Slave Node Addressing with Topology Change Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In control systems using programmable logic controllers (PLCs), changes in network topology can lead to incorrect node address settings for slave devices, causing anomalies and malfunctions, and restoring the system requires time-consuming tasks to correct these errors.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with a setting unit that stores slave device positions, a position specifying unit to correctly set node addresses, and a judging unit to detect topology changes and correct erroneous address settings, ensuring efficient configuration of slave device addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic node address setting is performed based on topology position, then configuration efficiency is improved, but address setting errors occur when topology changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by checking whether a slave device at the target position actually needs address setting before executing the address assignment. This preliminary action prevents premature or incorrect address setting that would occur when topology changes have not been properly detected, thus resolving the contradiction between automated configuration efficiency and address setting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring topology changes and using this information to control the address setting process. The master device detects topology changes and uses this feedback to determine whether address setting should be performed, ensuring that address assignment only occurs when appropriate, thereby preventing errors while maintaining automation.
2Speed
If node address setting is performed without topology change detection, then configuration speed is improved, but system anomalies occur due to incorrect address assignment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary topology change detection before executing node address setting. This preliminary check ensures that address assignment only proceeds when the topology has actually changed and the setting is appropriate, preventing system anomalies while maintaining fast configuration throughput when changes are detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces topology change detection as an intermediary step between topology changes and address setting operations. This intermediary mechanism filters out inappropriate address setting operations that would cause system anomalies, while allowing rapid address configuration to proceed when the intermediary detection confirms it is safe to do so.
3Measurement precision
If manual intervention is required to correct address setting errors, then address setting precision can be verified, but system restoration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically detecting address setting errors and correcting them without requiring manual intervention. The master device monitors address assignments, detects when incorrect addresses have been assigned, and automatically performs corrections, thereby maintaining verification precision while eliminating the time loss associated with manual error correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback loops to continuously monitor address setting operations and automatically correct errors when detected. This feedback mechanism verifies address setting precision through continuous monitoring while reducing restoration time by immediately correcting errors rather than requiring separate manual intervention steps.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention enables an address of a slave device to be efficiently configured to a correct state. A communication system includes a communication device functioning as a master device and a plurality of slave devices communicably connected to the communication device via a communication line, the communication device setting a prescribed address in an added slave device based on a position of the added slave device in a topology composed of a plurality of slave devices (step S112), judging whether a change has possibly occurred in the topology when the prescribed address is set in the added slave device (step S113), if there is an erroneously set slave device whose address was erroneously set, specifying that slave device, when it is judged that a change has possibly occurred (steps S114 to S116), and resetting the address of the specified erroneously set slave device to an original address (step S117).