Method and protocol for diagnostics of arbitrarily complex networks of devices

• US 20050251604A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gerig, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/120
• 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 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 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention includes a network having a plurality of communication buses, at least two of the plurality of buses utilizing different communication bus protocols; a plurality of computer devices, at least one of the plurality of computer devices coupled to at least one of the plurality of communication buses and containing computer device software having an architecture including bus communication software for communicating with at least one of the plurality of communication buses; and an abstraction layer in communication with the bus communication software and capable of abstracting messages from the communication bus protocols, the plurality of computer devices including at least one gateway computer device coupled to multiple of the plurality of communication buses and containing computer device software having an architecture further including a gateway in communication with the abstraction layer and capable of routing the abstracted messages between computer devices coupled to the multiple communication buses to which the at least one gateway computer device is coupled.

Claims

1. In a network including multiple computer devices coupled to at least one communication bus utilizing a communication bus protocol, a computer data signal embodied in an electrical signal represented as a plurality of bits for communicating a message over the network, said computer data signal comprising:

a transport portion supporting transport layer functions compatible with the communication bus protocol of the at least one communication bus over which the message is transmitted; and

a common transport portion operably connected to said transport portion and supporting transport layer functions, said common transport portion enabling the message to be abstracted from the communication bus protocol.

2. The computer data signal of claim 1 further comprising a lower portion operably connected to said transport portion and supporting at least one of physical layer functions, datalink layer functions, and network layer functions.

3. The computer data signal of claim 1 further comprising a first upper portion operably connected to said common transport portion and a second upper portion operably connected to said transport portion, said first and second upper portions supporting at least one of session layer functions, presentation layer functions and application layer functions.

4. The computer data signal of claim 1 wherein said common transport portion includes a header.

5. The computer data signal of claim 4 wherein said common transport portion includes a payload field for transporting the abstracted message therein.

6. The computer data signal of claim 4 wherein said header includes packetization bits and reserved bits.

7. The computer data signal of claim 6 wherein said packetization bits include stage bits.

8. The computer data signal of claim 6 wherein said packetization bits include counter bits.

9. The computer data signal of claim 4 wherein the header includes a message identifier for identifying the abstracted message.

10. The computer data signal of claim 9 wherein the message identifier includes a message set identifier, said message set identifier identifying a message set to which the abstracted message belongs.

11. The computer data signal of claim 10 wherein the message identifier includes a sub-identifier, said sub-identifier identifying the abstracted message within the message set.

12. The computer data signal of claim 1 further comprising a gateway portion operably connected to said common transport portion.

13. The computer data signal of claim 12 further comprising a self-discovery portion operably connected to said gateway portion.

14. In a network including multiple computer devices coupled to at least one communication bus utilizing a communication bus protocol, a software architecture for implementation in at least one of the devices, said software architecture comprising:

software capable of communicating with the at least one communication bus; and

an abstraction layer in communication with said software, said abstraction layer capable of abstracting a message from the communication bus protocol.

15. The software architecture of claim 14 further comprising a gateway in one of direct and indirect communication with said abstraction layer and capable of routing the abstracted message.

16. The software architecture of claim 14 wherein said software includes at least one driver for controlling circuitry providing an interface to the at least one communication bus.

17. The software architecture of claim 16 wherein said software includes at least one handler operably connected to said at least one driver.

18. The software architecture of claim 16 further comprising a router in communication with said abstraction layer and said gateway.

19. The software architecture of claim 18 wherein said abstraction layer includes said router.

20. The software architecture of claim 15 wherein said gateway uses a self-discovery protocol to gather data descriptive of the network'"'"'s layout.

21. The software architecture of claim 15 further comprising at least one application program in communication with said gateway.

22. The software architecture of claim 21 wherein said at least one application program is in communication with said router.

23. In a network including multiple computer devices coupled to at least one communication bus utilizing a communication bus protocol, a computer device comprising:

at least one hardware circuitry connected to the at least one communication bus; and

at least one microprocessor connected to said at least one hardware circuitry, said at least one microprocessor containing software having an architecture including;

communication software capable of communicating with the at least one communication bus; and

an abstraction layer in communication with said communication software, said abstraction layer capable of abstracting a message from the communication bus protocol.

24. The computer device of claim 23 further including a second microprocessor connected to said at least one microprocessor, said second microprocessor containing software having said architecture.

25. The computer device of claim 24 wherein said second microprocessor is connected to a second hardware circuitry.

26. The computer device of claim 23 wherein said at least one microprocessor contains software having said architecture including a gateway in one of direct and indirect communication with said abstraction layer and capable of routing the abstracted message.

27. The computer device of claim 23 wherein said at least one microprocessor contains software having said architecture include communication software having a driver for controlling said at least one hardware circuitry.

28. The computer device of claim 27 wherein said at least one microprocessor contains software having said architecture including said communication software having a handler in communication with said driver.

29. The computer device of claim 23 wherein said at least one microprocessor contains software having said architecture including said abstraction layer, wherein said abstraction layer includes a router.

30. The computer device of claim 26 wherein said at least one microprocessor contains software having said architecture including said gateway, wherein said gateway uses a self-discovery protocol to gather data descriptive of the network'"'"'s layout.

31. The computer device of claim 26 wherein said at least one microprocessor contains software having said architecture further including at least one application program in communication with said gateway.

