Patent ID: 7426205

Claim:
An interface module ( 2 a , 2 b , 2 c , 2 d ) comprising: a first number of a series ( 5 a , 5 b , 5 c , 5 d ) of ports ( 51 a , 52 a , 53 a , 54 a , 51 b , 51 c , 51 d ) and a second number of a series ( 6 a , 6 b , 6 c , 6 d ) of ports ( 61 a , 62 a , 63 a , 64 a ), where a first port ( 51 a , 51 b , 51 c , 51 d ) in the first number oaf series of ports ( 51 a , 52 a , 53 a , 54 a , 51 b , 51 c , 51 d ) is connected by means of at least one data line not to any port ( 61 a , 62 a , 63 a , 64 a ) in the series of the second number ( 6 a , 6 b , 6 c , 6 d ) of ports but to a switching control unit ( 3 a , 3 b , 3 c , 3 d ) connected to an interface device ( 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , 4 d ), and where the subsequent input ports ( 52 a , 53 a , 54 a ) in the first number of a series ( 5 a , 5 b , 5 c , 5 d ) of ports are connected in order by means of at least one respective data line to the ports ( 61 a , 62 a , 63 a , 64 a ) in the series of the second number of a series ( 6 a , 6 b , 6 c , 6 d ) of ports, starting with a first ( 61 a ) in the series of the second number of ports such that the second port ( 52 a ) in the series ( 5 a , 5 b , 5 c , 5 d ) of the first number of ports is connected only to the first port ( 61 a ) in the series of the second number ( 6 a , 6 b , 6 c , 6 d ) of ports, the third port ( 53 a ) in the series ( 5 a , 5 b , 5 c , 5 d ) of the first number of ports is connected only to the second port ( 62 a ) in the series of the second number ( 6 a , 6 b , 6 c , 6 d ) of ports, and so on.