Communication Channel 

Definition

Connection for transmission of messages between MFS and a control facility, defined by an IP address and a port.

Use

To facilitate communication between MFS and a PLC, you must define a communication channel for this PLC. In the process, you define certain properties, such as the length of the messages and whether telegram confirmations are to be used.

Via the application menu, you also make the settings for the IP address and port via which the PLC can be reached.

You can use several channels to communicate with the same PLC. Each of these must use a separate port. You can specify that certain telegrams are to be sent via a particular port and other messages via a different one.

Messages of a communication channel are communicated sequentially. This means that the system does not send message 2 until an acknowledgment of receipt has been received for message 1. One communication channel per control is sufficient.

However, communication can be accelerated by using a second communication channel (and perhaps others).

Ensure that you parallelize only those messages that may overtake each other if necessary. There may be undesired consequences, for example, if transportation receipts and logon telegrams are distributed among different channels. In cases of malfunction on one channel, they may not be processed in the intended sequence.

For more information, see the IMG for EWMunder Material Flow System (MFS) ® Master Data ® Communication Channel.

Example

You specify that MFS is to communicate with the three stacker cranes in your warehouse via a separate channel for each one. With regard to the prestorage area, you expect a higher incidence of telegrams. You therefore define 2 channels (port 1 and port 2) for the responsible PLC. All HU-related telegrams are to pass along channel 1, whereas channel 2 is for all status telegrams (malfunction reports for communication points and segments). You therefore agree with the person responsible for the PLC that status telegrams are to be transmitted via port 2. In EWM, you specify that telegram type STAR (status request from EWM to MFS) is to be routed via channel 2.