32. The computer device of claim 31 wherein said at least one microprocessor includes memory containing software having said architecture including said at least one application program, wherein said at least one application program is in indirect communication with said abstraction layer.

33. In a network including a plurality of nodes between which at least one message may be communicated, a method of enabling the nodes to resolve the message, the message including a message set ID and a message ID, said method comprising the steps of:

looking up the message set ID in a message set ID mapping, which maps at least one message set ID to a message set definition for each node, to obtain the message set definition;

looking up the message ID in a message ID mapping, which maps at least one message ID to a message definition, to obtain the message definition; and

using the message definition to interpret the message.

34. The method of claim 33 further including a step of storing the message set ID mapping and the message ID mapping in a database.

35. The method of claim 34 further including a step of extracting the message set ID mapping and the message ID mapping from the database to a configurable node, wherein the message set ID and the message ID mappings are used to configure the configurable node such that the configurable node may use the message set ID mapping and the message ID mapping in communicating with a specific node in the network.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising a step of downloading the message set ID mapping and the message ID mapping from at least one node to a configurable node, wherein the message set ID mapping and the message ID mapping are used to configure the configurable node, thereby enabling the configurable node to communicate with a specific node in the network.

37. A network comprising:

at least one communication bus utilizing a communication bus protocol; and

a plurality of computer devices coupled to said at least one communication bus, at least one of said plurality of computer devices containing computer device software having an architecture including;

communication software for communicating with said at least one communication bus; and

an abstraction layer in communication with said communication software and capable of abstracting a message from the communication bus protocol.

38. The network of claim 37 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices contains computer device software having an architecture including a gateway in one of direct and indirect communication with the abstraction layer and capable of routing the abstracted message.

39. The network of claim 38 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices contain computer device software having the architecture including a router in communication with the abstraction layer and the gateway.

40. The network of claim 38 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices contain computer device software having the architecture including the gateway, wherein the gateway uses a self-discovery protocol to gather data descriptive of the network'"'"'s layout.

41. The network of claim 37 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices contain computer device software having the architecture including the abstraction layer, wherein the abstracting layer is capable of abstracting the message, the message having a message set ID and a message ID.

42. The network of claim 41 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices contain computer device software including a message set ID mapping, which maps at least one message set ID to a message set definition for that computer device, and a message ID mapping for each message set definition, which maps at least one message ID to a message definition.

43. The network of claim 42 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices resolves the abstracted message by carrying out the steps of:

looking up the message set ID in the message set ID mapping to obtain the message set definition;

looking up the message ID in the message ID mapping to obtain the message definition; and

using the message definition to interpret the abstracted message.

44. A network comprising:

a plurality of communication buses, at least two of the plurality of buses utilizing different communication bus protocols;

a plurality of computer devices, at least one of said plurality of computer devices coupled to at least one of said plurality of communication buses and containing computer device software having an architecture including;

bus communication software for communicating with at least one of said plurality of communication buses; and

an abstraction layer in communication with said bus communication software and capable of abstracting messages from the communication bus protocols, said plurality of computer devices including at least one gateway computer device coupled to multiple ones of said plurality of communication buses and containing computer device software having an architecture further including a gateway in communication with the abstraction layer and capable of routing the abstracted messages between computer devices coupled to the multiple communication buses to which the gateway computer device is coupled.

45. The network of claim 44 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices contain computer device software having the architecture including a router in communication with the abstraction layer and the gateway.

46. The network of claim 45 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices contain computer device software having the architecture including the gateway, wherein the gateway uses a self-discovery protocol to gather data descriptive of the network'"'"'s layout.

47. The network of claim 45 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices contain computer device software having the architecture including the abstraction layer, wherein the abstraction layer is capable of abstracting the message from the communication bus protocols, the message having a message set ID and a message ID.

48. The network of claim 47 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices contain computer device software including a message set ID mapping, which maps at least one message set ID to a message set definition for that computer device, and a message ID mapping for each message set definition, which maps at least one message ID to a message definition.

49. The network of claim 48 wherein at least one of said plurality of computer devices resolves the abstracted message by carrying out the steps of:

looking up the message set ID in the message set ID mapping to obtain the message set definition;

looking up the message ID in the message ID mapping to obtain the message definition; and

using the message definition to interpret the abstracted message.

50. In a network including multiple computer devices coupled to at least one communication bus utilizing a communication bus protocol, a computer device comprising:

at least one hardware circuitry connected to the at least one communication bus; and

multiple microprocessors connected to said at least one hardware circuitry and containing software having an architecture including;

communication software capable of communicating with the at least one communication bus; and

an abstraction layer in communication with said communication software, said abstraction layer capable of abstracting a message from the communication bus protocol.

51. The computer device of claim 50 wherein the gateway uses a self-discovery protocol to gather data descriptive of the network'"'"'s layout.

52. The computer device of claim 50 wherein the abstraction layer is capable of abstracting the message from the communication bus protocols, the message having a message set ID and a message ID.

53. The computer device of claim 52 wherein said computer device contains computer device software including a message set ID mapping, which maps at least one message set ID to a message set definition for that computer device, and a message ID mapping for each message set definition, which maps at least one message ID to a message definition.

54. The computer device of claim 53 wherein said computer device resolves the abstracted message by carrying out the steps of:

looking up the message set ID in the message set ID mapping to obtain the message set definition;

looking up the message ID in the message ID mapping to obtain the message definition; and

using the message definition to interpret the abstracted message.