Apparatus for processing incoming and/or outgoing data-elements

1 . An apparatus for processing incoming and/or outgoing data-elements cyclically, the data-elements representing numerical and/or logical values that are linked to an upper-layer application, the apparatus comprising:

a distributor block for converting at least one or more of the data-elements after a linear operation into at least one or more input scalar signals of a generic data type, in particular an IEEE 754 float and/or, after an additional quantization, into at least one or more bool signals,

a combiner block for performing at least one or multiple combining operations, each combining operation comprising combining at least one or more of the input scalar signals into one output scalar signal,

a merger block for reconverting at least one or more of the output scalar signals and/or of the bool signals and/or of an output based on these signals into one or more data-elements after a linear operation and/or a quantization step,

a logic block for performing logic operations on at least one or more of the bool signals and particularly for providing both input and output for the bool signals, and

processing blocks that are configured to be inserted, particularly into one or more input scalar signals, between the distributor block and the combiner block or, particularly into one or more output scalar signals, between the combiner block and the merger block.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , characterized in that the processing blocks are configured to process the one or more input scalar signals and/or the one or more output scalar signals, for which they were inserted, particularly processing blocks that perform digital filtering operations or spectral transforms like fast Fourier transforms.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , characterized in that the blocks are configured to be processed in a well-defined order, preferably in a way that any input scalars of a current block are evaluated before the current block is evaluated.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , characterized in that the apparatus is configured to process the incoming and/or outgoing data-elements cyclically in a way that the bool signals that are evaluated in one cycle are given as input for a subsequent block in the following cycle.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , characterized in that the blocks and particularly the logic block are configured based on a configuration specification, the configuration specification being customizable by a user, thereby rendering the processing and particular the logic operations and/or the insertion of the processing blocks configurable, and the configuration specification particularly being stored in a storage medium.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , characterized in that the apparatus provides a configurable logic adapter that uses a configurable logic to process, preferably convert and/or select, the data elements of data received from at least one or multiple secondary devices and processes and/or combines the data elements to generate data to be sent to a master device.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , characterized in that the apparatus comprises an interface, the interface being provided to configure the processing and particularly a configurable logic by a user, thereby adapting the processing of the data elements to the upper-layer application, particularly an evaluation and/or control of at least one or multiple secondary devices, particularly sensors and/or actuators.

8 . A system for providing a communication in an automation system, comprising:

a programmable logic controller (PLC) for providing an upper-layer application, particularly an automated control of industrial processes of the automation system,

a master device for being connected to the programmable logic controller for providing a communication system,

at least one or multiple secondary devices for being controlled and/or evaluated by the programmable logic controller via the master device, thereby carrying out the upper-layer application at least partially,

the apparatus claim 1 for connecting the at least one or multiple secondary devices to the master device, thereby providing a data exchange for the control and/or evaluation of the secondary devices via the communication system.

9 . A method for processing incoming and/or outgoing data-elements cyclically, the data-elements representing numerical and/or logical values that are linked to an upper-layer application, the method comprising:

converting at least one or more of the data-elements after a linear operation into at least one or more input scalar signals of a generic data type, in particular an IEEE 754 float and/or, after an additional quantization, into at least one or more bool signals, the converting being particularly carried out by a distributor block,

performing at least one or multiple combining operations, each combining operation comprising combining at least one or more of the input scalar signals into one output scalar signal, the combining operations being particularly performed by a combiner block,

reconverting at least one or more of the output scalar signals and/or of the bool signals and/or of an output based on these signals into one or more data-elements after a linear operation and/or a quantization step, the reconverting being particularly carried out by a merger block,

performing logic operations on at least one or more of the bool signals and particularly providing both input and output for the bool signals, the logic operations being particularly performed by a logic block,

inserting processing blocks, particularly into one or more input scalar signals, between the distributor block and the combiner block or, particularly into one or more output scalar signals, between the combiner block and the merger block.

10 . The method of claim 9 , characterized in that the processing blocks process the one or more input scalar signals and/or the one or more output scalar signals, for which they were inserted.

11 . The method of claim 9 , characterized in that the number of scalar signals is not changed, when passing processing blocks.

12 . The method of claim 9 , characterized in that the blocks are processed in a well-defined order, preferably in a way that any input scalars of a current block are evaluated before the current block is evaluated.

13 . The method of claim 9 , characterized in that the bool signals that are evaluated in one cycle are given as input for a subsequent block in the following cycle.

14 . The method of claim 9 , characterized in that the processing of the data-elements comprises:

Inputting the data elements to a group of processing blocks, thereby generating an output of the group of processing blocks,

Generating modified data-elements based on the output of the group of processing blocks,

wherein connections and/or a structure of the group of processing blocks is defined by a customizable configuration of a logic.

15 . A data processing apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and storing a computer program comprising commands, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

convert at least one or more of the data-elements after a linear operation into at least one or more input scalar signals of a generic data type, in particular an IEEE 754 float and/or, after an additional quantization, into at least one or more bool signals, the converting being particularly carried out by a distributor block,

perform at least one or multiple combining operations, each combining operation comprising combining at least one or more of the input scalar signals into one output scalar signal, the combining operations being particularly performed by a combiner block,

reconvert at least one or more of the output scalar signals and/or of the bool signals and/or of an output based on these signals into one or more data-elements after a linear operation and/or a quantization step, the reconverting being particularly carried out by a merger block,

perform logic operations on at least one or more of the bool signals and particularly providing both input and output for the bool signals, the logic operations being particularly performed by a logic block, and

insert processing blocks, particularly into one or more input scalar signals, between the distributor block and the combiner block or, particularly into one or more output scalar signals, between the combiner block and the merger block.

16 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

convert at least one or more of the data-elements after a linear operation into at least one or more input scalar signals of a generic data type, in particular an IEEE 754 float and/or, after an additional quantization, into at least one or more bool signals, the converting beinq particularly carried out by a distributor block,

perform at least one or multiple combining operations, each combining operation comprising combining at least one or more of the input scalar signals into one output scalar signal, the combining operations being particularly performed by a combiner block,

reconvert at least one or more of the output scalar signals and/or of the bool signals and/or of an output based on these signals into one or more data-elements after a linear operation and/or a quantization step, the reconverting being particularly carried out by a merger block,

perform logic operations on at least one or more of the bool signals and particularly providing both input and output for the bool signals, the logic operations being particularly performed by a logic block, and

insert processing blocks, particularly into one or more input scalar signals, between the distributor block and the combiner block or, particularly into one or more output scalar signals, between the combiner block and the merger block.