The NrioModule represents an Nrio processor that services hardware I/O points. The host JACE controller communicates with Nrio processors using the “device” model of NrioModule (parent) to physical I/O points serviced by its processor as (child) Nrio proxy points.

A JACE with integral (onboard) Nrio-connected I/O, for example an “M2M JACE”, is represented by only one NrioModule (Nrio16Module), under its M2mIoNetwork (a specialized type of NrioNetwork). If a JACE has external I/O module(s) connected via RS-485, each RS-485 port with connected I/O modules requires its own associated NrioNetwork. Under such a network, one NrioModule represents each physical I/O device (one-to-one).

Under any Nrio network, each NrioModule must have a unique “Address” property value, from 1 to 16. This address value is automatically derived during an online Discover, and is read-only. Also during a discover, each I/O device’s globally-unique “Uid” (Universal Identifier) property value is retrieved.

The read-only six byte Uid is unique to each physical I/O device, assigned at manufacturing time. Future usage of Uid may incorporate bar code scanning and other automated methods.

Apart from the “Enabled” and “Description” properties, only the wink-related properties are writable (Wink Output, Wink Duration). All other NrioModule properties are read-only types (Figure 13).

The Nrio Device Manager view of an NrioNetwork provides online “Learn Mode” discover and add commands to ensure all necessary NrioModules are created and configured properly for the host’s hardware configuration. For a procedure, see Configure the Nrio network.

Each NrioModule has a single important device extension: Points—the container for all its Nrio proxy points. Each proxy point represents a specific I/O terminal address, serviced by that board’s I/O processor(s). For more details, see Nrio Point Manager.