Patent ID: 8578077
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A communication method for serially transmitting data in automation technology including a basic module as a system master, a number of expansion modules as slaves, and a bidirectional communication link via which the basic module serially communicates with the expansion modules, the number of expansion modules being subdivided into at least two groups by allocating at least two of the expansion modules a status as group master for the expansion modules which serially follow them in the respective group, the method comprising: cyclically interchanging characterized in that data in first time periods which are designated messages, between the basic module and only expansion modules, of the number of expansion modules, assigned the status as group master, expansion modules of the number of expansion modules which have not been assigned the status as group master forwarding the communicated data; and interchanging data, between the group masters and the expansion modules in the respective group which are respectively assigned to them, in second time periods between the messages.