This application claims the priority of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application for the pending Serial No. 60/436,302 (lawyer text No.2002P20760US) submitted on December 23rd, 2002, and which is hereby incorporated by reference for the temporary patent application.
It specifically describes
Fig. 1 is the block diagram of the exemplary embodiment of system 1000.As shown, system 1000 may include programmable cable 1100, can have first end 1101 and second end 1102.In the exemplary embodiment, the first end 1101 of programmable cable 1100 can be coupled to network 1200.The second end 1102 of programmable cable 1100 can be connected to network communication equipment 1300, potentially be connected to network communication equipment 1300 via port 1310.Network communication equipment 1300 can be connected to user interface facilities 1500 by connection 1350.User interface facilities 1500 may include phone, modem, cellular phone, cellular telephone modem, desktop PC, laptop computer, personal handhold and calculate equipment, work station, microcomputer, mainframe, and/or any other programmable state machine.Connection 1350 can be wireless device or connection;Such as wired connection of twisted paired conductors, coaxial cable, optical fiber, and/or any other network conductors, cable or optical fiber;Such as network of phone, DSL, cable, wireless, public, dedicated, exchange, grouping, local, wide area, virtual, internet, intranet, and/or other networks;And/or any other has medium or connection type of connection function etc..In the exemplary embodiment, it is intrinsic to can be user interface facilities 1500 for network communication equipment 1300.
Network 1200 can be coupled to the computer 1400 of such as programmable logic controller (PLC) (PLC) via network connection cable 1450, which may include first end and second end.The both ends of the network connection cable 1450 can be connected to RS485 interface.Computer 1400 can be connected to the first end of the network connection cable 1450 by intrinsic RS485.The second end of network connection cable 1450 can be connected to network 1200, such as ring network of network 1200, such as token-ring network.In interchangeable exemplary embodiment, PLC1400 can be directly connected to the first end 1101 of programmable cable 1100 by the intrinsic connectivity port RS485.
In the exemplary embodiment, port 1310 can be connected to RS232 interface.As used in this, term " RS485 " and " RS232 " refer to the eia interface standard for data communication connection.Alternatively, port 1310 can be connected to USB interface.As used in this, term " USB " refers to the universal serial bus standard for data communication.Network communication equipment 1300 can be the modem of such as telephone modem, DSL modem, cable modem, radio modem etc.;Network card;Computer;And/or any other web-enabled communication equipment.Other user interface facilities 1500 can be coupled to one or more network communication equipments 1300, and any one of the network communication equipment 1300 can be connected to network 1200 via one or more programmable cables 1100.Similarly, in some of the exemplary embodiments, multiple computers 1400 can be connected to network 1200.
The equipment for being connected to network 1200 can be controlled by token passing technique.The token that programmable cable 1100 can be used as network 1200 holds host equipment.Programmable cable 1100 can be used as the communication device between PLC1400 and user interface facilities 1500.
In the exemplary embodiment, 1100 configurable parameter of programmable cable, which can star between computer 1400 and network interface device 1300, between programmable cable 1100 and user interface facilities 1500, and/or the communication between computer 1400 and user interface facilities 1500.At least one of multiple configuration parameters, which are arranged, can configure programmable cable 1100.As the mode defined in mode table 1 can be configuration parameter.In the exemplary embodiment, which can be configured to the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation.
Mode table 1
Free communication mouth/PPI mode switch |
Setting |
Explanation |
0 |
Free communication mouth mold formula |
1 |
PPI mode |
When programmable cable 1100 operates in free communication mouth mold formula (free programmable feature agreement), programmable cable 1100 can be connected to certain intelligent-induction equipment of such as barcode reader, certain PLC, modem, and/or printer etc..In the embodiment of operation, when configured in the freeport mode, which can further be configured by selecting PPL agreement from agreement table 2.As used in this, term " PPI " refers to that industrial standard point to point network communication protocol, the agreement can be used in token-ring network.The token-ring network may include multiple tokens and hold at least one of host equipment.In free communication mouth mold formula, programmable cable 1100 can be configured by the way that the PPI agreement comprising the first PPI agreement or the 2nd PPI agreement is arranged.First PPI agreement can start 10 bit communications.Alternatively, second protocol can start 11 bit communications.
