METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING NETWORK COMMUNICATION DURING MAINTENANCE

摘要

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING NETWORK COMMUNICATION DURING MAINTENANCE A communication method for use by an input/output (1/0) scanner coupled to a programmable logic controller (PLC) includes coupling at least one 1/0 module to a backplane, and coupling a maintenance module to the backplane. The communication method also includes selectively enabling and disabling communication between the backplane and the at least one 1/0 module by actuating a switch in the maintenance module such that network communication is maintained by a network interface regardless of whether communication between the backplane and the at least one 1/0 module is enabled.