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 . <EOS>