Communications bridge between a vehicle information network and a remote system

• US 20030167345A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Niehus, W. Patrick, Phillips, Michael W., Pajakowski, Andrew J., Knight, Alexander N., Wolf, Daniel P., Beitzinger, Joseph T., Shipman, Lee G., Krutulis, Jon E., Eberly, J. Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/360,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40006 Architecture of a communication node current supply arrangements H04L12/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4604 LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A communications bridge between a communications network carried by a motor vehicle and configured for communications according to a first protocol and a remote system configured for communications according to a second protocol, includes a first interface configured for coupling to the communications network, a second interface configured for coupling to the remote system, and a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process multiple operations per instruction cycle The DSP receives information from the communications network via the first interface, converts this information to the second protocol and transmits the information converted to the second protocol to the remote system via the second interface. The DSP further receives information from the remote system via the second interface, converts this information to the first protocol and transmits the information converted to the first protocol to the communications network via the first interface.

Claims

1. A communications bridge between a communications network carried by a motor vehicle and configured for communications according to a first protocol and a remote system configured for communications according to a second protocol, the communications bridge comprising:

a first interface configured for coupling to said communications network;

a second interface configured for coupling to said remote system; and

a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process multiple operations per instruction cycle, said DSP receiving information configured according to said first protocol from said communications network via said first interface, converting said information received from said communications network and configured according to said first protocol to said second protocol and transmitting said information converted to said second protocol to said remote system via said second interface, said DSP receiving information configured according to said second protocol from said remote system via said second interface, converting said information received from said remote system and configured according to said second protocol to said first protocol and transmitting said information converted to said first protocol to said communications network via said first interface.

2. The communications bridge of claim 1 further including a control computer carried by said motor vehicle and connected in communication with said communications network, said control computer providing said information configured according to said first protocol to said communications network.

3. The communications bridge of claim 1 wherein said communications network carried by said motor vehicle is a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1708 hardware network;

and wherein said first protocol is an SAE J1587 communications protocol configured for communication over said SAE J1708 hardware network.

4. The communications bridge of claim 3 wherein said first interface is a first transceiver configured for coupling to said SAE J1708 hardware network, said first transceiver operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said SAE J1587 communications protocol to and from said SAE J1708 hardware network.

5. The communications bridge of claim 4 further including a control computer carried by said motor vehicle and connected in communication with said SAE J1708 hardware network, said control computer providing said information configured according to said SAE J1587 protocol to said SAE J1708 hardware network.

6. The communications bridge of claim 5 wherein said second protocol is an RS-232 communications protocol.

7. The communications bridge of claim 6 wherein said second interface is a second transceiver configured for coupling to an RS-232 communications port of said remote system, said second transceiver operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said RS-232 communications protocol to and from said remote system.

8. The communications bridge of claim 7 wherein said remote system is a personal computer.

9. The communications bridge of claim 7 wherein said remote system is a hand-held personal digital assistant device.

10. The communications bridge of claim 5 wherein said second protocol is a universal serial bus (USB) communications protocol.

11. The communications bridge of claim 10 wherein said second interface is a USB controller having a first USB interface port configured for coupling to a second USB interface port of said remote system, said USB controller operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said USB communications protocol to and from said remote system.

12. The communications bridge of claim 11 wherein said remote system is a personal computer.

13. The communications bridge of claim 11 wherein said remote system is a hand-held personal digital assistant device.

14. The communications bridge of claim 11 wherein said remote system is configured as a USB device;

and wherein said first USB interface port is configured as a USB host port.

15. The communications bridge of claim 11 wherein said first USB interface port is configured as an on-the-go USB port operable as a host USB port.

16. The communications bridge of claim 11 wherein said remote system is configured as a USB host;

and wherein said first USB interface port is configured as a USB device port.

17. The communications bridge of claim 11 wherein said first USB interface port is configured as an on-the-go USB port operable as a device USB port.

18. The communications bridge of claim 1 wherein said communications network carried by said motor vehicle is a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1939 hardware network;

and wherein said first protocol is an SAE J1939 communications protocol configured for communication over said SAE J1939 hardware network.

19. The communications bridge of claim 18 wherein said first interface is a first transceiver configured for coupling to said SAE J1939 hardware network, said first transceiver operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said SAE J1939 communications protocol to and from said SAE J1939 hardware network.

