Abstract: A communication network comprises a communication bus and at least two line cards. Each of the line cards are coupled to the communication bus The line cards comprise a processor and a configuration memory coupled to the processor. The communication occurring on the communication bus is predetermined, but can be reconfigured during real time operation by events or by the addition or subtraction of line cards. The configuration memory comprising an array of configuration tables, each configuration table storing a listing of processes to run and data to be transmitted or received by the process. A current configuration table is selected from the array of configuration tables upon the occurrence of a predefined event.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for preventing faulty commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) peripherals or I/Os from disabling the bus to which they are connected. The apparatus has isolators coupled to the bus and the I/Os. A controller is coupled between the interfaces, a processor and memory, operating such that an I/O cannot transfer data to the bus without permission from the bus. Isolation memory keeps I/O and bus messages separate. I/O messages are checked before being sent to the bus. The method comprises: determining if there is a message for the peripheral, temporarily storing the message, determining if the message is for output or input, and if for output, sending it to the peripheral, and if for input, requesting and receiving it from the peripheral, temporarily storing and checking it, and transferring it to the bus only if valid. This prevents a failed I/O or peripheral from disabling the bus.