Communication device supporting IP-based RAPIEnet and network system comprising same

A network system, comprising:

• a plurality of communication devices including a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the first communication device comprises:
• a first communicator;
• and
• a first processor configured to:
• identify a presence of a first topology on a communication path connecting the first communication device and the second communication device, the first topology including a star topology or a tree topology;
• configure data to be transmitted to the second communication device through a first interface after the presence of the first topology has been identified, the first interface being configured to access a RAPIEnet (Real-time Automation Protocol for Industrial Ethernet)-based upper layer and an Internet Protocol (IP)-based lower layer;
• and
• transmit the data to the second communication device through the first interface,
• identify an absence of the first topology on the communication path, wherein the data is first data;
• in response to identify the absence of the first topology, select one of the first interface or a second interface, the second interface being configured to access the RAPIEnet-based upper layer and a RAPIEnet-based lower layer;
• configure second data to be transmitted to the other communication device through the selected one of the first interface or the second interface;
• and
• transmit the second data to the other communication device through the selected one of the first or the second interface using the communication path, and
• the second communication device comprises:
• a second communicator;
• and
• a second processor configured to:
• identify header information included in the second data received from the first communication device, and
• if the header information includes header information about the first interface, receive the second data through the first interface.

A device of a first communication method using a data link layer based on multiple Ethernet ports, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate with other communication device in a second communication method using a data link layer based on a single Ethernet port wherein the first communication method is RAPIEnet communication, and the second communication method is UDP/IP communication;

• wherein the device is configured to:
• identify a presence of a first topology on a communication path connecting the communication device and other communication device, the first topology including a star topology or a tree topology;
• configure data to be transmitted to the other communication device through a first interface after the presence of the first topology has been identified, the first interface being configured to access a RAPIEnet (Real-time Automation Protocol for Industrial Ethernet)-based upper layer and an Internet Protocol (IP)-based lower layer:
• and
• transmit the data to the other communication device through the first interface,
• identify an absence of the first topology on the communication path, wherein the data is first data;
• in response to identify the absence of the first topology, select one of the first interface or a second interface, the second interface being configured to access the RAPIEnet-based upper layer and a RAPIEnet-based lower layer;
• configure second data to be transmitted to the other communication device through the selected one of the first interface or the second interface;
• and
• transmit the second data to the other communication device through the communicator using the communication path.