A system includes a programmable logic control (PLC) module, an input/output (IO) network bus coupled to the PLC module and provided at facets of a mainframe. A first process chamber attached to a first facet of the facets. A chamber interface IO sub-module is attached to the first facet and coupled to the IO network bus and to a process chamber IO controller of the first process chamber. The chamber interface IO sub-module is to: convert interlock relay signals, received via dry contact exchange with the process chamber IO controller, to digital signals; combine the digital signals into network packets adapted for communication using a protocol of the IO network bus; and transmit the network packets to the PLC module over the IO network bus.

A method for wirelessly transmitting data packets within a measuring system from multiple field devices to a superordinate unit via a wireless interface of the each device includes distributing the data packet to the field devices; synchronizing the wireless interfaces of the field devices such that the wireless interfaces transmit with a defined phase shift relative to one another in each particular case; and transmitting the data packet to the superordinate unit via the wireless interfaces of the at least two field devices in synchronized fashion. This allows the data packet to be received by the superordinate unit with increased transmission reliability according to the invention. This ensures the data transmission between one of the field devices and the superordinate unit without a repeater or other added complexity even when there are individual obstacles.

Systems and methods for extending Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) protocols are provided. A Link Aggregation Group (LAG), according to one implementation, includes a plurality of Ethernet Segments (ESs) and a plurality of service ports configured to communicate over the plurality of ESs. The service ports are configured to enable an operator device to access an EVPN to receive Layer 2 (L2) and Layer 3 (L3) Ethernet services. Also, the service ports are configured to enable the operator device to operate with multi-homing functionality to receive the L2 and L3 Ethernet services via redundant paths associated with the plurality of ESs. The services ports are further configured to respond to operator commands, whereby the operator commands include one or more operator commands related to switching among the redundant paths.

Communication buses enable devices to communicate and exchange information and control signals. There is a growing concern over the security of such types of buses. Since any device can transmit any message, and device on the bus which can be compromised poses a threat for the bus. Described is a system to authenticate the source of messages from various devices on a communication bus.

A network node for coupling to a communication bus, the node comprising: a receiver configured to receive messages from the communication bus; and a transmitter configured to transmit first messages having a first message format and configured to transmit diagnosis messages having a second message format on the communication bus for use in determination of communication errors, wherein said transmitter is configured to send said one or more diagnosis messages having one or more of: (i) a predetermined pattern of symbols; (ii) a predetermined sending schedule; (iii) a predetermined line encoding method; (iv) a predetermined bit rate; (v) a predetermined position in one or more of the first messages; (vi) a predetermined signalling frequency that is out of a frequency band used for transmission of the first messages; and (vii) a predetermined signal strength different from the signal strength used to send the first messages.

A method and associated system, includes implementing a controller, configured to communicate, over a communication network, with a plurality of highly-versatile field devices coupled to the controller. The method and system also include configuring the network to facilitate communication of traffic over an advanced physical layer (APL) medium. One or more APL power switches are configured to provide connectivity to other devices and each includes a power supply to provide power via the medium. One or more APL field switches, each receiving power from a power switch, are configured to distribute both communication signals and power signals to field devices communicatively coupled to a respective field switch. The method further includes configuring a network resource management component to manage network resources to facilitate communication over the network of traffic that includes both managed traffic, of which the management component is aware, and unmanaged traffic, of which the management component is not aware.

A central device includes an information replacing unit. When the information replacing unit detects, on the basis of contact information acquired from an electric coupler provided in a coupled vehicle in a formation B having a train-information management device that manages vehicle information in accordance with the Ethernet® protocol, that a formation A that includes a train-information management device that manages vehicle information in accordance with the ARCNET protocol is coupled to the formation B, then the information replacing unit replaces vehicle information from the formation A with vehicle information in accordance with the Ethernet® protocol; outputs the replaced vehicle information to the formation B; replaces the vehicle information from the formation B with the vehicle information in accordance with the ARCNET protocol; and outputs the replaced vehicle information to the formation A.

In some embodiments, a system may include a tool drill string having a downhole device. The system may include a contact module including a first component. The first component may include a first data path capable of communicating data using a first communication protocol, a second data path capable of communicating the data using a second communication protocol, and a processor electrically connected to the first data path and the second data path. The processor may be capable of selectively routing the data between the first data path and the second data path.

Embodiments of a method and device are disclosed. In an embodiment, an in-vehicle network interface device includes a data port to send and receive data packets, a plurality of packet processing pipelines coupled to the data port, each to inspect a single data packet to determine an action to perform on the single data packet, and a safety module to receive the determined action from each packet processing pipeline and to select one of the determined actions to perform on the single data packet and to cause a selected one of the packet processing pipelines to perform the selected action.

The present invention aims to reduce an operation burden related to the change of reception processing in a master device when a device connected to a slave device is changed. A device communication managing unit (10) transmits the data received by a device (20) communicating with a device communication port (110) in a first mode to a field network (50) by using a data format used for transmitting the data received by the device (20) communicating in a second mode.