Central controller for data networks

Abstract

To provide a system for a central control device and a data network that allows particularly simple and efficient operation, and a method for operating such a central control device.SOLUTION: A central control device for a data network 30 includes an input interface 32 for receiving a request signal, a control unit 34 for generating a control signal in response to the received request signal, and at least one output interface 36 for transmitting the control signal to at least one participant device 41, 42, 43. The control signal is configured to operate the participant device 41, 42, 43 to emit a participant output signal for identifying the physical location of the participant device 41, 42, 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a central control device for a data network, a system for a data network, and a method for operating a central control device (30) within a data network.

Background Art

[0002] In a complex network, it is often the case that numerous actuators and sensors, and control devices and monitoring devices, are linked to each other and arranged at different locations. When dealing with failures, it may sometimes be necessary to physically locate a specific device for maintenance or other purposes. However, if the appearance of the device is standardized, it may be quite difficult to recognize it from the outside.

[0003] [[ID=The method according to DE 10 2018 118 872 for checking the data transfer of an electrical switching device is known, in which an LED generates an optical signal. This optical signal is perceived by an observer as a steady light, by which an optical reader can detect user data.

[0004] A method is known in which a device is requested to indicate its position by blinking at a specified time point. However, a great deal of operational effort is required to identify a large number of devices within the system by this method.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a central control device and a system for a data network that enable particularly simple and efficient operation, and a method for operating such a central control device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The above objectives are achieved by a central control device, system, and method having the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and variations of the present invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] A central control unit for a data network includes an input interface for receiving request signals, a control unit for generating control signals in response to received request signals, and at least one output interface for transmitting the control signals to at least one participant device. The participant device is linked to the output interface of the central control unit, in particular with respect to data. The control signals are configured to cause the participant device to operate to emit a participant output signal for determining the physical location of the participant device.

[0008] This allows participant devices to be found particularly easily. In addition, requests to emit output signals can be evaluated particularly efficiently.

[0009] In one design, the input interface is configured to receive request signals by a first data protocol, specifically Ethernet, Single Pair Ethernet (SPE), Fieldbus, PROFIBUS, or another bus protocol. Furthermore, the output interface is configured to transmit control signals by a second data protocol, such as IO-Link, AS interface, HART protocol, or another protocol for sensor-actuator communication. The first and second data protocols are configured to be different from each other. For example, a central control unit may be connected to a bus system and configured as an IO-Link master. In this case, participant devices are configured as IO-Link devices and assigned to the IO-Link master.

[0010] This allows the operation to be performed using a multi-protocol method, which is advantageous.

[0011] The first data protocol is used to address a central control unit and send request signals. This part of the operation is performed, for example, by an external device coupled to the central control unit with respect to data, which is coupled, for example, via a bus system. The external device may have an operating interface, which may be, for example, an interface for programming and / or an interface for eliminating errors or technical problems in the data network.

[0012] Next, a second data protocol is used to send a participant output signal transmission request from the central control unit to participant devices linked to the central control unit. Because the second protocol is different from the first protocol, this operation cannot be performed directly from, for example, an external device; however, the central control unit performs the transfer in an intermediate step, for example, within an IO-Link system. The central control unit can selectively modify the request, and as a result, the transmitted participant output signal can be configured in a particularly easy and user-friendly manner.

[0013] This allows the central control unit to mediate the operation between the layers of the first and second data protocols. Users do not need to individually configure this operation between the central control unit and the connected participant devices. Instead, a simple command to the central control unit can distribute the outgoing signals across the subsystem.

[0014] Output signals can be formed in various ways. Output signals are particularly suitable for enabling human users to locate individual devices. Specifically, users can precisely identify the devices emitting output signals within a room.

[0015] Further design considerations include configuring participant output signals to be detectable intuitively by the user. Specifically, the output signals are detectable through human hearing or vision.

[0016] This has the advantage of being designed to be very simple to operate, allowing users to physically identify the device without additional equipment. In contrast to known systems, no further devices are required to detect the output signal.

[0017] Various modes can be used for transmitting participant output signals. These modes are defined in particular by the unit for transmitting the output signal, for example, by a display, light-emitting element, or speaker for acoustically or visually perceptible transmission.

