Intelligent local area network planning

The objective of this research is to develop an analysis tool for evaluating a token bus topology, supporting the Manufacturing Automation Protocol (MAP). Furthermore this research describes an easy-to-use graphical interface for a complex simulation program. Specifically, the creation of a graphical user interface for MAP network simulation program is illustrated. Simulation of MAP sub-networks interconnected by bridges can be performed without further programming. This software, called ILAN, features a unique graphical user interface with message definition facility and an error-checking inference engine which advises users of any instances of duplicated or omitted information. ILAN's problem-definition phase is simplified by implementing a single graphical user interface for all inputs. Two main procedures within ILAN consist of a local area networks simulation and an intelligent graphical interface with a unique graphical message definition facility. The simulation procedure includes the ability to model different numbers of multiple MAP sub-networks interconnected by bridges and different numbers of associations between stations using the token bus protocol. Higher layers in the protocol stacks are modeled as queues having variable delays for different messages at different stations. In order to aid users with the difficulty of inputting parameters needed to simulate complex MAP networks, a graphical user interface is developed. By means of this graphical interface, users can describe the MAP hardware configurations as well as message definitions to be simulated. Sequences of messages to be transmitted can be displayed on the screen as users describe them.