Patent ID: 8015273
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An information exchange system comprising: at least one network for the transmission of information; at least one system computer accessing said at least one network; at least two peripheral devices for exchanging said information with said at least one system computer, each of said at least two peripheral devices being a sensor or actuator and having no communication interface with said at least one network; at least two data concentrators respectively associated with said at least two peripheral devices such that each peripheral device has its own data concentrator and each data concentrator is associated with only one peripheral device, said data concentrators accessing said at least one network and enabling said at least two associated peripheral devices to exchange said information with said at least one system computer, each of said data concentrators including, a data processor; a network interface accessing said at least one network and for interfacing said data processor and said at least one network; and a device interface for interfacing said data processor and an associated peripheral device, said device interface including at least one basic device interface, combining of said basic device interface enabling said data concentrator to be interfaced with many types of peripheral devices; said information exchange system further including a connection element for connecting a respective peripheral device to said device interface or said at least one network to said network interface; said connection element including a connector, cable or connector accessory with a connector body, a respective one of said data concentrators being miniaturized and incorporated within the connector body so that said data concentrator is separable from said respective peripheral device by disconnection of said connection element, with the data concentrator incorporated within the connector body thereof, from said respective peripheral device said connection element further including an interconnection element between, on the one hand, said network interface and said device interface, and on the other hand, said at least one associated peripheral device and said at least one network; said interconnection element including electrical contacts, and being configured to assign said electrical contacts and configure said data concentrator so as to enable said data concentrator to be interfaced with a peripheral device class, said electrical contacts being assigned by means of a passive matrix made up of conductive lines; wherein said at least one network is configured to transmit said information by bearer currents, said network interface being configured to transmit information by bearer currents; wherein said device interface includes a security subassembly that ensures that predefined control signals are sent to said at least one associated peripheral device in the event of failure or of reception of an external disabling signal.