20. The communications bridge of claim 19 further including a control computer carried by said motor vehicle and connected in communication with said SAE J1939 hardware network, said control computer providing said information configured according to said SAE J1939 protocol to said SAE J1939 hardware network.

21. The communications bridge of claim 20 wherein said second protocol is an RS-232 communications protocol.

22. The communications bridge of claim 21 wherein said second interface is a second transceiver configured for coupling to an RS-232 communications port of said remote system, said second transceiver operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said RS-232 communications protocol to and from said remote system.

23. The communications bridge of claim 22 wherein said remote system is a personal computer.

24. The communications bridge of claim 22 wherein said remote system is a hand-held personal digital assistant device.

25. The communications bridge of claim 20 wherein said second protocol is a universal serial bus (USB) communications protocol.

26. The communications bridge of claim 25 wherein said second interface is a USB controller having a first USB interface port configured for coupling to a second USB interface port of said remote system, said USB controller operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said USB communications protocol to and from said remote system.

27. The communications bridge of claim 26 wherein said remote system is a personal computer.

28. The communications bridge of claim 26 wherein said remote system is a hand-held personal digital assistant device.

29. The communications bridge of claim 26 wherein said remote system is configured as a USB device;

and wherein said first USB interface port is configured as a USB host port.

30. The communications bridge of claim 26 wherein said first USB interface port is configured as an on-the-go USB port operable as a host USB port.

31. The communications bridge of claim 26 wherein said remote system is configured as a USB host;

and wherein said first USB interface port is configured as a USB device port.

32. The communications bridge of claim 26 wherein said first USB interface port is configured as an on-the-go USB port operable as a device USB port.

33. A communications bridge between a communications network carried by a motor vehicle and configured for communications according to a first protocol and a remote system configured for communications according to a second protocol, the communications bridge comprising:

a first transceiver configured for coupling to said communications network;

a second transceiver configured for coupling to said remote system; and

a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process multiple operations per instruction cycle, said DSP including a first communications port connected to said first transceiver and a second communications port connected to said second transceiver, said DSP configured to transmit and receive information configured according to said first protocol to and from said first transceiver via said first communications port and to transmit and receive information configured according to said second protocol to and from said second transceiver via said second communications port, said DSP providing for communications between said communications network and said remote system by converting said information between said first and second protocols.

34. The communications bridge of claim 33 further including a power supply configured to provide a first supply voltage to said first transceiver.

35. The communications bridge of claim 34 further including a power source selection circuit receiving one or more source voltages and selectively supplying one of said one or more source voltages as an input voltage to said power supply, said power supply producing said first supply voltage as a function of said input voltage.

36. The communications bridge of claim 35 wherein said power supply is further configured to provide a second supply voltage, as a function of said input voltage, to said DSP and to said second transceiver, said second supply voltage less than said first supply voltage.

37. The communications bridge of claim 35 wherein said DSP includes programmable flash memory;

and wherein said power supply is further configured to provide a flash memory programming voltage, as a function of said input voltage, to said DSP.

38. The communications bridge of claim 35 wherein said one or more source voltages includes a DC voltage supplied to said communications bridge via an external voltage source.

39. The communications bridge of claim 35 further including at least one battery supplying a battery voltage;

and wherein said one or more source voltages includes said battery voltage supplied by said battery.

40. The communications bridge of claim 35 wherein said second transceiver is a universal serial bus (USB) controller and transceiver circuit having a first USB port configured for coupling to a second USB port of said remote system, said first USB port including a voltage bus (VBUS) input configured to receive a DC voltage supplied by said remote system at a corresponding VBUS output of said second USB port;

and wherein said one or more source voltages includes said DC voltage received at said VBUS input of said first USB port.

41. The communications bridge of claim 34 wherein said DSP includes a voltage measuring input monitoring said DC voltage received at said VBUS input of said first USB port, said DSP measuring said DC voltage received at said VBUS input of said first USB port and providing a resulting measured voltage value to said remote system via a diagnostic message transmitted by said USB controller and transceiver circuit.

42. The communications bridge of claim 34 further including an external battery charging circuit receiving a charging voltage produced by said power supply and providing said charging voltage externally to said communications bridge.

43. The communications bridge of claim 42 wherein said remote system is a personal digital assistant (PDA) device;

and wherein said charging voltage produced by said external battery charging circuit is supplied to said PDA to charge one or more batteries carried thereby.

44. The communications bridge of claim 43 wherein said DSP includes a voltage measuring input monitoring said charging voltage produced by said power supply, said DSP measuring said charging voltage and providing a resulting measured voltage value to said PDA via a diagnostic message transmitted by said second transceiver.

45. The communications bridge of claim 38 wherein said DSP includes a voltage measuring input monitoring said DC voltage supplied by said external voltage source.

46. The communications bridge of claim 45 further including:

a power supply status indicator; and

a driver circuit having a control input connected to a control output of said DSP and a driver output connected to said power supply status indicator;

wherein said DSP is operable to control said power supply status indicator via said driver circuit to provide a visual indication of the measured value of said DC voltage.

47. The communications bridge of claim 46 wherein said power supply status indicator is a power supply status light emitting diode (LED), said DSP controlling said power supply status LED via said driver circuit such that said power supply status LED is illuminated whenever the measured value of said DC voltage is within a predefined voltage range, and is switched to an off state whenever the measured value of said DC voltage is below a threshold voltage value less than said predefined voltage range.

48. The communications bridge of claim 47 wherein said DSP is further operable to control said power supply status LED via said driver circuit such that said power supply status LED switches on and off at a predefined switching rate whenever the measured value of said DC voltage is outside said predefined voltage range.

49. The communications bridge of claim 33 further including:

a status indicator; and

a driver circuit having a control input connected to a control output of said DSP and a driver output connected to said status indicator;

wherein said DSP is operable to control said status indicator via said driver circuit to provide a visual indication of the status of information transfer between said communications network and said remote system.

50. The communications bridge of claim 49 wherein said communications network carried by said motor vehicle is a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1708 hardware network and said first protocol is an SAE J1587 communications protocol configured for communication over said SAE J1708 hardware network;

and wherein said first transceiver is operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said SAE J1587 communications protocol to and from said SAE J1708 hardware network.

51. The communications bridge of claim 50 wherein said status indicator is a J1587/J1708 communications status light emitting diode (LED), said DSP switching said J1587/J1708 communications status LED on and off at a first predefined switching rate if said J1708 hardware network is non-responsive and said DSP is transmitting data via said first transceiver, switching said J1587/J1708 communications status LED on and off at a second predefined switching rate faster than said first switching rate if said J1708 hardware network is responsive and said DSP is transmitting information to and receiving information from said J1708 hardware network via said first transceiver, and maintaining said J1587/J1708 communications status LED in an off state whenever said DSP is neither transmitting information to nor receiving information from said J1708 hardware network via said first transceiver.

52. The communications bridge of claim 49 wherein said communications network carried by said motor vehicle is a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1939 hardware network and said first protocol is an SAE J1939 communications protocol configured for communication over said SAE J1939 hardware network;

and wherein said first transceiver is a controller area network (CAN) transceiver operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said SAE J1939 communications protocol to and from said SAE J1939 hardware network.

53. The communications bridge of claim 52 wherein said status indicator is a J1939 communications status light emitting diode (LED), said DSP switching said J1939 communications status LED on and off at a first predefined switching rate if said J1939 hardware network is non-responsive and said DSP is transmitting data via said first transceiver, switching said J1939 communications status LED on and off at a second predefined switching rate faster than said first switching rate if said J1939 hardware network is responsive and said DSP is transmitting information to and receiving information from said J1939 hardware network via said CAN transceiver, and maintaining said J1939 communications status LED in an off state whenever said DSP is neither transmitting information to nor receiving information from said J1939 hardware network via said CAN transceiver.

54. The communications bridge of claim 49 wherein said second protocol is an RS-232 communications protocol;

and wherein said second transceiver is configured for coupling to an RS-232 communications port of said remote system, said second transceiver operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said RS-232 communications protocol to and from said remote system.

