Apparatus and method for manipulating automotive data packets

• US 20060140210A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Automotive Data Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Automotive Data Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Yates, Brian, Thomas, Tudor
• Application Number:
  US11/025,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20060140210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention enable the transmission and receipt of information packets to and from at least one automotive data bus that enables connectivity between automotive devices on at least one automotive data bus and external devices not originally coupled with an automotive data bus or between an automotive device residing on one automotive data bus and another automotive device residing on a different automotive bus. Devices that may be coupled with an automotive data bus that were not originally coupled with the bus include but are not limited to cell phones, garage door openers, radar detectors, digital music players, alarms, stereos, GPS receivers, PCs, PDAs, digital cameras, video cameras or any other electronic device. These external devices may be controlled by the switches on a steering wheel or radio buttons for example when coupled with embodiments of the invention. Existing devices on an automotive data bus may comprise device(s) such as for example a CD-player, MID (Multi-Information Display Buttons), menu screen, multi-function steering wheel buttons, parking distance control, radio, digital music system, digital sound processor, instrument control electronics, light control module, telephone, navigation system, integrated LCD screen, On-Board computer, On-Board computer text bar, lights, wipers, seats, seat memory and any other device originally installed in an automobile. These devices may be controlled by external devices coupled with an embodiment of the invention that is in turn coupled to the automotive data bus. For example an incoming cell phone number may be displayed on an automobile stereo display when an incoming call rings a cell phone coupled with an embodiment of the invention to the automotive data bus. Embodiments of the invention allow for the interception and delay of messages intended for a given device when an external device requests use of an automotive device. For example when the incoming number is displayed on the stereo system text display, such as a change in volume any message intended for the stereo system text display may be intercepted and delayed until the cell phone call is answered.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manipulating automotive data packets comprising:

a microprocessor;

at least one automotive data bus specific interface connector coupled with said microprocessor and coupled with at least one automotive data bus;

at least one external device specific interface coupled with said microprocessor and coupled with at least one external device; and

,

said microprocessor configured to communicate with said at least one automotive data bus using at least one automotive data bus communications protocol and configured to communicate with said at least one external device using at least one external device communications protocol.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one automotive data bus comprises K-bus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one automotive data bus comprises CAN Bus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one automotive data bus comprises OBD-II.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one automotive data bus comprises SAEJ 1580.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one external device specific interface comprises Bluetooth.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one external device specific interface comprises USB.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one external device specific interface comprises Firewire.

9. An apparatus for manipulating automotive data packets comprising:

a microprocessor;

a plurality of automotive data bus specific interface connectors coupled with said microprocessor and coupled with a plurality of automotive data buses; and

said microprocessor configured to communicate with a first automotive data bus selected from said plurality of automotive data buses using a first automotive data bus communications protocol and configured to communicate with a second automotive data bus selected from said plurality of automotive data buses using a second automotive data bus communications protocol.

10. A method for manipulating automotive data packets comprising:

coupling at least one automotive data bus specific interface connector with a microprocessor and with at least one automotive data bus;

coupling at least one external device specific interface with said microprocessor and with at least one external device; and

,

communicating via said microprocessor with said at least one automotive data bus using at least one automotive data bus communications protocol; and

,

communicating via said microprocessor with said at least one external device using at least one external device communications protocol.

11. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

reading a packet from said at least one automotive data bus.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

writing a packet to said at least one automotive data bus.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

reading a packet from said at least one external device specific interface.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

writing a packet to said at least one external device specific interface.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

reading a packet from a first external interface selected from said at least one external device specific interface; and

,

writing a converted packet to a first bus selected from said at least one automotive data bus.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

reading a packet from a first bus selected from said at least one automotive data bus; and

,

writing a converted packet to a first external interface selected from said at least one external device specific interface.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

reading a packet from a first external interface selected from said at least one external device specific interface; and

,

writing a converted packet to a second external interface selected from said at least one external device specific interface.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

reading a packet from a first external device; and

,

writing a converted packet to a second external device.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

reading a packet from a first bus selected from said at least one automotive data bus; and

,

writing a converted packet to a second bus selected from said at least one automotive data bus.

20. An apparatus for manipulating automotive data packets comprising:

means for coupling at least one automotive data bus specific interface connector with a microprocessor and with at least one automotive data bus;

means for coupling at least one external device specific interface with said microprocessor and with at least one external device; and

,

means for communicating via said microprocessor with said at least one automotive data bus using at least one automotive data bus communications protocol; and

,

means for communicating via said microprocessor with said at least one external device using at least one external device communications protocol.