Apparatus for receiving and modifying a serial data packet from a communications network to indicate its status

Claim 1

A remote input/output repeator (IOR) module for transferring data between a host microprocessor based device and a plurality of other IOR modules connected on a synchronous serial loop communications network, said remote IOR module comprising: (A) a serial input for receiving a data packet from a preceding device connected on said network; (B) a clock input for synchronizing said remote IOR module with said host microprocessor based device connected on said network. (C) an input means for connecting an input device; (D) an output means for connecting an output device; (E) detecting means connected to said serial input for decoding said data packet for an output byte; (F) modifying means connected to said detecting means for inserting an input byte into said data packet to produce a data stream, said input byte received from said input means and representing a status of said input device; (G) extracting means coupled to said modifying means for removing said output byte from said data stream wherein said extracted output byte is coupled to said output means to control said output device and said extracting means for producing a modified data packet; (H) sending means coupled between said extracting means and a serial output for sending said modified data packet to a next device connected in series on said network; and wherein the address for said remote IOR module is determined by its position on said network and requires no unique hardware to detect its address.