Modular switching network node for a communications network

A functional module of a switching network node base unit of a modular switching network node for an industrial communications network comprising a PROFINET, wherein the switching network node base unit is arranged in the industrial communications network comprising the PROFINET, wherein the switching network node base unit comprises a backplane having (i) an internal network bus connected to a switch core for forwarding communication data, (ii) a system bus connected to a central processing unit and (iii) a power supply bus connected to a power supply unit, and wherein the switching network node base unit is configured such that a port module is swappable for the functional module to expand a functionality of the modular switching network node, the functional node comprising:

• at least one connection interface, wherein the functional module is configured to forward communication data arriving over the at least one connection interface to at least one additional connection interface of the modular switching network node for the industrial communications network comprising the PROFINET, and is configured to not forward communication data arriving over the at least one connection interface upon determining that a receiver of the communication data is already located in a communication branch from which the communication data to the switching network node base unit comprising the backplane having (i) the internal network bus connected to the switch core, (ii) the system bus connected to the central processing unit and (iii) the power supply bus connected to the power supply unit originated.

A modular switching network node of an industrial communications network comprising a PROFINET, the modular switching network node comprising:

• a switching network node base unit for arrangement in the industrial communications network comprising the PROFINET;
• at least one of:
• a port module comprising at least one connection interface for coupling to the industrial communications network comprising the PROFINET;
• a functional module configured to forward communication data arriving over the at least one connection interface to at least one additional connection interface of the modular switching network node;
• the switching network node base unit being configured such that the port module is swappable for the functional module to expand a functionality of the switching network node;
• wherein the switching network node base unit comprises at least one module receiving region configured to receive one of the port module and the functional module, a backplane having (i) an internal network bus connected to a switch core for forwarding communication data received over the at least one connection interface, (ii) a system bus connected to a central processing unit and (iii) a power supply bus connected to a power supply unit;
• and
• wherein the modular switching network node is configured to forward communication data arriving over the at least one connection interface to at least one additional connection interface of the modular switching network node, communication data arriving over the at least one connection interface not being forwarded upon determining that a receiver of the communication data is already located in a communication branch from which the communication data to the switching network node base unit originated.