Multi-protocol network registration and address resolution

摘要

The functionality of communications standards and protocols that are application-layer specific are overlaid on an IP-based infrastructure, by employing an IP DNS server as the registration host for IP and other communications standards based and protocol based communications. Communication can occur at either the IP layer or the communications standards or protocol application layer. At the IP layer, a host application can interrogate network nodes. To extend this service to other communications standards or protocol communications, device registration and resolve services are implemented on the DNS server. Similar to the manner in which an IP-based service uses a native, IP-based DNS resolve request, a host can utilize a resolution request against the communications standards and protocol-enabled DNS server for standards and protocol application-layer interrogation of endpoints.

主权项

1. A node in a utility network, comprising:
a first interface that communicates with an associated device by means of a Distribution Automation (DA) device protocol, the DA device being configured to communicate according to a protocol including at least one of MODBUS and DNP 3.0; a second interface that communicates with a network by means of an IP protocol; and a processor that, in response to receipt of an IP-based data packet via said second interface, reformats data in said packet to conform to the DA device protocol and forwards the reformatted data via said first interface, and that, in response to receipt of DA device protocol formatted data at said first interface, reformats said data into an IP-based packet and transmits said packet over the network via said second interface.