in which at least one application program is stored, which contains, for example, the function block of a communication master and / or instructions for controlling a specific application.

[0048] As explained above, each coupling module has a bus interface for connection to data bus 70 or data bus 71.

[0049] Since the coupling modules can preferably be constructed and operated identically or similarly, the exemplary construction and operation of the coupling modules are explained below primarily using coupling module 30 as an example. The following explanations regarding coupling module 30 therefore also apply to coupling modules 50, 80, 100, 120, and 140.

[0050] The coupling module 30 comprises an electro-optical converter unit 33 with an optical transmitter and receiver. Depending on the implementation, the electro-optical converter unit can have two separate electro-optical converters, namely one for transmitting light signals and one for receiving light signals. In this way, full-duplex data transmission is possible. If half-duplex communication is to be implemented, the electro-optical converter unit 33 can include a light-emitting component, for example an LED, which can function as a light source in transmit mode and as a photodiode in receive mode.

[0051] Furthermore, the coupling module 30 has a single optical fiber connection device 34 connected to the electro-optic converter device 33. Depending on whether full-duplex or half-duplex communication operation is implemented, this connection device has either a single port for connecting a single optical fiber 160 or two ports, to which one optical fiber for receiving and a second optical fiber for transmitting light signals can be connected. For the sake of simplicity, in the present example, it is assumed that the communication system 10 is to be operated in half-duplex mode. Therefore, the electro-optic converter device 33 has a single light-emitting component for transmitting and receiving light signals. It should be noted here that the operating principle of electro-optic converter devices is known per se.In the present embodiment, the electro-optical converter device 33 converts electrical signals, representing a communication telegram, into light signals in transmit mode, which are transmitted via the optical fiber connection device 34, while in receive mode it converts the light signals arriving at the optical fiber connection device 34 into electrical signals, which again represent a communication telegram, and feeds them to the bus interface 35.

[0052] A single secondary communication device 40 can be connected to the single optical fiber connection device 34 of the coupling module 30 by means of at least one optical fiber 160. Furthermore, the coupling module 30 can have a storage device 31 in which software is stored.Furthermore, the coupling module 30 preferably comprises a control and evaluation unit 32, which is configured, by executing the software stored in the storage device 31, to cause the coupling module 30 to read the second address from an electrical communication telegram arriving at the bus interface 35, which contains a first address assigned to a secondary communication device and a second address assigned to a coupling module, and to transmit the communication telegram via the electro-optical converter unit 33 to the single fiber optic connection unit 34 only if the read second address matches the unique address assigned to the coupling module 30. It should be noted that the unique address of the coupling module 30 can also be stored in the storage device 31.Advantageously, the control and evaluation unit 32 of the coupling module 30 is configured to, by executing the software stored in the memory unit 31, cause the coupling module 30 to remove the second address from the communication telegram and to supply the processed communication telegram to the electro-optical converter unit 33. It should also be noted that the control and evaluation unit 32 can be a microcontroller or a microprocessor.

[0053] The control and evaluation unit 32 can further be configured, by executing the software stored in the storage unit 31, to cause the coupling module 30 to transmit an optical signal arriving at the single fiber optic connection unit 34, which represents a communication telegram containing an address uniquely assigned to the secondary communication device 40, via the electro-optical converter unit 33 as an electrical signal to the bus interface 35 for transmission via the data bus 70. Furthermore, the control and evaluation unit 32 of the coupling module 30 can be configured, by executing the software stored in the storage unit 31, to cause the coupling module 30 to reassemble the segments of a segmented communication telegram arriving at the bus interface 35 into the original communication telegram.

[0054] The remaining coupling modules 50, 80, 100, 120, and 140 also feature a control and evaluation unit 52, 82, and 102 respectively, a storage device 51, 81, and 101 for storing software, an electro-optical converter device 53, 83, and 103 respectively, and a single fiber optic connection device 54, 84, and 104 respectively. For the sake of simplicity, the corresponding components in the coupling modules 120 and 140 are not shown.

