Abstract: Interface module and method for configuring and parameterizing a field bus user, wherein to facilitate a configuration and parameterization of a field bus user logical addresses on the side of an engineering system are transformed with a transformation device into virtual addresses, where whether virtual addresses are present in a received virtual configuration file is recognized in an interface module via a recognition device, a signal is triggered when addresses are present in the received virtual configuration file to ensure the virtual configuration file is adopted and stored in a non-volatile manner in a configuration store within the interface module, and where the virtual addresses are transformed in the interface module via a reverse transformation device back into physically present addresses, whereby for a data exchange of the process data of the module slot, on request by further field bus users, the process data in the module slot is addressed.

Abstract: Interface module and method for configuring and parameterizing a field bus user, wherein to facilitate a configuration and parameterization of a field bus user logical addresses on the side of an engineering system are transformed with a transformation device into virtual addresses, where whether virtual addresses are present in a received virtual configuration file is recognized in an interface module via a recognition device, a signal is triggered when addresses are present in the received virtual configuration file to ensure the virtual configuration file is adopted and stored in a non-volatile manner in a configuration store within the interface module, and where the virtual addresses are transformed in the interface module via a reverse transformation device back into physically present addresses, whereby for a data exchange of the process data of the module slot, on request by further field bus users, the process data in the module slot is addressed.

Abstract: A method for operating a network with two control devices and at least one peripheral device, wherein each of the control devices, in relation to the peripheral device, is in an active operating state in which it is sending control instructions to the peripheral device or is in an idle operating state in which it is not sending any control instructions to the peripheral device. The control device that is in the active operating state in relation to the peripheral device sends synchronization signals at regular intervals to the other control device and activity signals to the peripheral device. Upon failure of the synchronization signals, the non-active control device checks whether the peripheral device is still receiving activity signals from the active control device. If it is not, the non-active control device assumes control of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A method for operating a network with two control devices and at least one peripheral device, wherein each of the control devices, in relation to the peripheral device, is in an active operating state in which it is sending control instructions to the peripheral device or is in an idle operating state in which it is not sending any control instructions to the peripheral device. The control device that is in the active operating state in relation to the peripheral device sends synchronization signals at regular intervals to the other control device and activity signals to the peripheral device. Upon failure of the synchronization signals, the non-active control device checks whether the peripheral device is still receiving activity signals from the active control device. If it is not, the non-active control device assumes control of the peripheral device.

Abstract: There is described a communication system for reliable communication between communication stations, wherein there is at least one communication connection between the communication stations, wherein the communication connection features at least two channels for transmitting payload data telegrams, wherein only one channel acts as primary channel for the communication at any time, and wherein the other channels are provided as backup channels. A status indicator in the payload data telegram is provided for the indication of information concerning which channel is primary channel or backup channel at a given time point, wherein the communication stations adopt as primary channel that channel for which, during receipt of the payload data telegrams, the most recent status change from backup channel to primary channel was detected by the communication stations.

Abstract: There is described a communication system for reliable communication between communication stations, wherein there is at least one communication connection between the communication stations, wherein the communication connection features at least two channels for transmitting payload data telegrams, wherein only one channel acts as primary channel for the communication at any time, and wherein the other channels are provided as backup channels. A status indicator in the payload data telegram is provided for the indication of information concerning which channel is primary channel or backup channel at a given time point, wherein the communication stations adopt as primary channel that channel for which, during receipt of the payload data telegrams, the most recent status change from backup channel to primary channel was detected by the communication stations.

Abstract: A switching unit is provided in order to operate in each case one bus master from a group of redundant bus masters on a fundamentally non-redundant bus system, with the special feature of the switching unit being that it is itself operated on the bus to be switched and, in consequence, no special signals are required to switch the bus masters.