METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED DMX512 COMMUNICATION

摘要

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for improved DMX communications. In some embodiments, methods and apparatus related to extensions of the DMX protocol enable error detection and correction by enhanced DMX slave devices. The methods and apparatus may utilize at least one forward error correction byte that is incorporated within a DMX packet and that may be utilized to correct instruction bytes in the DMX packet. A plurality of bytes within the DMX packet may optionally be interleaved according to an interleaving scheme in some variations.

主权项

1. A method of providing improved DMX communication, comprising:
connecting a plurality of enhanced DMX slaves to a DMX network, said enhanced DMX slaves having a plurality of DMX slave control addresses corresponding thereto; compiling a DMX packet having a plurality of bytes, said bytes including a plurality of enhanced DMX slave instruction bytes corresponding to said enhanced DMX slave control addresses and including at least one forward error correction byte; wherein said forward error correction byte is incorporated within said DMX packet and is a forward error correction code block of a plurality of said bytes of said DMX packet; transmitting said DMX packet on said DMX network; receiving said DMX packet at each of said enhanced DMX slaves; buffering a plurality of said bytes including said forward error correction byte at each of said enhanced DMX slaves; analyzing at least one of said enhanced DMX slave instruction bytes in light of said forward error correction byte at each of said enhanced DMX slaves; wherein each of said enhanced DMX slaves at least selectively corrects a respective at least one of said enhanced DMX slave instruction bytes utilizing said forward error correction byte when said forward error correction byte indicates an error therewith and acts upon said corrected enhanced DMX slave instruction byte.