IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,267,391
Granted Patent B2
US 12,267,391 · App. 17/236,061 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Network apparatus

Inventor: Takuma Mizunaga (Miyazaki, JP)
Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
H04L67/12G06F13/4282
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,267,391
App. No.
17/236,061
Granted
Apr 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

ID numbers of connected multiple modules are easily automatically set. Each of the multiple modules includes an ID number information holding unit that holds its own ID number information, a first command generation unit that generates a first command for notifying its rear stage of its own ID number information, a first command output unit that outputs the first command from a rear-stage output port, a second command generation unit that generates a second command for notifying its front stage of its own ID number information and ID number information on its rear-stage modules, a second command output unit that outputs the second command from a front-stage output port, and an ID number information update unit that sets, when the first command is received from a front-stage module, new ID number obtained by adding “1” to the ID number of the front-stage module contained in the received first command as its own ID number information in the ID number information holding unit. Each of the multiple modules outputs the first command and second commands for a predetermined period of time to assign a different ID number to each of the multiple modules connected to a network apparatus.

Claims (49)

1. A network apparatus comprising a plurality of modules connected in series, wherein

each module of the plurality of modules comprises:

a front-stage input port configured to receive a signal from a corresponding front-stage module;

a front-stage output port configured to output a signal to the corresponding front-stage module;

a rear-stage output port configured to output a signal to a corresponding rear-stage module;

a rear-stage input port configured to receive a signal from the corresponding rear-stage module;

an ID number information holding circuit configured to hold an ID number information of the module;

a first command generation circuit configured to generate a first command instructing notifying of the corresponding rear-stage module of the ID number information;

a first command output circuit configured to output the first command from the rear-stage output port;

a second command generation circuit configured to generate a second command instructing notifying of the corresponding front-stage module of the ID number information and second ID number information of corresponding rear-stage modules;

a second command output circuit configured to output the second command from the front-stage output port; and

an ID number information update circuit configured to set, when the first command is received from the corresponding front-stage module, new ID number information obtained in a calculation by monotonically increasing or decreasing third ID number information of the corresponding front-stage module contained in the received first command as updated ID number information in the ID number information holding circuit, and

each of the plurality of modules connected to the network apparatus outputs the first command and the second command to assign the updated ID number for each of the plurality of modules connected to the network apparatus.

2. The network apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the ID number information holding circuit is, when power is turned on, temporarily set with a minimum number usable as an ID number, and

the ID number information update circuit of each of the plurality of modules is configured to set, when the first command is received from the corresponding front-stage module, a value obtained by adding a unit of number to an ID number of the corresponding front-stage module contained in the received first command as the ID number information in the ID number information holding circuit.

3. The network apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second module whose ID number is fixed, the second module being connected to the network apparatus, wherein

the second module whose ID number is fixed is configured to forward, when the first command is received from the corresponding front-stage module, the received first command to the corresponding rear-stage module instead of the ID number information of the module.

4. The network apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

when power of the module whose ID number is fixed is turned on, ID number information contained in the first command firstly output from the module whose ID number is fixed is a value reduced by a unit of number from a minimum number usable as an ID number.

5. A control method for a network apparatus including a plurality of modules connected in series and configured to assign an ID number to each of the plurality of modules, each of the plurality of modules including a front-stage input port configured to receive a signal from a corresponding front-stage module; a front-stage output port configured to output a signal to the corresponding front-stage module; a rear-stage output port configured to output a signal to a corresponding rear-stage module; a rear-stage input port configured to receive a signal from the corresponding rear-stage module; and an ID number information holding circuit configured to hold an ID number information of the module, the control method for the network apparatus comprising:

generating a first command instructing notifying of the corresponding rear-stage module of the ID number information;

outputting the first command from the rear-stage output port;

generating a second command instructing notifying of the corresponding front-stage module of the ID number information and second ID number information of corresponding rear-stage modules;

outputting the second command from the front-stage output port; and

setting, when the first command is received from the corresponding front-stage module, new ID number information obtained in predetermined calculation by monotonically increasing or decreasing third ID number information of the corresponding front-stage module contained in the received first command as updated ID number information in the ID number information holding circuit, wherein

each of the plurality of modules connected to the network apparatus outputs the first command and the second command to assign the updated ID number for each of the plurality of modules connected to the network apparatus.