[0055] For the sake of illustration, let us assume that the exemplary communication system 10, as already mentioned, supports half-duplex communication operation. This means that all electro-optical converter devices, i.e., also converter devices 53, 83, and 103, each have a single light-emitting component that functions, for example, as a light-emitting diode in transmit mode and as a photodiode in receive mode. Accordingly, each optical fiber connection device, and thus also optical fiber connection devices 54, 84, and 104, and the corresponding optical fiber connection devices of the coupling modules 120 and 140, each has only one connection for connecting an optical fiber 161, 162, 163, 164, or 165, which is used for both transmit and receive operation. Figure 1As further shown, a secondary communication device 60 is connected to the single fiber optic connection device 54 of the coupling module 50 via the fiber optic cable 161, a secondary communication device 90 is connected to the single fiber optic connection device 84 of the coupling module 80 via the fiber optic cable 162, a secondary communication device 110 is connected to the single fiber optic connection device 104 via the fiber optic cable 163, a secondary communication device 130 is connected to the single fiber optic connection device of the coupling module 120 via the fiber optic cable 164, and a secondary communication device 150 is connected to the single fiber optic connection device of the coupling module 140 via the fiber optic cable 165.

[0056] Similar to the secondary communication device 40, the secondary communication devices 60, 90, and 110 may each comprise a storage device 61, 91, and 111, respectively, a control unit 62, 92, and 112, respectively, an electro-optical converter device 63, 93, and 113, respectively, and an optical fiber connection device 64, 94, and 114, respectively. The secondary communication devices 130 and 150 may preferably comprise the same components (not shown).

[0057] Each of the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, 110, 130 and 150 is preferably assigned a unique address and, depending on the implementation, for example a broadcast address, which may be stored in the respective storage device.

[0058] The control and evaluation unit 42 of the secondary communication device 40 can be configured to, by executing the software stored in the storage device 41, cause the secondary communication device 40 to read the first address from a communication telegram received via the fiber optic connection device 44, which contains a first address, and to check for correspondence with the unique address assigned to the secondary communication device 40, and, if there is a match, to generate a reply telegram depending on the received communication telegram and to supply this via the electro-optical converter device 43 for transmission to the fiber optic connection device 44.It goes without saying that the light signals received at the optical fiber connection device 44, which represent the communication telegram, are first converted into an electrical signal by means of the electro-optical converter device 43, which is then supplied to the control and evaluation device 42 for further processing. It should be noted that the structure and operation of the other secondary communication devices may be identical or at least similar to the operation and structure of the secondary communication device 40. Therefore, the explanations regarding the secondary communication device 40 also apply to the secondary communication devices 60, 90, 110, 130, and 150.

[0059] The functionality of the exemplary communication system 10 is explained below using some exemplary scenarios. 1. Example scenario

[0060] First, assume that the optional bus interface 25 of the primary communication device 20 is deactivated or not present at all. Furthermore, according to the first scenario, assume a communication infrastructure in which the primary communication device 20, the coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 100, and the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110 form a communication group. For the sake of simplicity, further assume that the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110 are temperature sensors and that, according to an exemplary use case, the primary communication device 20, acting as the communication master, is to query temperature values ​​from the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110.

[0061] The primary communication device 20 now starts, for example, the application program stored in the storage device 21 and, by executing the first program stored in the storage device 23, generates a communication telegram for a predetermined secondary communication device, in this case initially for the secondary communication device 40. During the execution of the first program, the control unit 22 instructs the primary communication device 20 to insert the address uniquely assigned to the secondary communication device 40 as the first address in the communication telegram. Furthermore, a command is inserted into the communication telegram requesting a secondary communication device to transmit its current temperature data. The primary communication device 20, or rather the second program, is aware of the configuration of the communication infrastructure of the communication system 10, i.e.,It knows the unique addresses of the coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 100 and the parameter n, which corresponds to the number of coupling modules in the communication group. In this case, the parameter n is 4. Consequently, the control unit 22, preferably by executing the second program which implements the star coupler functionality, causes the primary communication device 20 to copy the generated communication telegram with the address of the secondary communication device 40 four times and to insert a second address into each of the four copied communication telegrams, wherein the second addresses are different and each is assigned to one of the coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 100.In other words, the unique address of coupling module 30 is inserted into the first copied communication telegram, the unique address of coupling module 50 into the second copied communication telegram, the unique address of coupling module 80 into the third copied communication telegram, and the unique address of coupling module 100 into the fourth copied communication telegram. Furthermore, the control unit 22, preferably by executing the second program, causes the primary communication device 20 to transmit all four copied communication telegrams sequentially via bus interface 26 and bus 70. The four copied communication telegrams, transmitted as electrical signals via bus 70, are received at bus interfaces 35, 55, 85, and 105 of coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 100, respectively.The control and evaluation unit of each of the coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 100, by executing its stored software, instructs the respective coupling module to read the second address, which represents a unique address of a coupling module, from each of the four copied communication telegrams arriving at the respective bus interface and to compare it with the unique address stored in the respective coupling module. Only the copied communication telegram whose second address matches the unique address assigned to the respective coupling module is then fed via the electro-optical converter unit to the single fiber optic connection unit.

