Communication method, communication apparatus, integrated circuit and circuit module

A communication apparatus connected via communication medium to plural slave apparatuses including at least first, second and third slave apparatuses, which are associated with plural cyclic slots including at least first and second slots for triggering data transmission after a latency time, wherein data transmissions of the first and the second slave apparatuses are triggered by the first slot;

• and data transmission of the third slave apparatus is triggered by the second slot, the communication apparatus comprising:
• a communication unit which communicates with the first, second and third slave apparatuses;
• and
• a control unit which senses the communication medium,
• wherein the control unit modifies the first slave apparatus so as to trigger the data transmission of the first slave apparatus by a third slot which differs from the first and the second slots when the control unit senses the data transmission of the first slave apparatus triggered by the first slot;
• wherein the control unit previously assigns the third slave apparatus with a first unique identifier associated with the second slot;
• and
• wherein the control unit assigns the first slave apparatus with a second unique identifier associated with the third slot so that the first slave apparatus is modified to trigger the data transmission by the third slot.

A communication apparatus connected via communication medium to a master apparatus and plural slave apparatuses including at least first and second slave apparatuses, which are associated with plural cyclic slots including at least first and second slots for triggering data transmission after a latency time, wherein data transmission of the second slave apparatus is triggered by the first slot;

• and data transmission of the third slave apparatus is triggered by the second slot, the communication apparatus comprising:
• a communication unit which communicates with the master apparatus and the first and second slave apparatuses;
• and
• a control unit which triggers data transmission by the first slot to transmit data to the communication medium,
• wherein when the control unit receives, from the master apparatus, a notification that the communication apparatus is to be modified so that the data transmission triggered by a third slot which differs from the first and the second slots, and a unique identifier associated with the third slot, the control unit modifies to trigger the data transmission by the third slot.

An integrated circuit, comprising:

• a communication unit which is connected to a communication medium via a coupler for serving as an interface connected via communication medium to plural slave apparatuses including at least first, second and third slave apparatuses, which are associated with plural cyclic slots including at least first and second slots for triggering data transmission after a latency time, wherein data transmissions of the first and the second slave apparatuses are triggered by the first slot;
• and data transmission of the third slave apparatus is triggered by the second slot, the communication unit communicating with the first, second and third slave apparatuses;
• and
• a control unit which senses the communication medium,
• wherein the control unit modifies the first slave apparatus so as to trigger the data transmission of the first slave apparatus by a third slot which is differs from the first and the second slots when the control unit senses the data transmission of the first slave apparatus triggered by the first slot;
• wherein the control unit previously assigns the third slave apparatus with a first unique identifier associated with the second slot;
• and
• wherein the control unit assigns the first slave apparatus with a second unique identifier associated with the third slot so that the first slave apparatus is modified to trigger the data transmission by the third slot.

A circuit module, comprising:

• a coupler for serving as an interface connected via communication medium to plural slave apparatuses including at least first, second and third slave apparatuses, which are associated with plural cyclic slots including at least first and second slots for triggering data transmission after a latency time, wherein data transmissions of the first and the second slave apparatuses are triggered by the first slot;
• and data transmission of the third slave apparatus is triggered by the second slot;
• a communication unit which is connected via the coupler to the communication medium and communicates with the first, second and third slave apparatuses;
• and
• a control unit which senses the communication medium,
• wherein the control unit modifies the first slave apparatus so as to trigger the data transmission of the first slave apparatus by a third slot which differs from the first and the second slots when the control unit senses the data transmission of the first slave apparatus triggered by the first slot;
• wherein the control unit previously assigns the third slave apparatus with a first unique identifier associated with the second slot;
• and
• wherein the control unit assigns the first slave apparatus with a second unique identifier associated with the third slot so that the first slave apparatus is modified to trigger the data transmission by the third slot.