# US 10,374,834 B2 · Modular industrial automation appliance and method for transmitting messages via a backplane bus system of the modular industrial automation appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,834 B2 - Document ID: US10374834B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/632,699 - Filed: 2015-02-26 - Published: 2015-09-03 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-28 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Harald Albrecht; Reiner Plonka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374834B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/05: Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts - H04L 12/40: Bus networks - H04L 12/66: Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways - H04L 49/15: Interconnection of switching modules - H04L 49/351: for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches - H04L 49/40: Constructional details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane - H04L 49/604: {Hybrid IP/Ethernet switches} - H04L 69/18: Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols - G05B 2219/15119: Backplane controller - G05B 2219/31234: Host, router and backplane bus, communication with host or backplane - H04L 2012/4026: {Bus for use in automation systems} - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A modular industrial automation appliance having a backplane bus system, a plurality of functional modules connected to the backplane bus system that each include a communication network adapter, a functional unit for implementing a communication protocol stack and a bridge element linked to the communication network adapter, wherein a router module connected to the backplane bus system is provided that includes a communication network adapter, a functional unit for implementing a router communication protocol stack, where the functional unit is linked to the communication network adapter, and for each functional module a respective link element, and where in such a link element links the functional unit for implementing the router communication protocol stack to the bridge element of the respective functional module via the backplane bus system such that only the communication protocol stack of the router module includes routing functions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular industrial automation appliance comprising: a backplane bus system; a plurality of functional modules connected to the backplane bus system, each of the functional modules comprising: a communication network adapter which connects to a respective separate IP subnetwork which is external to each of the plurality of functional modules; a functional unit for implementing a communication protocol stack; and a bridge element linked to the communication network adapter and having a first service access point for the functional unit for implementing the communication protocol stack and a second service access point associated with the backplane bus system, the communication protocol stacks of the functional modules comprising transport functions, and wherein routing functions being excepted from the communication protocol stacks of the functional modules; and a router module connected to the backplane bus system and comprising: a communication network adapter which connects to a respective separate IP subnetwork which is external to the router module; a functional unit for implementing a router communication protocol stack, the functional unit being linked to the communication network adapter; and for each functional module a respective virtual communication network adapter that links the functional unit for implementing the router communication protocol stack to the second service access point of the respective functional module via the backplane bus system; wherein only the communication protocol stack of the router module comprises routing functions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular industrial automation appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication protocol stacks of the functional modules and the router protocol stack are IP stacks, particularly Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stacks or User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) stacks. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The modular industrial automation appliance as claimed in claim 2, wherein each communication network adapter which connects to a respective separate IP subnetwork comprises a transmission and reception unit and a functional unit for controlling access to a communication medium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular industrial automation appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein each communication network adapter which connects to a respective separate IP subnetwork comprises a transmission and reception unit and a functional unit for controlling access to a communication medium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular industrial automation appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridge element comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) bridge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The modular industrial automation appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the MAC bridges is implemented via software. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular industrial automation appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridge element comprises a message filter unit disposed at the second service access point. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular industrial automation appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second service access points have a respective associated dedicated Media Access Control (MAC) address. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The automation appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional unit for implementing the communication protocol stack is implemented via software. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The automation appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional module comprises at least one of (i) a central unit of the modular automation appliance and (ii) a communication module of the modular automation appliance. ### Claim 11 A method for transmitting messages via a backplane bus system of a modular industrial automation appliance, the method comprising: forwarding messages received at communication network adapters of functional modules connected to respective separate IP subnetworks which is external to the functional modules in accordance with their respective destination Media Access Control (MAC) address to at least one of (i) a first service access of a bridge element of a respective functional module and (ii) a second service access point of the bridge element of the respective functional module processing messages forwarded to the first service access point by the functional unit to implement a communication protocol stack of the respective functional module; forwarding messages forwarded to the second service access point to a respectively associated virtual communication network adapter of a router module, which connects to a respective separate IP subnetwork which is external to the router module, via the backplane bus system and processing the forwarded messages by the functional unit for implementing the router communication protocol stack. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: transmitting messages emanating from functional units for implementing the communication protocol stack of the respective functional module in accordance with their respective destination MAC address to at least one of (i) the communication network adapter of the respective functional module and (ii) the respectively associated virtual communication network adapter of the router module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: transmitting messages emanating from the functional unit for implementing the router communication protocol stack in accordance with their respective destination MAC address to at least one of (i) the communication network adapter and (ii) the functional unit for implementing the communication protocol stack of the respective functional module via the respectively associated virtual communication network adapter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: transmitting messages emanating from the functional unit for implementing the router communication protocol stack in accordance with their respective destination MAC address to at least one of (i) the communication network adapter and (ii) the functional unit for implementing the communication protocol stack of the respective functional module via the respectively associated virtual communication network adapter.