Methods and apparatus for process control with improved communication links

摘要

The invention provides, in some aspects, an improved control network (or portion thereof) that includes a plurality of nodes, each associated with respective control devices (e.g., controllers, actuators, sensors, etc.). Each of the nodes also includes one or more radios supporting wireless communications pathways with one or more of the other nodes, which pathways together form at least part of a mesh network. At least a first one of the nodes wirelessly transmits information simultaneously, or substantially simultaneously, over at least two pathways formed in a mesh network to a second one of the nodes. The radio(s) of the first node, according to related aspects of the invention, sends that information wirelessly at different frequencies along each of those pathways.

主权项

1. A control network, comprising:
a mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected by network segments; the plurality of nodes including a first node that is associated with at least one device in a control system and a second node that is associated with at least one device in the control system; the network segments forming a communication pathway to transmit one or more messages between the first node and the second node; wherein the first node wirelessly transmits a message at a first frequency on one or more network segments of the mesh network and, at the same time, wirelessly transmits the same message at least at a second materially different frequency on one or more network segments of the mesh network.