Abstract: A method transmits data on a transmission path to which a control unit and several nodes are connected. The control unit cyclically outputs data in the form of telegrams to the transmission path, thereby controlling the transmission process in order to continuously output telegrams during the entire transmission cycle time taking the transmission standard into account. The nodes exchanges data with the telegrams when passing through. Further the control unit subdivides the transmission cycle into a number of subcycles having the same length, the control unit transmitting at least one communication telegram in each subcycle into which a first node may write data for a second node located downstream in the transmission path into the communication telegram when passing through.

Abstract: The invention concerns a data transmission technique for real-time applications and non real-time applications in a communication network comprising several nodes connected by communication channels. The invention is characterized in that the data are cyclically and deterministically transmitted, the data for the real-time applications being processed in priority, such that, during one transmission cycle, all the data for the real-time applications are first sent, then, in the time interval remaining prior to the next transmission cycle, the data for non real-time applications are sent.

Abstract: An interface unit is provided for a communication system comprising a master unit and a plurality of slave units serially connecting the master unit via a double ring structure comprising a first communication path and a second communication path. The interface unit comprises a first switching unit, which is configured to output information signals received by the master unit as a first information signal to the first communication path and as a second information signal to the second communication path; and a second switching unit, which is configured to forward the first information signal circulating on the first communication path and second information signal circulating on the second communication path to the master unit.

Abstract: When data are sent in the form of Ethernet messages on an Ethernet transmission link using an interface to link a node to the Ethernet transmission link, the data to be sent are converted using a conversion unit in line with a transmission standard of the Ethernet protocol in order to provide Ethernet messages, and a transmission unit is used for ongoing transmission of the provided Ethernet messages, with Ethernet messages being output onto the Ethernet transmission link continuously.

Abstract: The invention concerns a data transmission technique for real-time applications and non real-time applications in a communication network comprising several nodes connected by communication channels. The invention is characterized in that the data are cyclically and deterministically transmitted, the data for the real-time applications being processed in priority, such that, during one transmission cycle, all the data for the real-time applications are first sent, then, in the time interval remaining prior to the next transmission cycle, the data for non real-time applications are sent.