초록 ▼

An improved apparatus and method for communicating information in a networked system wherein network variables are employed to accomplish such communication. Network variables allow for standardized communication of data between nodes in a network. A first node may be programmed, for example, to sen

An improved apparatus and method for communicating information in a networked system wherein network variables are employed to accomplish such communication. Network variables allow for standardized communication of data between nodes in a network. A first node may be programmed, for example, to sense certain information and to report the information as a network variable X. A second node may be programmed to receive the variable X and to control devices based on the current value of the variable. The present invention provides for defining connections between the first and second node to facilitate such communication and for determining addressing information to allow for addressing of messages, including updates to the value of the variable X, between the nodes.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [8.] A network comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes including:a reader node anda set of writer nodes;said reader node being configured to send a first message to said set of writer nodes;each of said writer nodes being configured to respond to said first message byde

[ What is claimed is:] [8.] A network comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes including:a reader node anda set of writer nodes;said reader node being configured to send a first message to said set of writer nodes;each of said writer nodes being configured to respond to said first message bydetermining a variable that is uniquely identified by information contained in said first message, said variable being a variable used by an application that resides on said writer node;locating a value associated with said variable, andsending a response message to said first message, said response message containing said value;said reader node being configured to receive the response messages that were sent by said set of writer nodes in response to said first message;said reader node being configured to respond to each response message bydetermining a variable that is uniquely identified by information contained in said response message, said variable being a variable used by an application that resides on said reader node, andstoring the value in said response message in a location that corresponds to the variable that is uniquely identified by the information contained in said response message.