Real-time distributed network module, real-time distributed network and method therefor

A method of configuring at least part of a real-time distributed network;

• the method comprising, at a real-time distributed network module arranged to provide an interface between at least one master application and at least one real-time distributed network:
• configuring a first communications component to comprise an open configuration wherein a transmit communication channel and a receive communication channel of the first communications component are mapped to respective communication channels of at least one master application interface component;
• and
• configuring at least one further communications component to comprise a closed configuration wherein a transmit communication channel of the at least one further communications component is mapped to a receive communication channel of the at least one further communications component,
• wherein the method further comprises, upon detection of a link failure within the real-time distributed network:
• remapping the receive communication channel of the first communications component to the transmit communication channel of the at least one further communications component;
• and
• remapping the receive communication channel of the at least one further communications component to the respective communication channel of the at least one master application interface component.

A non-transitory computer program product having executable program code stored therein for programming signal processing logic to perform a method configuring at least part of a real-time distributed network, the code operable for, at a real-time distributed network module arranged to provide an interface between at least one master application and at least one real-time distributed network:

• configuring a first communications component to comprise an open configuration wherein a transmit communication channel and a receive communication channel of the first communications component are mapped to respective communication channels of at least one master application interface component;
• and
• configuring at least one further communications component to comprise a closed configuration wherein a transmit communication channel of the at least one further communications component is mapped to a receive communication channel of the at least one further communications component,
• wherein the code is further operable for, upon detection of a link failure within the real-time distributed network:
• remapping the receive communication channel of the first communications component to the transmit communication channel of the at least one further communications component;
• and
• remapping the receive communication channel of the at least one further communications component to the respective communication channel of the at least one master application interface component.