Dual token passing network configuration for hard real time control applications

A novel technique is described for improving the response time of a token passing network without resorting to high transmission rates. A token passing network, known as the HRT-Net (hard real time network) operating at 1 Mbit/s, is proposed and evaluated. It is shown that the HRT-Net provides superior response time characteristics when compared with industrial standard networks such as the mini-MAP and the SAE high speed data bus.