SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING A PLURALITY OF MODULES USING A POWER/DATA BACKBONE NETWORK
First Claim
1. A Virtual Electrical and Electronic Device Interface and Management System (VEEDIMS) for a vehicle comprising:
- a backbone network formed by a plurality of cables, wherein each cable is configured to simultaneously carry digital data and power;
a controller coupled to the backbone network and configured to execute a plurality of control instructions;
a plurality of modules coupled to the controller via the backbone network and configured to receive data and all power needed by the modules via the backbone network, wherein the modules are configured to receive control signals from the controller based on the plurality of control instructions; and
at least one device coupled to a first module of the plurality of modules via a direct input/output (I/O) interface positioned in the first module, wherein a device specific driver contained in the first module provides a communications interface between the device and a generic VEEDIMS controller driver in the controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Virtual Electrical and Electronic Device Interface and Management System (VEEDIMS) is provided. In one example, the VEEDIMS includes a backbone network formed by cables that are configured to simultaneously carry digital data and power. A controller is coupled to the backbone network and configured to execute control instructions. A plurality of modules are coupled to the controller via the backbone network and receive data and power via the backbone network. The modules receive control signals from the controller based on the control instructions. At least one device is coupled to one of the modules via a direct input/output (I/O) interface positioned in the module. A device specific driver contained in the module provides a communications interface between the device and a generic VEEDIMS controller driver in the controller.
59 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A Virtual Electrical and Electronic Device Interface and Management System (VEEDIMS) for a vehicle comprising:
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a backbone network formed by a plurality of cables, wherein each cable is configured to simultaneously carry digital data and power; a controller coupled to the backbone network and configured to execute a plurality of control instructions; a plurality of modules coupled to the controller via the backbone network and configured to receive data and all power needed by the modules via the backbone network, wherein the modules are configured to receive control signals from the controller based on the plurality of control instructions; and at least one device coupled to a first module of the plurality of modules via a direct input/output (I/O) interface positioned in the first module, wherein a device specific driver contained in the first module provides a communications interface between the device and a generic VEEDIMS controller driver in the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A Virtual Electrical and Electronic Device Interface and Management System (VEEDIMS) comprising:
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a first controller having a first power interface, a first network/power interface, a first processor coupled to the first power and first network/power interfaces, and a first memory containing a plurality of instructions executable by the first processor, the instructions including controller instructions adapted to control a plurality of modules; an energy source coupled directly to the first power interface via a first cable adapted to carry only power; a first switch having a second power interface coupled directly to the energy source via a second cable adapted to carry only power, and a second network/power interface coupled directly to the first network/power interface via a third cable adapted to simultaneously carry both power and data; a first module of the plurality of modules having a third network/power interface coupled directly to the second network/power interface via a fourth cable adapted to simultaneously carry both power and data, a device input/output (I/O) port, a second processor coupled to the third network/power interface and the device I/O port, and a second memory containing a plurality of instructions executable by the second processor, the instructions including driver instructions adapted to enable communications between the first module and a device coupled to the first module via the device I/O port, wherein the first module is adapted to provide a communication interface between the device and the first controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A Virtual Electrical and Electronic Device Interface and Management System (VEEDIMS) support architecture comprising:
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a module positioned in a vehicle and configured to couple to a device via an input/output (I/O) interface compatible with the device and configured to couple to a controller via a cable adapted to simultaneously carry bi-directional data and uni-directional power to the module, wherein the module has a first processor and a first memory containing a first instruction set executable by the first processor, the first instruction set including instructions for providing a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server, and wherein the first memory further contains a documentation set containing a service history of the module and a bill of materials for at least one of the module and the device that is accessible via the HTTP server; and the controller positioned in the vehicle and having a second processor and a second memory containing a second instruction set executable by the second processor, the second instruction set including instructions for receiving data from the module and storing the data in the second memory. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification