ETHERNET INTERFACE DEVICE FOR REPORTING STATUS VIA COMMON INDUSTRIAL PROTOCOLS

An Ethernet interface device, and associated system and method, for reporting the status information data of Ethernet devices through common industrial protocols. The Ethernet interface device provides operational connections between one or more Ethernet devices and one or more independent networks. The Ethernet interface device also monitors an Ethernet connection path, and produces status data indicative of the operational status of the connection path and the devices connected along the path. This status data is received by the Ethernet interface device, where it is manipulated into a format recognizable by common industrial protocols.