[0018] Various participant devices can transmit participant output signals using various transmission modes, for example, depending on the type of output unit available. For instance, a participant device with a display can transmit participant output signals using the display. On the other hand, other participant devices without a display can transmit participant output signals, for example, by flashing a light-emitting element. Furthermore, various combinations of different transmission modes are also conceivable.

[0019] In particular, rather than the control signals specifying a particular mode of transmission for participant output signals or central control unit output signals, the device itself may determine the mode of transmission for each output signal. Furthermore, the request signals and / or control signals may include items of information regarding a preferred mode of transmission for the output signal, or information regarding instructions for a particular mode of transmission.

[0020] In an advanced form, the participant output signal includes an optical signal with optical parameters and / or a graphic and / or alphanumeric display on the participant device's display.

[0021] This has the advantage of making it particularly easy and clear to identify devices within an environment, even under adverse conditions such as poor lighting that makes character detection difficult.

[0022] Light parameters can be associated with, for example, color and brightness. In particular, such optical signals can be output by a light-emitting element (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED), etc.), but display elements illuminated by a backlight or another method can also be used.

[0023] The light parameters of the optical signal can be set, for example, through a configuration executed on the participant device or the central control device, or through the corresponding item of information included in the control signal.

[0024] The optical signal may automatically end its output after a certain period of time, or may end in response to an input by the user or another control signal. The light parameters may be generated statically or dynamically, and in particular, for example, by blinking, the brightness and / or color can be periodically changed.

[0025] The display included in the participant device or arranged within its physical environment can be configured in various different ways. For example, the display may include an array of pixels capable of outputting substantially any character, or may include a segment display in which segments predefine the characters that can be displayed.

[0026] In one design, the central control device further has an output unit. The output unit of the central control device is set to transmit a central control device output signal in order to identify the physical location of the central control device according to the control signal.

[0027] Thereby, advantageously, the central control device can also be easily identified.

[0028] In particular, this central control device output signal is configured to be distinguishable from the participant output signal.

[0029] Furthermore, the central control device output signal can be configured to be perceptible to the user, in particular, perceptible visually or acoustically.

[0030] In particular, this central control unit output signal can be configured to be similar to the participant output signal and may have the characteristics described in this example.

[0031] In a further design, the central control unit may be linked to multiple participant devices for data. The control unit is further configured to generate control signals in response to received request signals, thereby causing all participant devices linked to the central control unit or a defined subset thereof to emit participant output signals. The participant output signals of the various participant devices may be configured to be identical or individually different.

[0032] If only a subset of connected participant devices are to operate for outgoing transmissions, the subset can be defined, for example, by a request signal. Furthermore, the configuration of the central control unit can be defined, for example, by user input, to define the subset. As an example, a specific address range of a data network can be defined as a subset.

[0033] In the advanced version, the output interface includes multiple output connections. One output connection is assigned to each linked participant device. In particular, a unique assignment between participant devices and output connections is provided. Furthermore, in the advanced version, the control signals are further configured such that participant output signals transmitted by the participant devices are further configured according to the assigned output connections.

[0034] In particular, participant output signals from participant devices may be configured to be uniquely assigned to specific output connections of a central control unit.

[0035] This, advantageously, makes it easier to locate the physical location of participant devices linked to the central control unit in a specific way with respect to data. This, for example, makes it easier to search for errors within the system.

[0036] Output connections of a central control unit may be, for example, "ports" as known from information technology itself. They may represent physical or virtual connections of the central control unit, such as, for example, individual link elements for connecting data cables of participant devices, and / or connections provided in relation to data of participant devices via common cabling connections, and / or connections provided for data for participant devices via wireless link elements (e.g., wireless, WLAN, Bluetooth, or other methods).

[0037] For example, participant output signals are configured to include sensory-detectable items related to their respective assigned output connections. This allows users to visually detect, for instance, the output connections through which participant devices are linked to the central control unit.

[0038] For example, each linked participant device can emit a beep or flash signal, and a certain number of beeps or flashes are emitted periodically, separated by pauses. The number of beeps or flashes in each period can then be assigned to a number assigned to an output connection, for example, the output connection number (e.g., a sequential number).