55. The communications bridge of claim 54 wherein said status indicator is an RS-232 communications status light emitting diode (LED), said DSP switching said RS-232 communications status LED on and off at a first predefined switching rate if said second RS-232 communications port of said remote system is non-responsive and said DSP is transmitting data via said second transceiver, switching said RS-232 communications status LED on and off at a second predefined switching rate faster than said first switching rate if said second RS-232 communications port is responsive and said DSP is transmitting information to and receiving information from said remote system via said second transceiver, and maintaining said RS-232 communications status LED in an off state whenever said DSP is neither transmitting information to nor receiving information from said remote system via said second transceiver.

56. The communications bridge of claim 54 wherein said remote system is a personal computer.

57. The communications bridge of claim 54 wherein said remote system is a hand-held personal digital assistant device.

58. The communications bridge of claim 49 wherein said second protocol is a universal serial bus (USB) communications protocol;

and wherein said second transceiver is a USB controller and transceiver circuit having a first USB port configured for coupling to a second USB port of said remote system, said USB controller and transceiver circuit operable to transmit and receive said information configured according to said USB communications protocol to and from said remote system.

59. The communications bridge of claim 58 wherein said status indicator is a USB communications status light emitting diode (LED), said DSP switching said USB communications status LED on and off at a first predefined switching rate if said second USB port of said remote system is non-responsive and said DSP is transmitting data via said USB controller and transceiver circuit, switching said USB communications status LED on and off at a second predefined switching rate faster than said first switching rate if said second USB port of said remote system is responsive and said DSP is transmitting information to and receiving information from said remote system via said USB controller and transceiver circuit, and maintaining said USB communications status LED in an off state whenever said DSP is neither transmitting information to nor receiving information from said remote system via said USB controller and transceiver circuit.

60. The communications bridge of claim 58 wherein said remote system is a personal computer.

61. The communications bridge of claim 58 wherein said remote system is a hand-held personal digital assistant device.

62. A method of communicating information between at least one communications network carried by a motor vehicle and a remote system, said at least one communication network configured for communications according to a first protocol and the remote system configured for communications according to a third protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving via a first interface coupled to said at least one communications network a first set of data from said at least one communications network configured according to said first protocol;

providing said first set of data received via said first interface to a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process multiple operations per instruction cycle;

converting with said DSP said first set of data from said first protocol to said second protocol;

providing said first set of data configured according to said second protocol from said DSP to a second interface coupled to said remote system; and

transmitting to said remote system via said second interface said first data set configured according to said second protocol.

63. The method of claim 62 further including the steps of:

receiving from said remote system via said second interface a second set of data configured according to said second protocol;

providing said second set of data received via said second interface to said digital signal processor (DSP);

converting with said DSP said second set of data from said second protocol to said first protocol in accordance with a number of single-clock cycle DSP instructions;

providing said second set of data configured according to said first protocol from said DSP to said first interface; and

transmitting to said at least one communications network via said first interface said second data set configured according to said first protocol.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the vehicle carrying the at least one communications network includes another communications network configured for communications according to a third protocol, the method further including the steps of:

receiving via a third interface coupled to said another communications network a third set of data from said another communications network configured according to said third protocol;

providing said third set of data received via said third interface to said digital signal processor (DSP);

converting with said DSP said third set of data from said third protocol to said second protocol in accordance with a number of single-clock cycle DSP instructions;

providing said third set of data configured according to said second protocol from said DSP to said second interface; and

transmitting to said remote system via said second interface said third data set configured according to said second protocol.

65. The method of claim 64 further including the steps of:

receiving from said remote system via said second interface a fourth set of data configured according to said second protocol;

providing said fourth set of data received via said second interface to said digital signal processor (DSP);

converting with said DSP said fourth set of data from said second protocol to said third protocol in accordance with a number of single-clock cycle DSP instructions;

providing said fourth set of data configured according to said third protocol from said DSP to said third interface; and

transmitting to said another communications network via said third interface said fourth data set configured according to said third protocol.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein said at least one communications network is a society of automotive engineers (SAE) J1708 hardware network and said first protocol is an SAE J1587 communications protocol configured for communication over said J1708 hardware network;

and wherein said another communications network is an SAE J1939 hardware network and said third protocol is an SAE J1939 communications protocol configured for communication over said J1939 hardware network.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein said second protocol is an RS-232 communications protocol.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein said second protocol is a universal serial bus (USB) communications protocol.