Patent ID: 7848317

Claim:
An interface module for interconnection with at least two communication modules connected to a databus, each of the at least two communications modules having a communication interface element, comprising: an input configured to receive at least one of a first data and a first message of a first data; a coupling element; an output; and a switching element; wherein: a first data path is provided to and from the databus and to and from a message memory of one of the at least two communication modules, the message memory being assigned to the communication interface element, the communication interface element provides a second data path, which is configured so that the at least one of the first data and the first message of the first data path are at least partially conducted via the second data path, each respective communication interface element has one input and one output by which the at least two communication modules are connected together via the second data path, the interface module is connected into the second data path via the input and the output so that there is an interconnection of the at least two communication modules and the interface module, the coupling element is provided in the second transmission path, and the coupling element is configured such that the at least one of the first data and the first message is at least partially combined to form at least one of second data and a second message for being transmitted via the second data path, and wherein the interface module and the communication module are implemented using a processor and a memory.