REAL-TIME DISTRIBUTED NETWORK SLAVE DEVICE, REAL-TIME DISTRIBUTED NETWORK AND METHOD THEREFOR

摘要

A real-time distributed network slave module is described. The real-time distributed network slave module comprises a first communications component arranged to transmit and receive real¬ time distributed network data over at least a first real-time distributed network connection, at least one further communications component arranged to transmit and receive real-time distributed network data over at least one further real-time distributed network connection, and at least one processing component. The at least one real-time distributed network slave module is selectively configurable to operate in a first processing mode in which the at least one processing component is configured to process real-time distributed network data travelling in a first direction between the first and at least one further communications components, and at least one further processing mode in which the at least one processing component is configured to process real-time distributed network data travelling in at least one further direction between the first and at least one further communications components.