I would think that a more capable physical layer would form the basis for a new network technology based on an existing MAC and Data Link Layer. There is a space to fill in your location. So what currency is used in Brazil?
Well, here in Brazil we use "Real". It was a currency created in 1994(I guess) to control the levels of the inflation. During a time, while its value was really controlled by the Central Bank, it ran with dollar and occured of Real have the same value of Dollar. But later, they decided to let the currency 'walk by it own', whithout the 'protection' of the governament. Today they prefer to keep Real's value, lower than Dollar one. To buy a dollar we need 1,72 Reais(plural). It is good to export/import market.
So I got some ideas while I was thinking about what you've suggested and I want yout opinion.
I've been thinking about to research a new way of communication between the slaves and the master.
Using a sensor as example:
SENSOR -------> MASTER -------> SOFTWARE
- the sensor : every variation on its inputs, will generate a clock to send a sequence of bits to the Master analyses. Depending the received data, the master will send a answer to the sensor activate its outputs and an update to the visual software. For example, by a circuit to convert parallel/serial data and another one to send it.
- the master : receive every little information and work as much as possible on it and send answers. With this I think that the development of sensors(at first) would be too much cheaper than today.
- the software : can be used to show to the user what is going on the network. Can be used to program the logic of the network.
!!!....."On this example, of course, the factory plant must be pre-defined.".....!!!
What do you think about it?!?