METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED DMX512 COMMUNICATION

摘要

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for improved backwards compatible DMX communications. In some embodiments,methods and apparatus related to extensions of the DMX protocol enable error detection by enhanced DMX slave devices while maintaining full compatibility with non-enhanced DMX slave devices. The methods and apparatus may utilize a packet checksum byte that is incorporated within a start code packet and that is a checksum of a plurality of bytes in the start code packet. A plurality of bytes within the start code packet may optionally be interleaved according to an interleaving scheme in some variations.

主权项

1. A method of providing improved DMX communication while maintaining backwards compatibility, 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 start code 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 packet checksum byte; wherein said packet checksum byte is incorporated within said start code packet and is a checksum of a plurality of said bytes of said start code packet; transmitting said start code packet on said DMX network; receiving said start code packet at each of said enhanced DMX slaves; buffering a plurality of said bytes including said packet checksum at each of said enhanced DMX slaves; calculating a received checksum of buffered of said bytes and comparing said received checksum with said packet checksum at each of said enhanced DMX slaves; wherein each of said enhanced DMX slaves at least selectively acts on a respective at least one of said enhanced DMX slave instruction bytes only when a calculated said received checksum and said packet checksum substantially correspond.