[0062] In the present case, this means that Only the control and evaluation unit 32 causes the coupling module 30 to feed the first copied communication telegram, which contains the unique address of the coupling module 30, via the electro-optical converter unit 33 to the single fiber optic connection unit 34 and to transmit it as a light signal via the fiber optic cable 160 to the secondary communication device 40. It should also be noted that the second address is preferably removed from the first copied communication telegram before forwarding. Only the control and evaluation unit 52 causes the coupling module 50 to feed the second copied communication telegram, which contains the unique address of the coupling module 50, via the electro-optical converter unit 53 to the single fiber optic connection unit 54 and to transmit it as a light signal via the fiber optic cable 161 to the secondary communication device 60. It should also be noted thatthat the second address is preferably removed from the second copied communication telegram before forwarding, only the control and evaluation unit 82 causes the coupling module 80 to supply the third copied communication telegram, which contains the unique address of the coupling module 80, via the electro-optical converter unit 83 to the single fiber optic connection unit 84 and to transmit it as a light signal via the fiber optic cable 162 to the secondary communication device 90. It should also be noted that the second address is preferably removed from the third copied communication telegram before forwarding, and only the control and evaluation unit 102 causes the coupling module 100 to supply the fourth copied communication telegram, which contains the unique address of the coupling module 100,to be supplied via the electro-optical converter device 103 to the single optical fiber connection device 104 and transmitted as an optical signal via the optical fiber 163 to the secondary communication device 110. It should also be noted that the second address is preferably removed from the fourth copied communication telegram before forwarding.

[0063] In this way, the communication telegram generated by the primary communication device 20, which is intended for the secondary communication device 40, is transmitted in copied form via the respective optical fibers to all secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110. However, the received communication telegram is only accepted by secondary communication device 40 and rejected by all other secondary communication devices. This is because the unique address of secondary communication device 40 is contained as the first address in every received communication telegram. Specifically, the first copied communication telegram, received as an optical signal, is first converted into a corresponding electrical communication telegram via the electro-optical converter 43.The control and evaluation unit 42, executing the software stored in the storage unit 41, instructs the secondary communication device 40 to read the first address from the received communication telegram and compare it to the unique address of the secondary communication device stored in the storage unit 41. Only the control and evaluation unit 42 determines a match between the first address contained in the communication telegram and the address uniquely assigned to the secondary communication device 40.Accordingly, only the control and evaluation unit 42 causes the secondary communication device 40 to generate a response telegram in response to the command contained in the communication telegram, in which the current temperature and the unique address of the secondary communication device 40 are stored, and to supply this response telegram as a light signal via the electro-optical converter unit 43 to the optical fiber connection unit 44 and to transmit it via the optical fiber 160 to the coupling module 30.

[0064] The coupling module 30 receives the optical response telegram at the fiber optic connection device 34, which is converted into a corresponding electrical response telegram by means of the electro-optical converter device 33 and transmitted to the primary communication device 20 via the bus interface 35 and the data bus 70. The control unit 22 of the primary communication device 20 is configured to process the received response telegram, for example, by executing the software stored in the primary communication device 20 (preferably the second program), and to transfer the current temperature values ​​contained therein to the application program stored in the storage device 21 for further use.

