Patent ID: 7254452

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling a system, wherein the system operates responsive to a plurality of input control signals, wherein during operation the system generates a plurality of output status/control signals, comprising: a master controller having a plurality (N) of controllers, wherein the controllers output and input signals over a corresponding communication path, wherein the controllers output signals based at least in part on input signals received over the corresponding communication path and also based at least in part on stored control data; a plurality of input/output modules, wherein each of the input/output modules comprises a plurality (N) of slave controllers, wherein the slave controllers of the input/output modules input and output signals at least in part over a corresponding one of the communication paths to a corresponding one of the controllers, wherein each of the slave controllers output and input signals to and from an input/output circuit, wherein each of the input/output modules further comprises a combiner circuit, wherein at least some of the input control signals for controlling the system are generated by one or more of the combiner circuits of the input/output modules based on signals output from the input/output circuits; a computer external to the master controller and communicating with the master controller in accordance with a communication protocol, wherein the input control signals for controlling the system are generated based at least in part on output status/control signals from the system that are coupled to one or more of the input/output circuits of one or more of the input/output modules.