Agreement table 2
11 bits/10 bit Protocols switch |
Setting |
Explanation |
0 |
11bit |
1 |
10bit |
Programmable cable 1100 can be configured to PPI mode.The PPI mode may include agreement, and the token that wherein programmable cable 1100 is suitable as on network in effective configuration holds host and starts the multichannel Networked communication with computer 1400.
Mode position can be the configuration parameter of programmable cable 1100.Mode position may include the first position mode or second position mode that can be selected from mode position table 3.First position mode can define local programmable cable operation.In effective embodiment, when programmable cable 1100 is in first position mode, the programmable cable 1100 can be configured by the way that multiple 1100 parameters of programmable cable are arranged.In effective embodiment, when programmable cable 1100 is in second position mode, which can be by transmitting the configuration information comprising network communication equipment setup string and PIN number come Configuration network communication equipment 1300.
Mode position table 3
Local/remote switch |
Setting |
Explanation |
0 |
Local (DCE) |
1 |
Remotely (DTE) |
Data transmission bauds can be the configuration parameter of programmable cable 1100.The data transmission bauds can be selected from speedometer 4.In effective embodiment, which can be used as one group three continuous positions and is transmitted to programmable cable 1100, and when being converted to decimal form, this three continuous positions define the setting from 0 to 7.Its programmable cable 1100 can be configured to the approximate baud rate data comprising 1200,2400,4800,9600,19200,38400,57600 or 115200 etc..
Speedometer 4
Baud rate switch 123 |
Setting |
Baud rate |
0 |
38400 |
1 |
19200 |
2 |
9600 |
3 |
4800 |
4 |
2400 |
5 |
1200 |
6 |
115200 |
7 |
57600 |
Communication language is also possible to 1100 configuration parameter of programmable cable.The programmable cable 1100 may be adapted to communicate with any one of multilingual at least one user interface facilities 1500.The programmable cable 1100 can be configured by selecting communication language from language table 5.Any speech communication that programmable cable 1100 can be configured to English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Chinese etc..
Language table 5
Language configuration |
Setting |
Language |
1 |
English |
2 |
German |
3 |
French |
4 |
Italian |
5 |
It is Spanish |
6 |
Chinese |
The network communication equipment setup string can be the configuration parameter of programmable cable 1100.The network communication equipment setup string may include one group of alphanumeric character, and when at least one being transferred in multiple network communication equipments, which defines communication protocol and/or one group of rule of communication.The network communication equipment setup string can use a variety of settings and configure the network communication equipment, a variety of settings comprising starting called response, mark prior to the called jingle bell number of response, the main calling dial of starting, establish port device communication agreement, strobe pulse or voice-frequency dialing, selection or cancel select command and respond, request equipment specify information, and/or establish device register setting etc..The exemplary embodiment of the network communication equipment setup string can be selected from setup string table 6.For example, selection character string ATS0=1 can enable 1300 the first jingle bell of automatic-answering back device of network communication equipment.In effective embodiment, selects character string AT+CPIN=12ab that can provide PIN number and give the network communication equipment.
Setup string table 6
Typical AT order |
AT number |
Character string |
1 |
ATS0=1 |
2 |
AT+CPIN=12ab |
In the exemplary embodiment, which can be supplied to network communication equipment 1300 by programmable cable 1100, to allow the operation of network communication equipment 1300.In effective embodiment, network communication equipment 1300 configured and/or operable can permit the communication between user interface facilities 1500 and computer 1400.