[0065] To query the current temperature values ​​of the other secondary communication devices 60, 90, and 110, three further communication telegrams are generated by the primary communication device 20, for example, in the manner described above. Each of these telegrams contains a different unique address of the secondary communication devices 60, 90, and 110. Each of the three communication telegrams is then copied four times and transmitted sequentially via bus interface 26 and bus 70 to the coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 100. The previously described procedure is then repeated for each of the copied communication telegrams. At the end of the example communication cycle, the primary communication device 20 has received the current temperature values ​​of each of the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110. 2. Example scenario

[0066] First, let us again assume that the optional bus interface 25 of the primary communication device 20 is deactivated or not present at all.

[0067] Furthermore, according to the second scenario, a communication infrastructure is assumed in which the primary communication device 20, the coupling modules 30, 50, and the secondary communication devices 40, 60 form a first communication group, while the primary communication device 20, the coupling modules 80, 100, and the secondary communication devices 90, 110 form a second communication group. For the sake of simplicity, it is further assumed that the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110 are temperature sensors, and that, according to an exemplary use case, the primary communication device 20, acting as the communication master, is to query temperature values ​​from the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110. It should also be noted that the primary communication device 20, or rather the second program, is aware of the configuration of the communication infrastructure of communication system 10.It knows the first communication group and thus the unique addresses of coupling modules 30 and 50, and the parameter n, which corresponds to the number of coupling modules in the first communication group, as well as the second communication group and thus the unique addresses of coupling modules 80 and 100, and the parameter m, which corresponds to the number of coupling modules in the second communication group. In this case, parameters n and m are each 2.

[0068] The primary communication device 20 now initiates communication for the first communication group. To do this, the primary communication device 20 accesses, for example, the application program stored in the memory unit 21 and, by executing the first program stored in the memory unit 23, generates a communication telegram for a predetermined secondary communication device, in this case initially for the secondary communication device 40 of the first communication group. During the execution of the first program, the control unit 22 instructs the primary communication device 20 to insert the address uniquely assigned to the secondary communication device 40 as the first address in the communication telegram. Furthermore, a command is inserted into the communication telegram requesting the secondary communication device to transmit its current temperature data.

[0069] The control unit 22, preferably by executing the second program which implements the star coupler functionality, now causes the primary communication device 20 to copy the generated communication telegram with the address of the secondary communication device 40 twice and to insert a second address into each of the four copied communication telegrams. These second addresses are different and each is assigned to one of the coupling modules 30 and 50. In other words, the unique address of coupling module 30 is inserted into the first copied communication telegram, and the unique address of coupling module 50 is inserted into the second copied communication telegram. Furthermore, preferably by executing the second program, the control unit 22 causes the primary communication device 20 to transmit the two copied communication telegrams sequentially via bus interface 26 and bus 70.The two copied communication telegrams, each transmitted as electrical signals via bus 70, are received at bus interfaces 35 and 55 of the coupling modules 30 and 50, respectively. The control and evaluation unit of each coupling module 30 and 50, executing its stored software, prompts the respective coupling module to read the second address from each of the two copied communication telegrams arriving at the respective bus interface. This second address represents a unique address of a coupling module and is compared with the unique address stored in the respective coupling module. Only the copied communication telegram whose second address matches the unique address assigned to the respective coupling module is then fed via the electro-optical converter to the single fiber optic connection device.

[0070] In the present case, this means that Only the control and evaluation unit 32 causes the coupling module 30 to feed the first copied communication telegram, which contains the unique address of the coupling module 30, via the electro-optical converter unit 33 to the single fiber optic connection unit 34 and to transmit it as a light signal via the fiber optic cable 160 to the secondary communication device 40. It should also be noted that the second address is preferably removed from the first copied communication telegram before forwarding, and only the control and evaluation unit 52 causes the coupling module 50 to feed the second copied communication telegram, which contains the unique address of the coupling module 50, via the electro-optical converter unit 53 to the single fiber optic connection unit 54 and to transmit it as a light signal via the fiber optic cable 161 to the secondary communication device 60. It should also be noted thatthat the second address is preferably removed from the second copied communication telegram before forwarding.

