Method for dynamically allocating controlling and self- assigning of addresses in a network

Abstract

An apparatus an method for dynamically allocating, controlling and self-assigning addresses in a network for protecting circuit loads. The loads to be protected are powered through load outputs in a master Point-Of-Use (POU) module and the load outputs of one or more slave Point-Of-Use (POU) modules. These load outputs are microprocessor controlled and linked to Remote-Access-Switch (RAS) modules. All of these modules are microprocessor programmable and addressable and connected in series network branches that contain a master Point-Of-Use (POU) module's control signal output with serially connected slave Point-Of-Use (POU) and remote access switch (RAS) modules. At configuration power start up, the master Point-Of-Use (POU) module assigns ID No. 0 to itself and starts issuing additional identification designations to the module that is physically connected to its output and subsequently issuing identification designations to the rest. Then, the switch elements of the Remote-Access-Switch (RAS) modules are actuated and linked with the load outputs of the master Point-Of-Use (POU) module first, and then to the different load outputs of the slave Point-Of-Use (POU) modules. A load output may be linked to more than one switch element, if desired, to achieve three or multiple way switching. The master and slave Point-Of-Use (POU) modules remember the linkage arrangement information from each of the modules, so that when one of the modules fails or is replaced, the replacement module installed in the network will learn the functions of the defective module from the remaining master or slaves and can take over the assignments of the defective missing module.

1 ) An apparatus for dynamically allocating, controlling and self-assigning addresses in a network for protecting circuit loads, comprising: 
 A) a network having at least one branch configuration;    B) an addressable master Point-Of-Use (POU) module having microprocessor means with associated means for storing data and instructions, having a unique pre-assigned hierarchical identification designation, and said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module including control signal input/output means for delivering and receiving data and instructions to and from said network including means for issuing unique identification designations upon receiving a first predetermined input signal, and further including at least one load output controlled through said microprocessor means; and    C) at least one addressable remote switch access module having microprocessor means with associated means for storing data and instructions and data to and from said network, and each of said remote switch access modules including first input means and second output means for delivering and receiving data and instructions to and from said network, including means for acquiring a unique identification designation from said master module, and each of said remote access switch (RAS) modules further including at least one switch member linked to control at least one of said outputs of said master Point-Of-Use (POU) modules, wherein said remote access switch (RAS) modules are connected in series to form said at last one branch so that upon configuration power-up, said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module takes control over the network and starts issuing said identification designations to each of said remote access switch (RAS) modules sequentially through said at least one branch with the closest remote access switch (RAS) module receiving the next identification designation with the rest of the remote access switch (RAS) modules following afterwards and each of said at least one switch member being assigned sequentially, upon activation, to said at least one load output of said master Point-Of-Use (POU) modules.    
   
   
       2 ) The apparatus set forth in  claim 1  wherein said storage means are non-volatile.  
   
   
       3 ) The apparatus set forth in  claim 2  wherein at least two of said switch members act as three-way switches by sharing the assignment of one of said load outputs.  
   
   
       4 ) The apparatus set forth in  claim 3  wherein each of said branches includes a first predetermined number of identification designations for said Remote-Access-Switch (RAS) modules, and the assignment of said identification designations takes place sequentially and downstream from said control signal first input/output means.  
   
   
       5 ) The apparatus set forth in  claim 4  wherein said first input/output means includes configuration output means for sequentially enabling said modules connected downstream from said first input/output means to receive a unique identification designation.  
   
