CONNECTION DEVICE AND PROGRAM

• US 20090043904A1
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: OKUYAMA, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/216 using electric control means
• 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 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

In a connection device connected to a network mounted in a boat, a protocol of a connection device connected to a network mounted in a boat is identified based on a communication ID in a certain message transmitted through the network. A device protocol is determined in accordance with the protocol of the network. Data communication in the network is performed in conformity with the device protocol. Accordingly, when the connection device is connected to the network, the connection device automatically identifies a protocol of the network and operates appropriately. Therefore, upward compatibility is maintained and usability is improved.

Claims

1. A connection device connected to a network mounted in a boat, comprising:

a protocol identification section arranged to identify a protocol used by the network based on specific information in a certain message transmitted through the network;

a protocol determination section arranged to determine a device protocol that corresponds to the protocol of the network identified by the protocol identification section; and

a data communication section arranged to perform data communication with the network in a manner that conforms with the device protocol determined by the protocol determination section.

2. The connection device according to claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory arranged to store a protocol indicator of the protocol of the network.

3. The connection device according to claim 2, further comprising a memory reset arranged to erase the protocol indicator stored in the memory in order to return the memory to its initial state.

4. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the protocol identified by the protocol identification section includes a first protocol and a second protocol.

5. The connection device according to claim 4, wherein the first protocol is defined by a protocol that performs authentication;

and the second protocol is defined by a protocol that does not perform authentication.

6. The connection device according to claim 4, wherein the protocol determination section is arranged to determine that the device protocol is the second protocol if the protocol identification section is unable to identify the protocol used by the network within a predetermined period of time.

7. A computer readable medium storing a program, when run on a computer in a network mounted in a boat, the computer performs a method comprising the steps of:

a protocol identification process to identify a protocol of the network based on specific information included in a certain message transmitted through the network;

a protocol determination process to determine a device protocol that corresponds to the protocol of the network; and

a data communication process to perform data communication with the network in accordance with the device protocol.