[0071] In this way, the communication telegram generated by the primary communication device 20, which is intended for the secondary communication device 40, is transmitted in copied form to the two secondary communication devices 40 and 60 via the respective optical fibers. However, the received communication telegram is only accepted by secondary communication device 40 and rejected by secondary communication device 60. This is because the unique address of secondary communication device 40 is contained as the first address in every received communication telegram. Specifically, the first copied communication telegram, received as an optical signal, is first converted into a corresponding electrical communication telegram via the electro-optical converter 43.The control and evaluation unit 42, executing the software stored in the storage unit 41, instructs the secondary communication device 40 to read the first address from the received communication telegram and compare it to the unique address of the secondary communication device stored in the storage unit 41. Only the control and evaluation unit 42 determines a match between the first address contained in the communication telegram and the address uniquely assigned to the secondary communication device 40.Accordingly, only the control and evaluation unit 42 causes the secondary communication device 40 to generate a response telegram in response to the command contained in the communication telegram, in which the current temperature and the unique address of the secondary communication device 40 are stored, and to supply this response telegram as a light signal via the electro-optical converter unit 43 to the optical fiber connection unit 44 and to transmit it via the optical fiber 160 to the coupling module 30.

[0072] The coupling module 30 receives the optical response telegram at the fiber optic connection device 34, which is converted into a corresponding electrical response telegram by means of the electro-optical converter device 33 and transmitted to the primary communication device 20 via the bus interface 35 and the data bus 70. The control unit 22 of the primary communication device 20 is configured to process the received response telegram, for example, by executing the software stored in the primary communication device 20 (preferably the second program), and to transfer the current temperature values ​​contained therein to the application program stored in the storage device 21 for further use.

[0073] To query the current temperature value of secondary communication device 60, for example, a further communication telegram is generated by primary communication device 20 in the manner described above, into which the unique address of secondary communication device 60 is inserted. This further communication telegram is then copied twice. The copied communication telegrams are then transmitted sequentially via bus interface 26 and bus 70 to the coupling modules 30 and 50. At the end of the exemplary communication cycle, primary communication device 20 has the current temperature values ​​of the two secondary communication devices 40 and 60 of the first communication group.

[0074] The primary communication device 20 now initiates communication with the second communication group to obtain the current temperature readings from the two secondary communication devices 90 and 110 of the second communication group. Since this communication is essentially identical to that of the first communication group, reference is made to the detailed description above of the operation of communication system 10 with regard to the first communication group to avoid repetition. 3. Example scenario

[0075] A third exemplary scenario is described below, in which bus interface 25 is also present and / or activated. It is now assumed that the primary communication device 20, the coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 100, and the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110 form a first communication group, while the primary communication device 20, the coupling modules 120 and 140 connected to the second data bus 71, and the secondary communication devices 130 and 150 form a second communication group. For example, the two secondary communication devices 130 and 150 are also temperature sensors.

[0076] Accordingly, the primary communication device 20 or the second program is configured and parameterized such that a) the unique addresses of coupling modules 30, 50, 80 and 100 and the unique addresses of secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90 and 110 are assigned to the first communication group, with the parameter n, which corresponds to the number of coupling modules of the first communication group, being set to four, and b) the unique addresses of coupling modules 120 and 140 and the unique addresses of secondary communication devices 130 and 150 are assigned to the second communication group, with the parameter m, which corresponds to the number of coupling modules of the second communication group, being set to 2.

[0077] Furthermore, the primary communication device 20 is configured or programmed such that all communication telegrams or copied communication telegrams containing the unique address of coupling module 120 or coupling module 140 are transmitted via bus interface 25 and data bus 71, while all communication telegrams or copied communication telegrams containing the unique address of coupling modules 30, 50, 80, or 100 are transmitted via bus interface 26 and data bus 70. This can be achieved, for example, by assigning a unique identifier to each of the two bus interfaces 25 and 26, which is inserted into the respective copied communication telegrams, for example, by the second program.

[0078] The operation of communication system 10 with respect to the first communication group essentially corresponds to that of the first scenario, with the difference that the primary communication device 20 is further configured to transmit all copied communication telegrams containing the unique address of one of the coupling modules 30, 50, 80, and 100 via bus interface 26, and to assign all reply telegrams containing the unique address of one of the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110 to the first communication group. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the description of scenario 1. As a result, at the end of the communication cycle, the primary communication device 20 will have received the current temperature values ​​from the secondary communication devices 40, 60, 90, and 110.