   
       6 ) An apparatus for dynamically allocating, controlling and self-assigning addresses in a network for protecting circuit loads, comprising: 
 A) a network having at least one branch configuration;    B) an addressable master Point-Of-Use (POU) module having microprocessor means with associated means for storing data and instructions, having a unique pre-assigned hierarchical identification designation, and said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module including first control signal input/output means for delivering and receiving data and instructions to and from said network including means for issuing unique identification designations upon receiving a first predetermined input signal, and further including at least one load output controlled through said microprocessor means;    C) at least one addressable slave Point-Of-Use (POU) module each having microprocessor means with associated means for storing data and instructions, and having means for acquiring one of said unique identification designations from said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module, and each of said slave Point-Of-Use (POU) modules including second input/output means for delivering and receiving data and instructions to and from said network, and each of said slave Point-Of-Use (POU) modules further including at least one load output controlled through said microprocessor means; and    D) at least one addressable remote switch access (RAS) module having microprocessor means with associated means for storing data and instructions and data to and from said network, and having means for acquiring one of said unique identification designations from said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module, and each of said remote switch access (RAS) modules including third input/output means for delivering and receiving data and instructions to and from said network including means for acquiring a unique identification designation from said master module, and each of said remote access switch (RAS) modules further including at least one switch member linked to control at least one of said load outputs of said master or slave Point-Of-Use (POU) modules, wherein said slave Point-Of-Use (POU) modules and remote access switch (RAS) modules are connected in series to form said at last one branch so that upon configuration power-up, said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module takes control over the network and starts issuing said identification designations first to itself and then to each of said slave Point-Of-Use (POU) and remote access switch (RAS) modules sequentially through said at least one branch with the closest slave POU module to said first control signal input/output means, and each of said at least one switch member being assigned sequentially, upon activation, to said at least one load output of said master and slave Point-Of-Use (POU) modules.    
   
   
       7 ) The apparatus set forth in  claim 6  wherein said storage means are non-volatile.  
   
   
       8 ) The apparatus set forth in  claim 7  wherein at least two of said switch members act as three-way switches by sharing the assignment of one of said load outputs.  
   
   
       9 ) The apparatus set forth in  claim 8  wherein each of said branches includes a first predetermined number of identification designations for said slave POU modules and a second predetermined number of identification designations for said Remote-Access-Switch (RAS) modules, and the assignment of said identification designations takes place sequentially and downstream from said at least one control signal out means of said master POU starting with said slave POU module before starting with said Remote-Access-Switch (RAS) modules, and further including means for differentiating between said slave (POU) and remote access switch (RAS) modules to deliver the respective unique identification designation.  
   
   
       10 ) The apparatus set forth in  claim 9  wherein said first input/output means includes configuration output means for sequentially enabling said modules connected downstream from said first input/output means to receive a unique identification designation.  
   
   
       11 ) A method for dynamically allocating, controlling and self-assigning addresses to Point-Of-Use (POU) and Remote-Access-Switch (RAS) modules for protecting circuit loads in a network with at least one branch, comprising the steps of: 
 A) powering up a network comprising one programmable and addressable master Point-Of-Use (POU) module and at least one non-closed branch of at least one serially connected programmable Remote-Access-Switch (RAS) modules and said master and at least one of said RAS modules including a unique identification designation, said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module further including a control signal first input/output means at the end of each of said at least one branch and at least one load output, and each of said remote access switch (RAS) modules having at least one switch member, said remote access switch (RAS) modules having second input/output means daisy chain connected to said second input/output means downstream from said control signal first input/output means;    B) assigning from said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module a unique identification designation to each of said Remote-Access-Switches (RAS) in a sequential order starting from the module that is closest to said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module's control signal first input/output means and continuing to the last module for each one of said at least one branch;    C) actuating said at least one switch member to sequentially link said load outputs of said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module and recording this linking information in said master Point-Of-Use (POU) module so said linkage information is available for each of said modules and if one or more of said modules is missing in one of said branches, the remaining Remote-Access-Switches (RAS) modules will continue to function.    
   
   
       12 ) A method set forth in  claim 11  wherein said network includes at least one addressable slave Point-Of-Use (POU) module.  
   
   
       13 ) The method set forth in  claim 12  wherein further including the step of differentiating between said slave POU module and said RAS module before assigning a unique identification designation.  
   
   
       14 ) The method set forth in  claim 13  wherein said designation identifications are divided for said slave POU and RAS modules.  
   
   
       15 ) The method set forth in  claim 14  wherein two or more of said switch members are linked to the same load.  
   
   
       16 ) The method set forth in  claim 15  wherein said identification designations and linkage of said load outputs to said switch members is sorted on each of said slave Point-Of-Use (POU) modules so that upon the removal of at least one, but not all, of said POU modules, one of the remaining POU can take over the functions of said master POU module and allocate the original identification designations and links to new replacement modules.