Technical data
  Glossary 
Software 
System Manual, 07/2009, C79000-G8976-C222-07 
453 
LTOP 
(Line Transformer with Overvoltage Protection) 
Copper dedicated lines are highly susceptible to electromagnetic interference. The coupling 
of extraneous voltages can be inductive or capacitive, for example due to the effects of 
lightning. Direct conductive coupling is also possible due to bad insulation. 
The LTOP overvoltage protection modules limit extraneous voltage and overvoltage to a 
non-critical level. The floating transformer also provides electrical isolation preventing 
coupling of voltages into other cable sections. An LTOP protects persons and investment 
and is therefore an indispensable safety element in private dedicated line networks. 
Main and subcycle 
The sequence of the polling cycle can be structured on the master TIM by assigning 
individual polling stations to a main cycle or a subcycle. The subcycle is always activated at 
the end of the main cycle; in other words, once all stations from the main cycle have been 
polled, a certain, selectable number of stations are polled in the subcycle. Following this, all 
the stations in the main cycle are polled again. 
Master TIM 
WAN interface of a TIM set to the "master" function. Use in control centers and node 
stations. 
MPI 
The multipoint interface (MPI) is the programming device interface of SIMATIC S7. Devices 
with an MPI interface (for example a TIM), can also communicate with each other (MPI bus). 
MSC protocol 
The MSC protocol is a proprietary protocol and is used in SINAUT ST7 for the data 
exchange between TCP/IP-compliant devices in Ethernet, landline or mobile wireless 
networks. The MSC protocol provides an authentication mechanism and simple encryption of 
data. To transfer messages in IP-based WANs, the MSC protocol is linked into the protocol 
of SINAUT ST7. 
Multimaster polling with time slots 
When stations need to communicate with more than one master station in dedicated line or 
wireless operation, the multimaster polling with time slots mode is used. Each of the 
connected master stations is assigned one or more defined time slots per minute for polling. 
The master stations then have their turn to poll in every minute. 
Node station 
A node station is a station located between the master station and stations in the hierarchy 
of a telecontrol network. One or more subordinate stations are connected to a node station. 
The data traffic between these stations and the master station is handled via the node 
station. Direct data exchange between the node station and the subordinate stations is also 










