Patent ID: 8065455

Claim:
A method for data communication via a serial data bus between bus users of an open automation system with distributed control functions, wherein the bus users include a communication processor (KP) having at least a communication-controller (KC) that cooperates with a superior control unit that is external to or integrated in said communication processor (KP), the method comprising the steps of: a) providing the communication-controller (KC) with at least a first freely-programmable communication-ALU, a second freely-programmable communication-ALU and a third freely-programmable communication-ALU; b) encoding several commands on a command code for the programmable communication-ALUs, the command code being optimized for particular communication functions; and c) arranging logic function blocks in parallel in said programmable communication-ALUs, the logic function blocks carrying out particular communication functions, wherein the communication functions are not definitively defined, but rather the communication functions are formed on a basis of the freely-programmable communication-ALUs, wherein the first freely-programmable communication-ALU comprises a Receiving Processing ALU (RPA) being responsible for decoding a received bit- or nibble (half a byte) serial data stream in accordance with a transfer rate and converting said data stream into a parallel form, wherein the second freely-programmable communication-ALU comprises a Transmit Processing ALU (TPA) being responsible for encoding data out of the parallel form into a bit- or nibble serial data stream and feeding said data into a line with the correct transfer rate, and wherein the third freely-programmable communication-ALU comprises a Protocol Execution ALU (PEA) being responsible for controlling an input- and output sequence of a related data packet so that several commands are carried out in a system cycle with execution of transitions between various networks.