Interchangeable communication modules for work machines

• US 20050267998A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neal, Steven Wayne, Meiss, Trent Ray, Jenkins, Brian Lane, Wood, Daniel Craig, Ferguson, Alan Lewis
• Application Number:
  US10/854,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267998A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4413 Plug-and-play [PnP]

Abstract

A system and method for utilizing interchangeable communication modules includes a work machine having an interface module for connecting a plurality of communication modules. An interface control system, including an electronic component connected to the interface module, detects the connection of at least one of the plurality of communication modules and loads a software driver for operating the at least one of the plurality of communication modules.

Claims

1. A system utilizing interchangeable communication modules, comprising:

a work machine including;

an interface module for connecting a plurality of communication modules; and

an interface control system including an electronic component connected to said interface module for detecting the connection of at least one of the plurality of communication modules and loading a software driver for operating the at least one of the plurality of communication modules.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic component includes application software.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic component includes middleware software.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the middleware software includes communication module information.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronic component implements the middleware software to select at least one of the plurality of communication modules based on the communication module information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface module includes a switch for detecting a connection of the at least one of the plurality of communication modules.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the software driver is stored in a software driver section of the electronic component.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic component loads the software driver from the at least one of the plurality communication modules.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic component loads the software driver from an off-board system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic component receives an identification code that is used for identifying the at least one of the plurality of communication modules and selecting the software driver.

11. A method for interchanging communication modules, the method performed in a work machine including an interface module and an electronic component, comprising:

connecting the interface module of the work machine to a plurality of communication modules;

connecting the electronic component of the work machine to the interface module;

detecting the connection of the at least one of the plurality of communication modules; and

loading a software driver for operating the at least one of the plurality of communication modules.

12. The method of claim 11, further including application software within the electronic component.

13. The method of claim 12, further including middleware software within the electronic component.

14. The method of claim 13, further including communication module information within the middleware software.

15. The method of claim 14, further including selecting at least one of the plurality of communication modules based on the communication module information.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the connection further includes using a switch to detect a connection of the at least one of the plurality of communication modules.

17. The method of claim 11, further including loading the software driver from a software driver section of the electronic component.

18. The method of claim 11, further including loading the software driver from the at least one of the plurality of communication modules.

19. The method of claim 11, further including loading the software driver from an external source.

20. The method of claim 19, further including receiving an identification code that is used for identifying the at least one of the plurality of communication modules and selecting the software driver.

21. A system for utilizing interchanging communication modules in a work machine including an interface module and an electronic component, the system comprising:

means for connecting the interface module of the work machine to a plurality of communication modules;

means for connecting the electronic component of the work machine to the interface module;

means for detecting the connection of the at least one of the plurality of communication modules; and

means for loading a software driver for operating the at least one of the plurality of communication modules.

22. The system of claim 21, further including means for storing application software in the electronic component.

23. The system of claim 22, further including means for storing middleware software in the electronic component.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the stored middleware software includes communication module information.

25. The system of claim 24, further including means for selecting at least one of the plurality of communication modules based on the communication module information.

26. The system of claim 21, further including switch means for detecting a connection of the at least one of the plurality of communication modules.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the loading means retrieves the software driver from a software driver section of the electronic component.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the loading means retrieves the software driver from the at least one of the plurality of communication modules.

29. The system of claim 21, further including means for loading the software driver from an external source.

30. The system of claim 29, further including means for receiving an identification code that is used for identifying the at least one of the plurality of communication modules and selecting the software driver.

31. A computer-readable media stored in a work machine having computer executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

a) detecting the connection of at least one of a plurality of communication modules to the work machine;

b) loading a software driver for operating the at least one of the plurality of communication modules from the at least one of the plurality of communication modules;

c) if the software driver is unavailable in the at least one of the plurality of communication modules, loading the software driver from a software driver section of an electronic component; and

d) if the software driver is unavailable in the at least one of the plurality of communication modules and the software driver section, loading the software driver from an external source.

32. The computer-readable media of claim 31, further including instructions for storing application software within the electronic component.

33. The computer-readable media of claim 31, further including instructions for storing middleware software within the electronic component.

34. The computer-readable media of claim 33, wherein storing the middleware software includes storing communication module information.

35. The computer-readable media of claim 34, further including instructions for selecting at least one of the plurality of communication modules based on the communication module information.

36. The computer-readable media of claim 31, further including instructions for receiving an identification code that is used for identifying the at least one of the plurality of communication modules and selecting the software driver.