Patent ID: 7970006

Claim:
An adaptive interconnect for providing an interface between multiple modules and a control system comprising: a) a control system interface; b) a plurality of module interfaces; and c) adaptive interconnect logic associated with the control system interface and the plurality of module interfaces and adapted to: negotiate with a module over a control path via one of the plurality of module interfaces to identify an interface personality for the module; select the interface personality based on negotiations with the module; apply the interface personality to the one of the plurality of module interfaces, such that the applied interface personality provides an appropriate interconnection between the control system interface and the one of the plurality of module interfaces via a plurality of pins; receive a stimulus indicative of a change in personality for the module; renegotiate with the module over the control path via the one of the plurality of module interfaces to identify a new interface personality for the module; select the new interface personality based on the renegotiations with the module; and apply the new interface personality to the one of the plurality of module interfaces.