Patent ID: 8493927

Claim:
A control apparatus having a communication control unit communicatably connected to a first communication channel, at least a portion of which constitutes a serial transfer operation, in which said communication control unit at least one of transmits and receives information with respect to an equipment under control via a second communication channel, a portion of which constitutes a parallel transfer operation, said control apparatus comprising: a communication channel diagnostic unit for diagnosing an abnormal event including an open and stuck-at of a parallel transfer portion of said second communication channel under such a condition that a data transfer operation in the second communication channel is interrupted; wherein a signal for instructing an initiation of a diagnosis via said first communication channel is transmitted to said communication channel diagnostic unit; wherein said control apparatus is further comprised of an intermediary station; wherein at least any one of data transmitted from the communication control unit via said first communication channel being transmitted via said intermediary station to said equipment under control, and data sent from the equipment under control being transmitted via the intermediary station from the communication control unit to the first communication channel is available; and wherein said diagnosis corresponds to at least any one of the parallel transfer path between the communication control unit and the intermediary station, and the parallel transfer path between the intermediary station and said equipment under control.