Packet-based time-critical medium access for a process-oriented deterministic bus system

Abstract

A novel approach for a very flexible and robust field area network (FAN) was developed. To fulfill the particular timing constraints given by the communication of the highly dynamic processes at lower FAN levels, the packetbased approach uses discrete multitone for parallel access to many devices. This paper gives a description of the packet based approach. Several aspects of the medium access organization, like carrier management, individual bandwidth allocation and gain control, are described. The suitability of this novel concept is proved with a prototype system implementation.

Identifying nodes in a master-slave-fieldbus

“…One problem is that at start up of a newly installed system the master may have no information about the number and identity of the connected slaves. [1,2] A solution for the problem is addressed in this paper. Slaves have a factory burned 64-bit unique identifier (SID) for identification like MAC-addresses in Ethernet networks.…”