Method and apparatus for allocating and prioritizing data transmission

摘要

The subject matter disclosed herein describes a method to allocate and prioritize data communications on an industrial control network. A transmission schedule (28) including multiple priority windows and multiple queues (Q) is established. Each queue (Q) is assigned to at least one priority window, and each priority window may have multiple queues (Q) assigned thereto. A control device (10) communicating on the control network (12) transmits data packets according to the transmission schedule (28). Within each priority window, data packets corresponding to one of the queues (Q) assigned to the priority window may be transmitted. The data packets may be transmitted at any point during the priority window, but will only be transmitted if no data packet from a higher queue (Q) is waiting to be transmitted.