Battery module with series connected cells, internal relays and internal battery management system

A method of operating a battery cell monitoring and a conditioning Integrated Circuit (IC) for a battery cell, where said monitoring and conditioning IC comprises:

• a controller, an uplink port for receiving command messages and transmitting response messages by the controller, a downlink port for transmitting command messages and receiving response messages by the controller, said downlink port being distinct and separate from said uplink port, a positive lead, said positive lead being configured to be electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the battery cell, a negative lead, said negative lead being configured to be electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the battery cell, wherein said uplink port is communicatively coupled to one of said positive lead and said negative lead, and wherein said downlink port is communicatively coupled to the other of said positive lead and said negative lead, where said method further comprises the steps of:
• waiting to receive a command message via the uplink port;
• receiving a command message via the uplink port after said waiting;
• transmitting the command message via the downlink port in response to receiving the command message via the uplink port;
• executing a command specified in the received command message;
• preparing a prepared response message;
• transmitting the prepared response message via the uplink port and repeating the step of waiting to receive a command message via the uplink port.