A method, comprising: receiving a first identification data at a first bridge circuit coupled to a first backplane of a first monitoring subsystem, the first identification data characterizing information identifying hardware of a second monitoring subsystem; receiving a second identification data at a second bridge circuit coupled to a second backplane of the second monitoring subsystem, the second identification data characterizing information identifying hardware of the first monitoring subsystem; characterized by determining, using the first identification data and the second identification data, that the first monitoring subsystem is compatible with the second monitoring subsystem; receiving a first schedule at the second bridge circuit, the first schedule characterizing a first communication schedule for a first set of functional circuits that are in electronic communication with the first backplane; receiving a second schedule at the first bridge circuit, the second schedule characterizing a second communication schedule for a second set of functional circuits that are in electronic communication with the second backplane; comparing the first communication schedule to the second communication schedule; determining that the first schedule is compatible with the second schedule; and providing a first signal to at least one first gate of the first bridge circuit and providing a second signal to at least one second gate of the second bridge circuit, thereby activating the at least one first gate and the at least one second gate, and facilitating electronic communication between the first backplane and the second backplane. receiving a first identification data at a first bridge circuit coupled to a first backplane of a first monitoring subsystem, the first identification data characterizing information identifying hardware of a second monitoring subsystem; receiving a second identification data at a second bridge circuit coupled to a second backplane of the second monitoring subsystem, the second identification data characterizing information identifying hardware of the first monitoring subsystem; characterized by determining, using the first identification data and the second identification data, that the first monitoring subsystem is compatible with the second monitoring subsystem; receiving a first schedule at the second bridge circuit, the first schedule characterizing a first communication schedule for a first set of functional circuits that are in electronic communication with the first backplane; receiving a second schedule at the first bridge circuit, the second schedule characterizing a second communication schedule for a second set of functional circuits that are in electronic communication with the second backplane; comparing the first communication schedule to the second communication schedule; determining that the first schedule is compatible with the second schedule; and providing a first signal to at least one first gate of the first bridge circuit and providing a second signal to at least one second gate of the second bridge circuit, thereby activating the at least one first gate and the at least one second gate, and facilitating electronic communication between the first backplane and the second backplane.