In certain embodiments, which may include subscriber identification module (SIM).The SIM can be storage equipment, the information of the network of identity information of the storage equipment storage comprising user and the authorized service of user.The SIM can need PIN to activate service.SIM can be used as " smart card " (card of credit card-sized, the card can be inserted into any compatible equipment) or plug-in package.In certain embodiments, which can cannot operate without SIM.The SIM can be compatible with the multiple equipments such as phone, modem, which includes inside call, public telephone, any other portable or mobile phone, and/or simulation, number, honeycomb fashion, wireless, DSL, and/or cable modem etc..The presence for the SIM for needing PIN to operate can prevent illegally use or the theft of SIM and/or network communication equipment 1300.
In effective embodiment, the network communication equipment 1300 can be mounted or install after power cycle, this can lead to the network communication equipment 1300 being not configured.The network communication equipment 1300 being not configured can request the power cycle of programmable cable 1100 for the parameter configuration network communication equipment 1300 for including PIN number by offer.
In the exemplary embodiment, which may be configured with other settings and/or value.
The programmable cable 1100 may include first state indicator, the second positioning indicator and third state indicator.The positioning indicator can be lit and can operate such as the mode in status indicator table 7.First state indicator can be operated to instruction and be transmitted by the data of RS485 connector.Second positioning indicator can be operated to indicate that the data from programmable cable 1100 to user interface facilities are transmitted.Third state indicator can be operated to indicate from user interface facilities to programmable cable 1100 data transmission.
Status indicator table 7
LED |
Color |
Tx |
RS232 transport indicator |
Rx |
RS232 receiver-indicator |
Xmt |
RS485 transport indicator |
In certain effective embodiments, programmable cable 1100 may be adapted to encrypt and/or decrypt the data communicated with user interface facilities 1500, computer 1400 between programmable cable 1100, and/or computer 1400 and user interface facilities 1500 in programmable cable 1100.The encryption and decryption of data can prevent unauthorized data reception, transmission, and/or use.Similarly, programmable cable 1100 may be adapted to filter that and/or by that communication in a manner of being similar to as provided by firewall and virus detection software.
In some of the exemplary embodiments, the shell for the end connector that the controller not being incorporated into programmable cable or its any part (processor, memory, interface etc.) can be located at the programmable cable is interior and/or closes on the shell of the end connector of the programmable cable.Thus, the controller can be sufficiently small to hide in the shell, the shell shows normal size, therefore, potentially pretending the programmable cable is " common " cable, and potentially prevent from being identified as unbred observer, which may be needed to present operable network interface device.
Fig. 2 is the flow chart of the exemplary embodiment of application method.Note that unless specified otherwise, do not need the specific action of flow chart 2000, and do not need the particular sequence of movement.Thus, any movement being shown on flow chart 2000 can be ignored and/or action sequence can change.In the exemplary embodiment, programmable cable can be used according to flow chart 2000.
At movement 2100, which can be used user interface to initialize.The programmable cable can be initialized by the way that at least one of multiple programmable cable parameters are arranged, and multiple programmable cable parameter includes: from the operation mode selected in first operator scheme and second operator scheme, the PPI agreement selected from the first PPI agreement and the 2nd PPI agreement, cable locality mode, data transmission bauds, communication language, network communication equipment setup string, and/or the PIN number selected from first position mode and second position mode.
At movement 2200, which configures at least one of multiple network communication equipments using at least one of multiple configuration parameters.Thus, which can automatically configure the network communication equipment.For example, the programmable network can automatically provide PIN number so that the network communication equipment can be run during and/or after the booting of programmable cable and/or network communication equipment.When the network communication equipment power cycle, automatically configuring for the network communication equipment can occur.
At movement 2300, at least one of multiple user interface facilities can be via programmable cable and plc communication.
There are also the other embodiment of the present invention will be apparent for those skilled in the art in a manner of the above-mentioned detailed description from certain exemplary embodiments.Therefore, attached drawing and to illustrate that essence is counted as illustrative, rather than it is restrictive.