[0079] The operation of communication system 10 with respect to the second communication group essentially corresponds to the operation described in the second scenario with respect to the first or second communication group, with the difference that the primary communication device 20 is further configured to transmit all copied communication telegrams containing the unique address of one of the two coupling modules 120 and 140 via the bus interface 25, and to assign all reply telegrams containing the unique address of one of the two secondary communication devices 130 and 150 to the second communication group. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the description of scenario 2. As a result, at the end of the communication cycle, the primary communication device 20 will have received the current temperature values ​​from the secondary communication devices 130 and 150.

[0080] It should also be noted that the second program, which implements the star coupler functionality, can be implemented as part of a firmware that can also be stored in memory device 23, or as a separate application program that can be stored, for example, in memory device 21.

Claims

1. A primary communication apparatus (20) comprising: a bus interface (26) which is adapted to connect the primary communication apparatus (20) to a data bus (70), a memory device (23) in which software is stored, wherein the software comprises a first program that implements a communication protocol supporting a master / slave operation and a second program that implements a star coupler functionality, and a control unit (22) which is adapted, when executing the first program, to cause the primary communication apparatus (20) - to provide a communication telegram for a predetermined secondary communication apparatus (40, 60, 90, 110), wherein the control unit (22) is further adapted, when executing the second program, to cause the primary communication apparatus (20) - to insert into the communication telegram a first address assigned to the predetermined secondary communication apparatus (40, 60, 90, 110), - to copy the communication telegram n times, wherein n is greater than 1, - to insert into each of the copied communication telegrams a second address, wherein the second addresses are all different and each is assigned to a separate coupling module (30, 50, 80, 100), and - to transmit each of the copied communication telegrams via the bus interface (26).

2. The primary communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first program implements a communication protocol for serial data transmission, and wherein the bus interface (26) is provided as a serial bus interface.

3. The primary communication apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the primary communication apparatus (20) is a control apparatus, in particular for use in remote control or station control technology.

4. The primary communication apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a further bus interface (25), which is adapted to connect the primary communication apparatus (20) to a further data bus (25), wherein the control unit (22) is adapted, when executing the software, to cause the primary communication apparatus (20) to transmit each of the copied communication telegrams via the bus interface (26) or the further bus interface (25).

5. The primary communication apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (22) is adapted, when executing the software, to cause the primary communication apparatus (20) to segment at least some of the copied communication telegrams and to transmit the segments of each segmented communication telegram individually via the bus interface (25).

6. A coupling module (30, 50, 80, 100) comprising: a bus interface (35, 55, 85, 105) adapted to connect the coupling module (30, 50, 80, 100) to a data bus (26), wherein a unique address is assigned to the coupling module (30, 50, 80, 100), an electro-optical converter device (30, 50, 80, 100) comprising an optical transmitting and receiving device, a single optical waveguide connection device (34, 54, 84, 104) which is adapted to connect a single secondary communication apparatus (40, 60, 90, 110) by means of at least one optical waveguide (160, 161, 162, 163), a memory device (31, 51, 81, 101) in which software is stored, and a control and evaluation device (32, 52, 82, 102) which is adapted, when executing the software, to cause the coupling module (30, 50, 80, 100) to read out the second address from a communication telegram arriving at the bus interface (35, 55, 85, 105), wherein the communication telegram comprises a first address assigned to a secondary communication apparatus (40, 60, 90, 110) and a second address assigned to a coupling module (30, 50, 80, 100), and to supply the communication telegram via the electro-optical converter device (33, 53, 83, 103) to the single optical waveguide connection device (34, 54, 84, 104) only if the read-out second address matches the unique address assigned to the coupling module (30, 50, 80, 100).

7. The coupling module according to claim 6, wherein the control and evaluation device (32, 52, 82, 102) is adapted, when executing the software, to cause the coupling module (30, 50, 80, 100) to remove the second address from the communication telegram.

8. The coupling module according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the bus interface (35, 55, 85, 105) is provided as a serial bus interface.

