Method for exchanging data between several stations

• US 20040030748A1
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Griessbach, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40 Bus networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle

Abstract

In a method for exchanging data between several stations belonging to various data bus systems. The data bus systems are spatially and physically separate from each other. The stations exchange data via control devices which are respectively associated with a data bus system and which are interconnected by means of a faster data bus, which said bus is not busy.

Claims

1. Method of exchanging data between a plurality of subscribers which belong to different data bus systems, characterized in that the data bus systems are spatially and physically separate from one another, and in that, by way of control units each assigned to a data bus system and connected with one another by way of a faster data bus, the subscribers exchange data during the time in which the faster data bus is not busy.

2. Method according to claim 1,

characterized in that the subscribers of a data bus system, in their entirety, are arranged in at least two spatially and physically mutually separate subordinate data bus systems, and in that each subordinate data bus system is connected by way of a pertaining control unit to a faster data bus.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that the control units adapt the data of the subscribers of the connected data bus system with respect to their format to the data format of the faster data bus or convert it from this format to the data format of the connected data bus system.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3,

characterized in that the subscribers of the data bus systems and the subscribers of the faster data bus have an unambiguous identification.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that the identifications of the subscribers of the connected data bus system are stored in the respective control unit.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5,

characterized in that the identifications of the subscribers of the not connected data bus system(s) are stored in the respective control unit.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized in that the identifications of the (not) connected subscribers are contained in a programmable memory.

8. Method according to claim 7,

characterized in that, by means of the memory content, the data transmission is controlled from the respective data bus system to the faster data bus and vice-versa.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8,

characterized in that, in the event of a disturbance of the data bus system, the respective control units do not transmit the data of the connected data bus system to the faster data bus.