A multiport device adapted to be connected to a plurality of field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58), particularly using industrial Ethernet connections, wherein the multiport device comprises: - a plurality of communication ports for the connection of field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58) and for data communication between the multiport device and the field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58), - a matrix switcher configured to enable data communication between said communication ports and/or between said field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58), - a control unit configured to generate a plurality of communication rules and to control said matrix switcher based on at least said plurality of communication rules in order to affect data communication between said communication ports and/or between said field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58), wherein the control unit is configured to group one or more of the communication rules into one or more function modules and wherein one or more function modules are assigned to at least one of the communication ports, wherein the control unit is configured to use a neural network that is adapted to survey data telegram communication of at least some of the communication ports to learn pattern of the data telegram communication within the matrix switcher and/or within the multiport device, wherein the neural network is adapted to update communication rules of at least one of the function modules to reflect the information learned by the neural network, wherein the communication rules of the at least one of the function modules are adapted to optimize the data telegram communication between the communication ports and/or between the field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58) by reserving timeslots for expected and/or cyclic data telegrams at a respective communication port. - a plurality of communication ports for the connection of field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58) and for data communication between the multiport device and the field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58), - a matrix switcher configured to enable data communication between said communication ports and/or between said field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58), - a control unit configured to generate a plurality of communication rules and to control said matrix switcher based on at least said plurality of communication rules in order to affect data communication between said communication ports and/or between said field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58), wherein the control unit is configured to group one or more of the communication rules into one or more function modules and wherein one or more function modules are assigned to at least one of the communication ports, wherein the control unit is configured to use a neural network that is adapted to survey data telegram communication of at least some of the communication ports to learn pattern of the data telegram communication within the matrix switcher and/or within the multiport device, wherein the neural network is adapted to update communication rules of at least one of the function modules to reflect the information learned by the neural network, wherein the communication rules of the at least one of the function modules are adapted to optimize the data telegram communication between the communication ports and/or between the field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58) by reserving timeslots for expected and/or cyclic data telegrams at a respective communication port. wherein the control unit is configured to group one or more of the communication rules into one or more function modules and wherein one or more function modules are assigned to at least one of the communication ports, wherein the control unit is configured to use a neural network that is adapted to survey data telegram communication of at least some of the communication ports to learn pattern of the data telegram communication within the matrix switcher and/or within the multiport device, wherein the neural network is adapted to update communication rules of at least one of the function modules to reflect the information learned by the neural network, wherein the communication rules of the at least one of the function modules are adapted to optimize the data telegram communication between the communication ports and/or between the field devices (38, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58) by reserving timeslots for expected and/or cyclic data telegrams at a respective communication port.