9. The coupling module according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the control and evaluation device (32, 52, 82, 102) is further adapted, when executing the software, to cause the coupling module to transmit a communication telegram arriving at the single optical waveguide connection device (34, 54, 84, 104), which comprises an address uniquely assigned to a secondary communication apparatus (40, 60, 90, 110), by means of the electro-optical converter device (33, 53, 83, 103) via the bus interface (35, 55, 85, 105).

10. The coupling module according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the control and evaluation device (32, 52, 82, 102) is adapted, when executing the software, to cause the coupling module (30, 50, 80, 100) to reassemble the segments of a segmented communication telegram arriving at the bus interface (35, 55, 85, 105) into the original communication telegram.

11. A communication system (10) comprising: a data bus (70), a primary communication apparatus (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 connected to the data bus, a plurality of first coupling modules (30, 50) according to any one of claims 6 to 10 each connected to the data bus (70), wherein each of the first coupling modules (30, 50) is assigned a unique address, wherein a first secondary communication apparatus (40, 60) is connected to the single optical waveguide connection device (34, 54) of each of the coupling modules (30, 50) via at least one optical waveguide (160, 161), wherein each of the first secondary communication apparatuses (40, 60, 90, 110) is assigned a unique address, wherein n is equal to the number of the first coupling modules (30, 50), wherein each of the first secondary communication apparatuses (40, 60) comprises a memory device (41, 61), in which software is stored, an optical waveguide connection device (44, 64), an electro-optical converter device (43, 63) having an optical transmitting and receiving device, and a control and evaluation device (42, 62) which is adapted, when executing the software, to cause the respective first secondary communication apparatus (40, 60) - to read out the first address from a communication telegram received via the optical waveguide connection device (44, 64), which comprises a first address, and to check it for correspondence with the unique address assigned to the respective first secondary communication apparatus (40, 60), and - in case of correspondence, to generate a response telegram in dependence of the received communication telegram and to supply this via the electro-optical converter device (43, 63) to the optical waveguide connection device (44, 64) for transmission.

12. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the data bus (70) is a serial bus.

13. The communication system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the primary communication apparatus (20) is adapted to receive, at its bus interface (26), a response telegram from one of the first secondary communication apparatuses (40, 60), and wherein the control unit (22) of the primary communication apparatus (20) is adapted, when executing the software stored in the primary communication apparatus (20), to evaluate and / or forward the received response telegram.

14. The communication system of any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising: a plurality of second coupling modules (80, 100) according to any one of claims 7 to 11, each connected to the data bus (70), wherein each of the second coupling modules (80, 100) is assigned a unique address, wherein a second secondary communication apparatus (90, 110) is connected to the single optical waveguide connection device (84, 104) of each of the second coupling modules (80, 100) via at least one optical waveguide (162, 163), wherein each of the second secondary communication apparatuses (90, 110) is assigned a unique address, wherein the primary communication apparatus (20) and the first coupling modules (30, 50) form a first communication group and the primary communication apparatus (20) and the second coupling modules (80, 100) form a second communication group, wherein the control unit (22) of the primary communication apparatus (20) is further adapted, when executing the software, to cause the primary communication apparatus (20) - to provide a second communication telegram for a predetermined second secondary communication apparatus (90, 110), - to insert into the second communication telegram a first address assigned to the predetermined second secondary communication apparatus (90, 110), - to copy the second communication telegram m times, wherein m is greater than 1 and equal to the number of second coupling modules (80, 100), - to insert into each of the copied communication telegrams a second address, wherein the second addresses are all different and each is assigned to one of the second coupling modules (80, 100), and - to transmit each of the copied communication telegrams via the bus interface (26).

15. The communication system according to any one of claims 11 to 14 in conjunction with claim 5, further comprising: a further data bus (25) to which the primary communication apparatus (20) and a plurality of third coupling modules (120, 140) according to any one of claims 7 to 11 are connected, wherein each of the third coupling modules (120, 140) is assigned a unique address, wherein a third secondary communication apparatus (130, 150) is connected to the single optical waveguide connection device of each of the third coupling modules (120, 140) via at least one optical waveguide (164, 165), wherein a unique address is assigned to each of the third secondary communication apparatuses (130, 150).