Abstract: A communication process is employed on an optical bus simultaneously supporting different bit rates. A single time-division multiplexing transmission protocol is used on the bus. All the equipment is listening to the bus permanently. The items of equipment which require to send information insert it into time windows defined by the item of equipment itself and as a function of the activity of the other items of equipment irrespective of the information bit rate for these items of equipment. Each item of receiver equipment detects the activity of the bus, acknowledges the type of bit rate and recreates the information intended for it.

Abstract: To establish communications between a plurality of functional modules installed in a local unit and at least one Ethernet type external, multiplexed, multi-transmitter and multi-receiver bus enabling communications with other local units, the device according to the invention comprises as many internal buses as there are functional modules of the local unit, each internal bus being of the multiplexed, multi-transmitter and multi-receiver type, complying with the format of the information elements travelling through the external bus, said functional modules being coupled to the internal buses so that access to each internal bus is controlled by only one module; and at least one coupling module designed to provide for the transfer of information elements between the internal buses and the external bus.

Abstract: A method for producing a result prepared from asynchronous external events, wherein two mutually independent counting processes are activated, the temporal coincidence of the ends of counting of these two processes are verified and, on the basis of the information elements pertaining to the verification of each of these two counting processes and according to a specific sequencing of the application considered, a non-consolidated intermediate action is activated for each of the two sequencing processes and, after the verification of the temporal coincidence of the intermediate actions, and taking account of possible external priority actions, a resultant action is produced if all the necessary conditions are fulfilled.

Abstract: In order to have the functional modules of a local unit communicate with one another and with an external bus, the device embodying the invention comprises: at least one internal bus of the same type as the external bus per functional module, the latter being coupled to the internal busses so that each module is the sole transmitter on at least one of the internal busses and is a receiver on the other internal busses; an additional internal bus for each external bus of the same type as said internal busses, ensuring the dissemination to the functional modules of data transiting on the external bus; and a coupling module ensuring transfer towards the external bus of the data circulating on the internal busses and destined for another local unit connected to the external bus.