Patent ID: RE40569

Claim:
A communications processor apparatus for integrating communication between a plurality of electronic devices having data communication capability present at a given location in a power system or connected remotely thereto, the apparatus comprising: an electronic network system having a plurality of port positions to which electronic devices may be connected, including at least one port position to which an apparatus for entry of control commands may be connected and at least one port position through which data obtained from said electronic devices may be transmitted to other electronic devices; receiver-transmitter means for communication of data between a) an electronic device connected to a port position of the communications processor apparatus and b) the remainder of the communications processor apparatus; means for configuring communication parameters associated with each port position for proper data communication with the electronic device connected thereto; means for storing and retrieving data obtained from the electronic devices; means for storage of control commands entered by a user of the apparatus; means for processing data obtained from the electronic devices , wherein the means for processing data includes means for parsing received data in accordance with selected rules ; and control means for controlling the flow of data and control commands within the apparatus and between said ports port positions .