The following terms are important for understanding LonWorks and systems used in conjunction with LonWorks.

Address Table:  Binding Table controlled by Neuron

Application Programming Tool: Also know as a Plug In.  A Tool that allows the process by which the application program in each network device is tailored to the desired functionality by selecting the appropriate configuration properties.

ASC: Application Specific Controller

Binding:  The process takes place during Network design and installation that defines connections between LonWorks Devices.  Connections define the data that devices share with one another.

Bus Topology:  Clearly defined topology which allows longer channel distance.

Channel: The physical media devices communicate.  Segment connected via a physical layer repeater are considered a single channel.  LonWorks routers are used to connect two channels.

Commission:  Allowing network management tool to see Device.  The process of using a network installation tool, such as LonMaker Integration Tool, to download the network configuration data and application configuration data to a device. 

Domain: A logical collection of devices on one more channels.  Communications can only take place among devices configured in the same domain.

Domain ID: Top level of the LonTalk addressing hierarchy of domain/subnet/node. The zero length domain is reserved for the LNS architecture and cannot be used as the systems domain. The domain ID can be 0,1,3,6 bytes long

Domain length: Length of ID is 1 byte or 1 to 255 in length.

Enumerated SNVT: Numerical digit represents a field of the SNVT.

Explicit: Communication type which represents a non-standard communication variable. Low-level messages that Application Devices use to communicate with one another. Each message contains a message code that identifies the type of message. Application devices use the codes to determine the action to take when the message is received. When using explicit messages, the device is responsible for building, sending, and responding to messages.

External Interface File: Each LonMark device must have .xif so that network tools can design and configure a network database prior to physical connection of the devices and can commission after they are installed.

Free Topology:  A method of Wiring which allows T’s, Rings, and Stars to incorporate a network.  This configuration will limit the distance of the network compared to a bus Topology.  Only one Termination is required on the segment.

Programmable Controller: Application must be written for the device.

Function Block:  A collection of network variables, configuration properties and associated behavior that defines desired system functionality.  Functional blocks define standard formats and semantics for how information is exchanged between devices on a network. 

Heartbeat: A network variable update that is automatically sent if the network variable has not been updated for a configurable length of time. Input network variables can monitor heartbeats from upstream functional blocks to detect failures using heartbeat receive checking. If a heartbeat is not received within the specified amount of time, the functional block will go into heartbeat failure, causing all hardware outputs to go to their configured defaults values until normal operation is restored.

HMI:  Human Machine Interface, A network management tool that provides services for human monitoring and supervisory control of systems.  The HMI usually runs on a workstation or desktop/Portable PC.

Implicit: Ensures standard messages between nodes from different vendors using Standard Network variables.

Interchangeability: Ability to replace device with a device from a different vendor without changing the physical input or output instrumentation connections. 

Interoperability: Means that multiple devices (also called nodes), from the same or different manufacturers, can be integrated into a single control network without requiring custom node or network tool development. The LonMark Association is dedicated to developing standards for interoperability, certifying products to those standards, and promoting the benefits of interoperable systems

LNS Database:  A collection of tools that provides installation, management, and monitoring and control services required for open LonWorks Networks.

LNS Plug-in:  Software installed as an interface to configure a devices Application.  The Plug-in can be called from any LNS tool that follows the LNS plug-in director guidelines, including the LonMaker tool.

LON: Local Operation Network allows connecting devices with an open LonTalk protocol.

LonMaker:  The LonMaker Integration Tool is a software package for designing, installing, operating, and maintaining multi-vendor, open, interoperable LonWorks networks.

LonMaker Browser: Allows Implicate and Explicate Network variables to be exposed from Functional blocks displayed on a LonMaker Drawing.

LonMark:  Association governed by an Industrial Council drawn from members representing all the interested communities.

LonTalk:  Communication Protocol, Built into each Neuron Chip designed by Echelon. It defines a standard way for devices to exchange information.  An open-standard, serial, packet protocol specifically designed for control networks. 

LonWorks:  Name of the Technology:  A LonWorks network consists of intelligent devices (such as sensors, actuators, and controllers) that communicate with each other using a common protocol over one or more communications channels.  An Open technology that allows intelligent devices to communicate using the LonTalk communication protocol.  The technology employs routers, gateways, and bridges multimedia transceivers permitting topology and media independent control solutions. 

