Input/output instrument, system, and device

The input/output apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of the input/output instruments, to each of which a plurality of devices for sending and receiving a signal relating to a process are configured to be capable of being connected, the input/output instrument comprising:
• an operating signal receiving portion that receives, from a first device that is one of the plurality of said devices, an operating signal corresponding to a specific operating instruction;
• a selecting portion that selects, based on the operating signal that has been received by the operating signal receiving portion, any single second device, from among the devices connected to a local input/output instrument, other than the first device that is the source that sent the operating signal;
• a remote device information sending portion that sends as remote device information to the first device that was the source that sent the operating signal, information pertaining to the second device that was selected by the selecting portion;
• and
• a plurality of connecting slots that connect the devices through communication cables,
• wherein the selecting portion selects the second device through scanning the connecting slots in a direction that increases specific information or a direction that decreases specific information, in order to specify the connecting slot, with each operating signal that is received by the operating signal receiving portion.
• wherein the operating signal includes a first operating signal that directs the sequential selection of a connecting slot within a single input/output instrument and a second signal that directs the sequential selection of an input/output instrument within a single input/output apparatus, and
• wherein the selecting portion,
• upon reception of the first signal by the operating signal inputting portion, each time the first signal is received, scans the connecting slots in either the direction with which the specific information increases or the direction with which the specific information decreases, in order to specify the connecting slot to select the second device, and
• upon reception of the second signal by the operating signal inputting portion, each time the second signal is received, scans the input/output instruments in either the direction with which the specific information increases or the direction with which the specific information decreases, in order to specify the input/output instrument to select the second device.

A system comprising:

• a device that sends and receives signal relating to a process;
• and
• an input/output instrument to which a plurality of devices are configured to be capable of being connected,
• wherein the device comprises:
• an operation inputting portion that inputs a specific operating instruction;
• an operating signal transmitting portion that transmits, to the input/output instrument, an operating signal corresponding to the operating instruction inputted from the operation inputting portion;
• a remote device information receiving portion that receives, from the input/output instrument, remote device information that is information pertaining to another device that is connected to the input/output instrument that has been selected based on the operating signal;
• and
• a displaying portion that displays the remote device information that has been received from the remote device information receiving portion, and
• wherein the input/output instrument comprises:
• an operating signal receiving portion that receives the operating signal from a first device that is one of the plurality of said devices;
• a selecting portion that selects, based on the operating signal that has been received by the operating signal receiving portion, any single second device, from among the devices connected to a local input/output instrument, other than the first device that is the source that sent the operating signal;
• and
• a remote device information sending portion that sends as remote device information to the first device that was the source that sent the operating signal, information pertaining to the second device that was selected by the selecting portion.

A device for sending and receiving a signal relating to a process, comprising:

• an operation inputting portion that inputs a specific operating instruction;
• an operating signal transmitting portion that transmits, to an input/output instrument to which a plurality of devices are configured to be capable of being connected, an operating signal corresponding to the operating instruction inputted from the operation inputting portion;
• a remote device information receiving portion that receives, from the input/output instrument, remote device information that is information pertaining to another device that is connected to the input/output instrument that has been selected based on the operating signal;
• and
• a displaying portion that displays the remote device information that has been received from the remote device information receiving portion.