[0039] If a linked participant device uses a display to transmit participant output signals, alphanumeric or graphic elements may also be used to identify the output connection of the assigned central control unit.

[0040] Furthermore, in conjunction with the output signals from the participant devices, additional outputs may be transmitted to the central control unit so that each output connection can be detected or physically identified. For example, a light source in a connection may flash or emit another optical signal to indicate that a particular participant device is connected to that connection. For example, similarly configured optical signals may be emitted at both the output connection and the participant device.

[0041] The data network system includes a central control unit as described herein and at least one participant device coupled to the central control unit with respect to data. The participant device includes an output unit for transmitting an output signal for identifying the physical location of the participant device. Optionally, the output signal may be configured to be perceptible visually or acoustically.

[0042] In a method of operating a central control unit within a data network, at least one participant device is assigned to the central control unit for data. A request signal is received, and a control signal is generated in response to the received request signal. The control signal is configured to cause the participant device to operate to emit a participant output signal to determine the physical location of the participant device.

[0043] The method is configured, in particular, to operate a device. Therefore, the method has the same advantages as the device according to the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0044] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example embodiment of a system equipped with a central control unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0045] An example embodiment of a system equipped with a central control unit will be described with reference to Figure 1.

[0046] System 10 includes a central control unit 30, an external device 20, and a plurality of participant devices 41, 42, and 43.

[0047] In this example, the external device 20 and the central control unit 30 are linked to each other with respect to data via the Ethernet link 11 in a manner that is known in itself.

[0048] In further embodiments, other methods of data linking may be used, such as single-pair Ethernet (SPE), or bus links such as fieldbuses (e.g., PROFIBUS).

[0049] Furthermore, participant devices 41, 42, and 43 are linked to the central control unit 30 by IO-Link 12 in a manner known to them.

[0050] In further embodiments, other methods for data linking, such as HART or AS interface protocols, may be used.

[0051] In this example system 10, the external device 20 can address the central control unit 30 via a first protocol, namely Ethernet, while it can address the participant devices 41, 42, and 43 via a second protocol, namely IO-Link. Direct addressing of participant devices 41, 42, and 43 cannot be performed from the external device 20 because it would require overcoming "protocol boundaries".

[0052] The central control unit 30 includes an input interface 32, which establishes a data link to the external device 20.

[0053] The central control unit 30 further includes an output interface 36, a portion of which includes output connections 36.1, 36.2, and 36.3. Participant devices 41, 42, and 43 are connected to this output interface 36, and each connected participant device 41, 42, and 43 is uniquely assigned one of the output connections 36.1, 36.2, or 36.3.

[0054] The central control unit 30 further includes a control unit 34 coupled to an input interface 32 and an output interface 36.

[0055] Furthermore, an output unit 38 coupled to the control unit 34 is provided to the central control unit 30, and in this example, the output unit 38 includes a light-emitting diode (LED).

[0056] Based on the above-described embodiment of this system, an example of an embodiment of the method will be described below.

[0057] In step 100, the external device 20 generates a request signal, which is sent to the central control unit 30 via the data link 11. In this example, the input interface 32 of the central control unit 30 is used for this purpose.

[0058] While the Ethernet protocol is used in this example, other protocols can also be used. Such protocols include Single Pair Ethernet (SPE), PROFIBUS, Fieldbus, or other equivalent protocols.

[0059] In step 200, the request signal received by interface 32 is forwarded to the control unit 34 of the central control unit 30, where it is evaluated. The control unit 34 is configured to generate one or more control signals in response to the received request signal in order to operate further units.

[0060] In this exemplary case, the control signals are configured to operate the output unit 38 of the central control unit, as well as the participant devices 41, 42, and 43 connected to the output units 41a, 42a, and 43a.

[0061] In step 300, this control signal is transmitted by the control unit 34.

[0062] In the case of this control signal being transmitted, step 310 of the example embodiment of the method directly activates the output unit 38 of the central control unit 30. This output unit 38 is configured as an LED 38 and blinks in response to the control signal in the manner specified.