LTA:  LonTalk Adapter allows connection from the PC to the LonTalk Network.

Menta:  Software tool for building application designed by TAC.

Neuron Chip:  Small Chip designed and controlled by Echelon.  Comprised of 3 CPU’s where the Protocol, application, and XXXX reside.   The Chip is used as the enabling processor for LonTalk. 

Network Configuration Tool: A software application, such as LonMaker Integration Tool, used to facilitate the network configuration process.

Network Management Tool:  Tool used to commission devices on a Network Channel.  Tool used to facilitate one or more network management tasks, such as network design, configuration, installation, documentation, maintenance, modification, monitoring, or supervisory control.

Network Services Interface:  NSI, Hardware that allows you to connect a PC running the LNS Server, the LonMaker tool, and the LonPoint Plug-in to a LonWorks network.  This hardware is not necessary for network design, but must be installed to commission, test, or brose devices.  The LNS network services interfaces include the PCLTA-10 ISA card, the PCC-10 PC Card, and the SLTA-10 Serial LonTalk Adapter.

Network Variables:  Enable device to share data:  An object declared on a Lonworks node that may be connected to multiple nodes on a Lonworks network.  Network variables provide a well defined interface between Lonworks nodes.  All network variables are defined as either input or output; this determines whether the network variable handles data going into or out of the device. 

Node:  A Network Device attached on a Segment/Channel. 

Node ID:  The third part of the LonTalk addressing hierarchy of domain/subnet/node.  At installation time, each device is assigned a unique node ID within its subnet by the Network Services Server (NSS).

Neuron ID:  A 48-bit number assigned to each Neuron Chip at manufacture time.  Each Neuron Chip has a unique Neuron ID, Making it like a serial number.

Open Protocol:  A Protocol in which the manufacture has made the language “translation” available to anyone who wishes to use it:  LonTalk.

Program ID: An identifier stored in the device (in the Neuron Chip's EEPROM) that identifies the application program running on the node. All nodes with the same program ID must have the same external interface.

Repeater, Physical layer:  A device with two transceivers and No Neuron that allows the LonTalk Protocol to be extended.  A physical layer repeater has no intelligence, so it cannot selectively forward packets to increase network capacity, and it forwards damaged packets.

Router:  A router controls message traffic based on device address and priority.  Routers also serve as communication interfaces between power line, twisted pair, and RF Medias.

SCPT:  Standard configuration Property Type.  SCPT’s facilitate interoperability by providing a well defined compact mechanism for handling large amounts of configuration information on a node.  SCPT’s do not use up network variable resources and are downloaded and uploaded to a node via the Lontalk file transfer protocol or by network management messages. SCPT’s are defined for a wide range of configuration properties used in many kinds of functional profiles, such as hysteresis bands, default values, minimum and maximum limits. 

Segment: A portion of a channel.  A single segment can be comprised of multiple sections connected by physical layer repeaters.

Simple SNVT: Network variable that will single data

SNVT:  Standard Network Variable Type.  A standard set of network variable types defined by the Lon Mark Association to facilitate interoperability by providing a well defined interface for communication between devices made by different manufacturers.  A node may be installed in a network and logically connected to other nodes via network variables as long as the data type matches.

Structured SNVT: Bring together different values to designate several fields of information within the SNVT.  Multiple bits of data send data at same time.

Subnet ID: Logical division of a domain.  Domain/Subnet/Node. 

Subsystem: Subsystems allow the placement of devise, routers, and functional blocks onto separate pages for organizational purposes.  Subsystems may be placed in other subsystems which allow subsystems hierarchy for large networks.

Terminator:  Provides electrical termination for twisted pair channels.  Correctly placed terminators prevent signal reflections and counteract echoes in the cable.  Every segment must be terminated according to channel type and topology.

Transceiver:  The component that physically connects a Neuron Chip to its channel.  The transceiver implements layer 1 of the LonTalk protocol.  All devices connected to a specific channel must have compatible transceivers running at the same bit rate.

UNVT: A non-standard network variable type defined by the manufacturer of a device.

UCPT:  A non-standard data structure used for configuration fo the application program in a LonMark device.

VNI:  Virtual Network Interface, The virtual network interface manages the communications between applications on the PC and the driver for the LNS network interface.  Multiple VNI’s maybe created allowing a single LNS network interface to simultaneously open multiple LNS networks.