Abstract: A communication apparatus is disclosed with a communication controller that has a host-side communication interface for communicating with a host and a plurality of slave-side communication interfaces. Each slave-side communication interface has a plurality of electrical pins that are configurable to define a communication port that implements a selected communication protocol thereon. Each pin is in electrical communication with a slave socket having a predetermined layout. Each slave socket is configured to receive a protocol adapter that corresponds to the selected communication protocol and that is configured to facilitate communication between an external slave device and the relevant communication port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a software defined device interface system 10, a software defined device interface, gateway and a method of defining an interface for a device which uses a specific communication protocol for communication purposes. The system 10 includes a microprocessor/processing unit 12.1, 12.2 with a plurality of communication pins and software/firmware. The software/firmware is configured, based on a specific communication protocol which is used by a particular device 30.1-30.4 for communication purposes, to, in runtime, assign/select one or more of the communication pins to form a virtual port to which the particular device 30.1-30.4 can be connected, upon receiving a configuration instruction from a user to implement the specific communication protocol. The software/firmware is further configured to implement the specific communication protocol through the virtual port, to thereby allow for communication between the microprocessor/processing unit 12.1, 12.2 and the device 30.1-30.