[0063] In parallel with this, in step 320, the connected participant devices 41, 42, and 43 are made to operate via the output interface 36 and the data link 12. In this embodiment, this is link 12 which conforms to the IO-Link standard.

[0064] Output units 41a, 42a, and 43a are similarly configured as LEDs 41a, 42a, and 43a, and emit an output signal by blinking the output signal in response to a control signal in a defined manner.

[0065] The defined flashing of the light-emitting diodes 38, 41a, 42a, and 43a of the central control unit 30 and participant devices 41, 42, and 43 within the system 10 has optical parameters. These optical parameters may be configured the same for all devices 30, 41, 42, and 43, or they may be configured differently.

[0066] In particular, optical parameters include, for example, luminance, color, flashing frequency or number of flashes within a given time interval or period, the duration of each flash, and the intervals between flashes and the duration of the dark period between flashes. Furthermore, the duration of the flashing emission can be predefined as an optical parameter (for example, as a timeout for the emitted output signal).

[0067] In the example of the embodiment, the optical parameters are configured individually for the central control unit 30 and each output unit of the participant devices 41, 42, and 43, and are predefined by the control unit 34 of the central control unit 30. The participant output signals of the participant devices 41, 42, and 43 are configured to include items of information regarding the respective ports or output connections 36.1, 36.2, and 36.3 to which the participant devices 41, 42, and 43 are connected to the output interface 36 of the central control unit 30.

[0068] For example, output connections 36.1, 36.2, and 36.3 may be numbered, and the numbers assigned to output connections 36.1, 36.2, and 36.3 may be transmitted by the output signals of participant devices 41, 42, and 43 via flashing signals. For example, the output signal for the first participant unit 41 may include a single flash to indicate that the first participant unit 41 is connected to the first output connection 36.1 of the output interface 36 of the central control unit 30.

[0069] In an example of a further embodiment, the output interface 36 of the central control unit may be further assigned to additional output units. Thereafter, output connections 36.1, 36.2, 36.3 are highlighted in accordance with control signals, and as a result, for example, a user can identify which output connections 36.1, 36.2, 36.3 a particular participant device 41, 42, 43 is linked to with respect to data.

[0070] In an example of a further embodiment, at least one optical parameter of the output signal is configured by each device 30, 41, 42, 43 itself. This means that the output signal is not predefined with all optical parameters by the control unit 34 of the central control unit 30 for all devices 30, 41, 42, 43, but rather the central control unit and participant devices can determine the output signal depending on, for example, the available output units 38, 41a, 42a, 43a. For example, in this case, if the output units 38, 41a, 42a, 43a include a light source (e.g., an LED), flashing may be emitted as the output signal. If the output units 38, 41a, 42a, 43a have a display suitable for the corresponding emission, the output signal may further include alphanumeric characters. Furthermore, participant devices 41, 42, 43 can independently recognize the ports or output connections 36.1, 36.2, 36.3 of the central control unit 30 to which they are linked with respect to data, and can configure the output signal accordingly. As a result, these output signals include items of information to identify the connected port or output connection 36.1, 36.2, 36.3, respectively. For example, the output signal includes blinking in a number of blinks that repeat periodically, where the number of blinks corresponds to the number of connected ports or output connections 36.1, 36.2, 36.3.

[0071] Similar to flashing, other types of output signals, such as other visual or acoustic perceptual signals that can be output by output units 38, 41a, 42a, 43a, can also be emitted. These output signals can be configured to be the same or different for all devices 30, 41, 42, 43, and can be predefined by the control unit 34 or configured by the devices 30, 41, 42, 43 themselves, for example, depending on the output units 38, 41a, 42a, 43a.

[0072] In an example of a further embodiment, the output units 38, 41a, 42a, 43a of the central control unit 30 or the participant devices 41, 42, 43 may include a display that can output optical signals and / or alphanumeric characters. In this case, a control signal may be configured to operate the output units 38, 41a, 42a, 43a to transmit an output signal via the display. This transmission of an output signal is performed to determine the physical location of each central control unit 30 and / or participant devices 41, 42, 43, and / or to transmit items of further information regarding the data link between the central control unit 30 and the participant devices 41, 42, 43 connected thereto. Such items of information include, for example, the physical or virtual output connections 36.1, 36.2, 36.3 or ports of the output interface 36 used for the connection, or the physical location of the physical output connections 36.1, 36.2, 36.3 used.

