Method and Apparatus for a Hub in Daisy Chain Configuration

Abstract

A connector hub comprising a number of cable interfaces is used to allow a number of network devices connected to a network to be connected in a free-form manner, yet still maintain a daisy chain configuration. A cable comprising at least two conductors, wherein the conductors are preferably a twisted pair of copper wire, is used to connect each of the network devices to a cable interface on the connector hub, so that each network device only has a single cable connected to it. The connector hub connects a master or primary network device to the network devices connected by a cable to the cable interfaces of the connector in a daisy chain configuration.

1 . A master network device for creating a network in a daisy chain configuration, the master network device comprising:
 a network component configured to operate on a daisy chain network and comprising an output port and an input port for connection to the daisy chain network; and   a connector hub operative to connect a plurality of network devices in a daisy chain network with cables, wherein each cable comprises two conductors, the connector hub comprising:
 a plurality of sequential cable interfaces including a first cable interface and a last cable interface, each cable interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect one conductor of a connected cable to a connecting circuit; 
   wherein the connecting circuit is configured such that:
 one of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to the output port of the network component and the other of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a next cable interface; the other of the conductor connectors of the next cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a succeeding cable interface, and 
 conductor connectors of the subsequent succeeding cable interfaces are connected sequentially in the same manner; and 
 the other of the conductor connectors of the last cable interface is connected to the input port of the network component. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each conductor connector of each cable interface is operative to connect to a conductor that is a twisted wire pair. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the cable interfaces is operative to connect to a category 5 cable. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one cable interface comprises a socket adapted to receive a plug attached to an end of a cable, and wherein inserting the plug into the socket connects the conductors of the cable to the conductor connectors of the at least one cable interface. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the plug and socket conform to the RJ45 standard. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the network component is configured to operate on a network using the RS 485 standard. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the network component comprises a second network connection operative to connect to a second network and the network component is operative to act as bridge from the second network to the daisy chain network. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the network connection is an Ethernet connection. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the network connection is a wireless connection. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the network connection is an internet connection. 
     
     
         11 . A daisy chain network comprising a master network device according to  claim 1 , and at least two network devices, wherein:
 each network device is operative to communicate as a node in a daisy chain network; and   each network device is operatively connected by a cable to a cable interface of the master network device.   
     
     
         12 . The network of  claim 11  wherein each of the cable interfaces of the master network device not connected to a cable has a shorting plug inserted in the cable interface. 
     
     
         13 . A daisy chain network comprising a master network device according to  claim 1 , and at least two network devices, wherein:
 each network device is operative to communicate as a node in a daisy chain network;   each network device is operatively connected by a cable to one of a cable interface of the master network device and a connector device; and   wherein each cable interface of each connector device is connected by a cable to one of a network device and another connector device.   
     
     
         14 . The network of  claim 13  wherein each of the cable interfaces of the master network device not connected to a cable has a shorting plug inserted in the cable interface. 
     
     
         15 . A connector hub to connect a plurality of network devices in a daisy chain network with cables, wherein each cable comprises two conductors, the connector hub comprising:
 a connecting circuit;   a primary network device interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect a conductor to the connecting circuit; and   a plurality of sequential cable interfaces including a first cable interface and a last cable interface, each cable interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect one conductor of a connected cable to the connecting circuit;   wherein the connecting circuit is configured such that:
 one of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of the primary network device interface and the other of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a next cable interface and the other of the conductor connectors of the next cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a succeeding cable interface; 
 conductor connectors of the subsequent succeeding cable interfaces are connected sequentially in the same manner; and 
 the other of the conductor connectors of the last cable interface is connected to the other conductor connector of the primary network device interface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein each conductor connector of each cable interface is operative to connect to a conductor that is a twisted wire pair. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the cable interfaces is operative to connect to a category 5 cable. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15  wherein at least one cable interface comprises a socket adapted to receive a plug attached to an end of a cable, and wherein inserting the plug into the socket connects the conductors of the cable to the conductor connectors of the at least one cable interface. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the plug and socket conform to the RJ45 standard. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the network component is configured to operate on a network using the RS 485 standard. 
     
     
         21 . A daisy chain network comprising: a connector hub according to  claim 15 ; a primary network device; and at least two network devices, wherein:
 the primary network device and each network device are operative to communicate as a node in a daisy chain network;   the primary network device is operatively connected to the primary network device interface of the connector hub; and   each network device is operatively connected by a cable to a cable interface of the connector device.   
     
     
         22 . The network of  claim 21  wherein each of the cable interfaces of the connector hub not connected to a cable has a shorting plug inserted in the cable interface. 
     
     
         23 . A daisy chain network comprising: a connector hub according to  claim 15 ; a primary network device; and at least two network devices, wherein:
 the primary network device and each network device are operative to communicate as a node in a daisy chain network;   the primary network device is operatively connected to the primary network device interface of the connector hub;   each network device is operatively connected by a cable to one of a cable interface of the master network device or a connector device; and   wherein each cable interface of each connector device is connected by a cable to one of a network device and another connector device.   
     
     
         24 . The network of  claim 23  wherein each of the cable interfaces of the master network device not connected to a cable has a shorting plug inserted in the cable interface.