CPC H04L 12/66 (2013.01) [G06F 13/4027 (2013.01); H04L 69/08 (2013.01); H04W 84/12 (2013.01); H04W 88/16 (2013.01)] | 56 Claims |
1. A module for managing communication among instrumentation and control devices associated with a system, the module comprising a network bridging interface (NBI) configured to:
interconnect a plurality of network buses associated with the system;
monitor messages propagating along at least one of the network buses, the messages pertaining to a status of the system or a component, a connected network device, or an environment thereof, or pertaining to control of a component or a connected network device of the system;
identify network devices connected to the network buses based on the monitored messages;
determine whether to allow or block transmission of a monitored message from a first network bus of the plurality to a second network bus of the plurality based on user settings, the first network bus supporting a first communication protocol, the second network bus supporting a second communication protocol, the user settings pertaining to at least one of (i) the monitored message, (ii) an identified network device associated with the monitored message, and (iii) a combination thereof;
convert the monitored message from the first communication protocol to the second communication protocol in an event the first and second communication protocols are different; and
allow or block transmission of the monitored message according to the determining, thereby managing communication among devices associated with the system.
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