| 摘要 |
Method and apparatus for allowing an electronic device (16) to communicate with one or more other electronic devices (14, 18, 22, 24, 52) via various communication protocols. The apparatus includes an I/O board (30) and a processor board (32). The I/O board (30) includes a plug (64, 66) for connecting to a particular type of transmission medium (10) and an electronic identifier (76) providing an identification of a first communication protocol with which the I/O board (30) is constructed to be used. The I/O board (30) and the processor board (32) are coupled together by a detachable connector (71). The processor board (32) includes a processor (90) and memory (90, 92). By disconnecting the I/O board (30) from the processor board (32), another I/O board (58) that is constructed to be used with a second communication protocol can be coupled to the processor board (32). The memory (90, 92) on the processor board (32) stores two units of program code (134, 136), one of which is used to communicate according to the first communication protocol and the other of which is used to communicate according to the second communication protocol. To automatically configure itself, the processor board (32) reads the electronic identifier (76) on the I/O board (32, 58) connected to the processor board (32), and based thereon selects the appropriate unit of program code (134, 136) so that the electronic device (16) communicates according to the specified communication protocol.
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