Master-Based Ring Topology Wiring Path Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

In networks with ring topology, incorrect wiring paths can go undetected by master devices, leading to difficulties in identifying and correcting errors, as existing methods may not effectively identify incorrect connections within the network configuration.

Innovation Solution

A master device is equipped with detection, port control, and specification components to identify and invalidate output ports, allowing it to detect incorrect wiring paths by comparing network configurations with and without specific ports active, and output this information to an external processing device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a ring topology network is configured without port invalidation, then the network maintains full connectivity and redundancy, but incorrect wiring paths cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidincorrect path detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The master device performs preliminary actions by invalidating specific output ports before detection. By sequentially invalidating ports and observing changes in network configuration detection results, the system can identify incorrect wiring paths without disrupting overall network operation. This preliminary port invalidation enables detection while maintaining network reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If manual site checks are performed to identify incorrect wiring, then accurate detection can be achieved, but time and labor resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring error detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network system performs self-diagnosis through the master device automatically detecting incorrect wiring paths by analyzing network configuration changes when ports are invalidated. This eliminates the need for manual site checks by operators, achieving accurate detection without consuming human time and labor resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The master device uses feedback from network configuration detection results to identify incorrect paths. By comparing the detected network configuration before and after port invalidation, the system receives feedback that reveals wiring errors, enabling automatic correction without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If all ports remain active for network operation, then data transmission is maintained, but incorrect connections remain undetected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidwiring configuration information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The detection process is segmented into multiple phases: normal operation phase where all ports are active for data transmission, and detection phase where specific ports are temporarily invalidated to identify incorrect wiring. This segmentation allows the system to maintain productivity during normal operation while periodically performing detection to prevent information loss about wiring errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3952224B1Master device, arithmetic processing device, programmable logic controller, network, and information processing method
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 OMRON CORP
  • EP3952224B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3952224B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3952224B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A master device according to the invention manages a plurality of slave devices constituting a network including a ring topology. The plurality of slave devices each include: a first slave device serving as a starting point and a terminal point of the ring topology; and a plurality of second slave devices connected between a first output port of the first slave device and a second output port thereof and constituting the ring topology. On the basis of a network configuration detected when the second output port and the output port of a second slave device pairing up with the second output port are available and of a network configuration detected when the second output port and the output port pairing up therewith have been made unavailable, the master device determines an incorrect wiring path between the first output port and the second output port and outputs information indicating the incorrect wiring path to an information processing device.