NETWORK INTERFACE FOR USE IN VEHICLES

• US 20130013127A1
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew G. Weinberg
• Original Assignee: Andrew G. Weinberg
• Inventors: Weinberg, Andrew G.
• Application Number:
  US13/535,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20130013127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/417 with deterministic access, e.g. token passing

Abstract

An apparatus is set forth for use with a vehicle having a first electronic control unit and a second electronic control unit. The apparatus comprises data processing circuitry in data communication with memory circuitry and input/output circuitry. The data processing circuitry, the memory circuitry, and the input/output circuitry are collectively operative to: (a) receive an input message from the first electronic control unit over a first network where the input message is formatted in conformity with a first messaging protocol; (b) translate the input message into a corresponding output message formatted in accordance with a second messaging protocol where the second messaging protocol is different from the first messaging protocol; and (c) transmit the corresponding output message to the second electronic control unit over a second network. The first and second electronic control units are operative to control and/or sense one or more elements within the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a vehicle having a first electronic control unit and a second electronic control unit, the apparatus comprising:

data processing circuitry;

memory circuitry, the memory circuitry in data communication with the data processing circuitry; and

input/output circuitry, the input/output circuitry in data communication with the data processing circuitry;

wherein the data processing circuitry, the memory circuitry, and the input/output circuitry are collectively operative to;

(a) receive an input message from the first electronic control unit over a first network, the input message formatted in conformity with a first messaging protocol;

(b) translate the input message into a corresponding output message formatted in accordance with a second messaging protocol, the second messaging protocol different from the first messaging protocol; and

(c) transmit the corresponding output message to the second electronic control unit over a second network;

wherein the first electronic control unit is operative to control and/or sense one or more first elements within the vehicle, and the second electronic control unit is operative to control and/or sense one or more second elements within the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a serial port network, and the second network comprises a controller area network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second networks each comprise a respective controller area network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a microcontroller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed at least in part by reference to a lookup table.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lookup table is populated at least in part by operating an element on the vehicle and detecting a corresponding message indicative of that operation on a network of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input/output circuitry comprises serial port input/output circuitry.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input/output circuitry comprises controller area network input/output circuitry.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electronic control unit controls at least a portion of an engine, and the second electronic control unit controls at least a portion of at least one of a transmission, one or more brakes, and an instrument cluster.

10. A vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

data processing circuitry;

memory circuitry, the memory circuitry in data communication with the data processing circuitry;

input/output circuitry, the input/output circuitry in data communication with the data processing circuitry;

a first electronic control unit, the first electronic control unit operative to control and/or sense one or more first elements within the vehicle; and

a second electronic control unit, the second electronic control unit operative to control and/or sense one or more second elements within the vehicle;

wherein the data processing circuitry, the memory circuitry, and the input/output circuitry are collectively operative to;

(a) receive an input message from the first electronic control unit over a first network, the input message formatted in conformity with a first messaging protocol;

(b) translate the input message into a corresponding output message formatted in accordance with a second messaging protocol; and

(c) transmit the corresponding output message to the second electronic control unit over a second network.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first network comprises a serial bus network, and the second network comprises a controller area network.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first and second networks each comprise a respective controller area network.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises a microcontroller.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein step (b) is performed at least in part by reference to a lookup table.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the lookup table is populated at least in part by operating an element on the vehicle and detecting a corresponding message indicative of that operation on a network of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the input/output circuitry comprises serial port input/output circuitry.

17. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the input/output circuitry comprises controller area network input/output circuitry.

18. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first electronic control unit controls at least a portion of an engine, and the second electronic control unit controls at least a portion of at least one of a transmission, one or more brakes, and an instrument cluster.

19. A method for controlling a vehicle having a first electronic control unit and a second electronic control unit, the method performed by data processing circuitry in data communication with memory circuitry and input/output circuitry, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an input message from the first electronic control unit over a first network, the input message formatted in conformity with a first messaging protocol;

(b) translating the input message into a corresponding output message formatted in accordance with a second messaging protocol, the second messaging protocol different from the first messaging protocol; and

(c) transmitting the corresponding output message to the second electronic control unit over a second network;

wherein the first electronic control unit is operative to control and/or sense one or more first elements within the vehicle, and the second electronic control unit is operative to control and/or sense one or more second elements within the vehicle.