Patent ID: 8001293

Claim:
A data relay apparatus, comprising: a communication module comprising a first input/output (I/O) port and a second I/O port, each of the first I/O port and the second I/O port configured for receiving and transmitting data, the communication module configured for processing data received via the first I/O port and outputting and relaying the data to the second I/O port, and processing data received via the second I/O port and outputting and relaying the data to the first I/O port; and a data relay unit configured for determining whether the communication module operates and for allowing the communication module to process and relay the data received via the first I/O port and the second I/O port, or for allowing outputting and relaying the data received via the first I/O port to the second I/O port and outputting and relaying the data received via the second I/O port to the first I/O port, the data relay unit comprising: an operation determination unit configured for performing the determination of whether the communication module operates; a switching controller configured for generating a switching signal in response to an output signal from the operation determination unit; and a plurality of switching elements configured for switching in response to the switching signal from the switching controller for allowing the data received via the first I/O port and the second I/O port to be relayed via the communication module, or for allowing the data received via the first I/O port to be output and relayed to the second I/O port and for allowing the data received via the second I/O port to be output and relayed to the first I/O port.