6. A module configured to set an ID number, the module comprising:

a front-stage input port configured to receive a signal from a corresponding front-stage module;

a front-stage output port configured to output a signal to the corresponding front-stage module;

a rear-stage output port configured to output a signal to a corresponding rear-stage module;

a rear-stage input port configured to receive a signal from the corresponding rear-stage module;

an ID number information holding circuit configured to hold its own ID number information;

a first command generation circuit configured to generate a first command for instructing notifying of the corresponding rear-stage module of the ID number information;

a first command output circuit configured to output the first command from the rear-stage output port;

a second command generation circuit configured to generate a second command for instructing notifying the corresponding front-stage module of an ID number information and ID number information on its rear-stage modules;

a second command output circuit configured to output the second command from the front-stage output port; and

an ID number information update circuit configured to set, when the first command is received from the corresponding front-stage module, new ID number information obtained in a calculation by monotonically increasing or decreasing third ID number information of the corresponding front-stage module contained in the received first command as updated ID number information in the ID number information holding circuit, wherein

the module being one of a plurality of modules, and

each the plurality of modules connected to a network apparatus outputs the first command and the second command to assign a different ID number to each of the plurality of modules.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a module ID number management program that when executed by a computer causes the computer to implement a method of managing of an ID number of a module, the module including a front-stage input port configured to receive a signal from a corresponding front-stage module, a front-stage output port configured to output a signal to a corresponding front-stage module, a rear-stage output port configured to output a signal to the corresponding rear-stage module, and a rear-stage input port configured to receive a signal from the corresponding rear-stage module, the method comprising:

holding an ID number information;

generating a first command for instructing notifying of the corresponding rear-stage module of the ID number information;

outputting the first command from the rear-stage output port;

generating a second command for instructing notifying of the corresponding front-stage module of the ID number information and second ID number information of corresponding rear-stage modules;

outputting the second command from the front-stage output port; and

setting, when the first command is received from the corresponding front-stage module, new ID number information obtained in a calculation by monotonically increasing or decreasing third ID number information of the corresponding front-stage module contained in the received first command as updated ID number information in the ID number information holding circuit, wherein

the module is one of a plurality of modules, and

each the plurality of modules connected to a network apparatus outputs the first command and the second command to assign a different ID number to each of the plurality of modules.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2021
From: MIZUNAGA, TAKUMA
To: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055984/0495 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-078000 · Apr 27, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210333079A1 · Oct 28, 2021
References Cited (19)
US 5321813A · McMillen · 1994 [cited by examiner]
US 6128306A · Simpson · 2000 [cited by examiner]
US 7076636B1 · Chilton · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 10747700B1 · Sarusi · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20040088545A1 · Foster · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20100185784A1 · De Nie et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100280786A1 · Gorbold et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20180227266A1 · Lillie et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190007492A1 · Kojo · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20220326870A1 · Tatsumi · 2022 [cited by examiner]
JP 2001156801A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 3299488B2 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
T. Ito, J. Kitamichi, K. Kuroda and Y. Okuyama, “A master-slave adaptive load-distribution processor model on PCA,” 19th IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, Denver, CO, USA, 2005, pp. 8 pp. [cited by examiner]
Q. Yi, M. Shi and S. Li, “Design of USB-UART interface converter and its FPGA implementation,” 2017 IEEE 2nd Advanced Information Technology, Electronic and Automation Control Conference (IAEAC), Chongqing, China, 2017,… [cited by examiner]
Combined Chinese Office Action & Search Report issued Apr. 10, 2024 in Chinese Application 202110453235.6, (with English translation), 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action issued Feb. 1, 2024 in Japanese Application No. 2020-078000 with English translation, therein, 6 pgs. [cited by applicant]
European Office Action issued on Aug. 31, 2022 in European Patent Application No. 21 169 624.0, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued Sep. 7, 2021 in corresponding European Patent Application No. 21169624.0, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action issued Feb. 1, 2024 in Japanese Application No. 2020-078000 with English translation, 6 pgs. [cited by applicant]