Abstract: Disclosed is a bus module that can be connected to a bus system and comprises means for outputting safety-relevant signals in the form of repeated unambiguous code sequences. The bus module further comprises a first and second arithmetic unit with means for executing software programs. A code generator program of the first arithmetic unit generates a first partial code sequence of the code sequence while a code generator program of the second arithmetic unit generates the remaining portion of the code sequence as a second partial code sequence. Advantageously, a proper code sequence is output at the output of the bus module only when both arithmetic units function properly. A deviation in the code sequence that is output can then be detected by a monitor or actuator.

Abstract: There is described a method for coupling at least two independent bus systems and to a suitable device for carrying out said method, a cycle time TA, TB being assigned to each bus system and each data item from a sequence of data being transmitted to the bus of the respective bus system in its own cycle. A predetermined or predeterminable number of data items is buffered from a data sequence that is to be transmitted from the original bus system to the target bus system, and a respective data item is determined on the basis of the cycle time TB of the target bus system from the data buffered on the basis of cycle time TA of the original bus system.

Abstract: There is described a method for coupling at least two independent bus systems and to a suitable device for carrying out said method, a cycle time TA, TB being assigned to each bus system and each data item from a sequence of data being transmitted to the bus of the respective bus system in its own cycle. A predetermined or predeterminable number of data items is buffered from a data sequence that is to be transmitted from the original bus system to the target bus system, and a respective data item is determined on the basis of the cycle time TB of the target bus system from the data buffered on the basis of cycle time TA of the original bus system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bus module that can be connected to a bus system and comprises means for outputting safety-relevant signals in the form of repeated unambiguous code sequences. The bus module further comprises a first and second arithmetic unit with means for executing software programs. A code generator program of the first arithmetic unit generates a first partial code sequence of the code sequence while a code generator program of the second arithmetic unit generates the remaining portion of the code sequence as a second partial code sequence. Advantageously, a proper code sequence is output at the output of the bus module only when both arithmetic units function properly. A deviation in the code sequence that is output can then be detected by a monitor or actuator.

Abstract: A method of assigning device identification in a switched network, and the resulting switched network, includes designing a network having a design topology made up of network devices, constructing a network from the designed network and discovering the actual topology of the constructed network. The discovered topology is compared with the design topology to assign identifications to network devices of the constructed network.