The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 30, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 06, 2003
Philip J. Ellerbrock, Bridgeton, MO (US);
Robert L. Grant, St. Peters, MO (US);
Daniel W. Konz, Hazelwood, MO (US);
Joseph P. Winkelmann, St. Peters, MO (US);
Philip J. Ellerbrock, Bridgeton, MO (US);
Robert L. Grant, St. Peters, MO (US);
Daniel W. Konz, Hazelwood, MO (US);
Joseph P. Winkelmann, St. Peters, MO (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a network device interface and method for digitally connecting a plurality of data channels, such as sensors, actuators, and subsystems, to a controller using a network bus. The network device interface interprets commands and data received from the controller and polls the data channels in accordance with these commands. Specifically, the network device interface receives digital commands and data from the controller, and based on these commands and data, communicates with the data channels to either retrieve data in the case of a sensor or send data to activate an actuator. Data retrieved from the sensor is then converted by the network device interface into digital signals and transmitted back to the controller. In one advantageous embodiment, the network device interface uses a specialized protocol for communicating across the network bus that uses a low-level instruction set and has low overhead for data communication.