Multipoint ethernet bus

An industrial system for controlling backplane communication in an industrial automation/control system, comprising:

• a cluster manager linked to Input/Output modules via a multipoint low voltage differential signaling, MLVDS, bus through passive base plates,
• wherein the MLVDS bus contains a transmission line and a reception line for the cluster manager,
• wherein the transmission line of the MLVDS bus is shared by the Input/Output modules for receiving data transmitted by the cluster manager,
• wherein the reception line of the MLVDS bus is shared by the Input/Output modules for transmitting data to the cluster manager,
• wherein the Input/Output modules are synchronized in time with the cluster manager and configured to send data on the reception line of the MLVDS bus at respective scheduled time windows,
• wherein the cluster manager and each of the Input/Output modules comprise respective MAC drivers to control access to the MLVDS bus for the cluster manager and each of the Input/Output modules, the respective MAC drivers configured to control which ports send or receive data for the cluster manager and each of the Input/Output modules, as well as which frames are sent at the scheduled time windows.