[0073] In further embodiments, in addition to output signals for identifying the physical location of the central control unit 30 or participant devices 41, 42, 43, diagnostic data, particularly diagnostic data relating to the functionality and / or quality of the data link 12, may be output using the display as described above or by another known method.

[0074] In a further design, the request signal includes an item relating to at least one output parameter, such as an optical parameter. The control signal is generated such that the transmitted output signal, such as an optical signal, is generated with characteristics corresponding to the request signal. For example, the request signal can define the color of the optical signal generated by the central control unit 30 and / or participant devices 41, 42, 43, for example, a blinking optical signal. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 10 Systems 11 Ethernet links 12 IO-Link 20 External devices 30. Central Control Unit; IO-Link Master 32 Input Interface; Ethernet Interface 34 Control Unit 36 Output Interface; IO-Link Interface 36.1, 36.2, 36.3 Output connections; (IO-Link interface) ports 38 Output Unit; Light-Emitting Diode (LED) 41, 42, 43 Participant devices; IO-Link devices 41a, 42a, 43a Output unit; Light-emitting diode (LED) 100, 200, 300, 310, 320 steps

Claims

1. A central control unit (30) for a data network, comprising: an input interface (32) for receiving a request signal; a control unit (34) for generating a control signal in response to the received request signal; at least one output interface (36) for transmitting said control signal to at least one participant device (41, 42, 43); Including, The control signal is configured to operate the participant devices (41, 42, 43) to emit participant output signals for identifying the physical locations of the participant devices (41, 42, 43).

2. the input interface (32) is configured to receive the request signal according to a first data protocol, in particular according to Ethernet, Single Pair Ethernet (SPE), Fieldbus, PROFIBUS or another bus protocol; the output interface (36) is configured to transmit the control signal according to a second data protocol, for example according to IO-Link, AS-Interface, HART protocol or another protocol for sensor-actuator communication; The first data protocol and the second data protocol are configured to be different from each other. A central control device (30) according to claim 1, characterized in that:

3. 3. The central controller (30) of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the participant output signal is adapted to be sensorily detectable by a user.

4. 3. A central control device (30) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the participant output signals comprise light signals with light parameters and / or graphic representations on a display of the participant device.

5. The central control device (30) further comprises an output unit (38); An output unit (38) of the central controller (30) is configured to emit a central controller output signal in response to the control signal to identify the physical location of the central controller (30). A central control device (30) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is

6. A central control device (30) as described in claim 5, wherein the central control device output signal is configured to be visually or acoustically perceptible to a human user.

7. The central controller (30) is further capable of being data-linked to a plurality of participant devices (41, 42, 43); The control unit is further configured to generate the control signal in response to the received request signal, whereby all participant devices (41, 42, 43) linked to the central controller (30) or a defined subset thereof are operated to emit the participant output signal. A central control device (30) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is

8. The output interface (36) comprises a number of output connections (36.1, 36.2, 36.3), for each linked participant device (41, 42, 43) one output connection (36.1, 36.2, 36.3) is uniquely assigned, The control signals are further configured such that the participant output signals emitted by the participant devices (41, 42, 43) are further configured according to the assigned output connections (36.1, 36.2, 36.3). A central control device (30) according to claim 7, characterized in that

9. A central control device (30) according to claim 1 or 2; At least one participant device (41, 42, 43) data-wise coupled to the central controller (30); Including, A system (10) for a data network, wherein said participant devices (41, 42, 43) comprise output units (41a, 42a, 43) for emitting output signals for identifying the physical locations of said participant devices (41, 42, 43).

10. The system (10) of claim 9, wherein the output signal is configured to be perceptible visually or acoustically.

11. A method of operating a central controller (30) in a data network, comprising the steps of: At least one participant device (41, 42, 43) is assigned with respect to data to said central control device (30); A request signal is received, a control signal is generated in response to the received request signal, the control signal being configured to operate the participant device (41, 42, 43) to emit a participant output signal to identify the physical location of the participant device (41, 42, 43).

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