Data Conversion System and Method for Converting Data That is Distributed in a Vehicle

• US 20130297630A1
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Schroeck, David, Goodermuth, Todd, Mudiam, Veni, Joseph, Matthew, Madhavan, Sethu, Torres, Enrique David, DeSanzo, David Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,229,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/756
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/211 Schema design and management
• 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 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A data conversion system for a vehicle includes an interface gateway device that is configured to be communicatively coupled with a data acquisition module and a client module. The data acquisition module obtains a value of a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle and communicates the value to the interface gateway device in a first message provided in a first format. The interface gateway device is configured to convert the first format of the first message into a different, second format to form a second message and to communicate the second message to the client module. The client module uses the second message to perform a function for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A data conversion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

an interface gateway device configured to be communicatively coupled with a data acquisition module and a client module, the data acquisition module configured to obtain a value of a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle and to communicate the value to the interface gateway device in a first message provided in a first format;

wherein the interface gateway device is configured to convert the first format of the first message into a different, second format to form a second message and to communicate the second message to the client module, for the client module to use the second message to perform a function for the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the client module is unable to use data included in the first message to control at least one of tractive effort or braking effort provided by the vehicle, and wherein the interface gateway device is configured to convert the first format of the first message and to communicate the second message to the client module so that the client module is able to use data included in the second message to control the at least one of tractive effort or braking effort provided by the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first format is a closed format and the second format is an open format.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first format is a first closed format and the second format is a second closed format.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first format is an open format and the second format is a closed format.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface gateway device is configured to convert the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message by at least one of applying a multiplier or divisor to the value in the first message, applying a bias to the value in the first message, converting a first data parameter identification in the first message into a different, second data parameter identification, moving a decimal point in the value of the first message, or extracting a subset of data included in the first message.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface gateway device is configured to download conversion information from at least one of an on-board source of the vehicle or an off-board source, the conversion information configured to be used to convert the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message.

8. A data conversion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

an interface gateway device configured to be communicatively coupled with a data acquisition module and a client module, the interface gateway device configured to receive a first message provided in a first format from the data acquisition module, the first message including a value of a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle;

wherein the interface gateway device is configured to convert the first format of the first message into a different, second format to form a second message and to communicate the second message to the client module for use in performing a function for the vehicle.

9. A data conversion system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first client module configured to be communicatively coupled with an interface gateway device and one or more second client modules;

wherein the first client module is configured to receive a data parameter from the interface gateway device in a first message having a closed format, the data parameter related to operation of the vehicle; and

wherein the first client module is configured to publish the data parameter for communication of the data parameter to the one or more second client modules for use in performing a function for the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising the interface gateway device, wherein the interface gateway device is configured to receive the data parameter from a data acquisition module in a second message having an open format, to convert the second message to the first message having the closed format, and to communicate the first message to the first client module.

11. A method for converting data for a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a value of a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle in a first message from a data acquisition module, the first message provided in a first format;

converting the first format of the first message into a different, second format to form a second message; and

communicating the second message to a client module, for the client module to use the second message to perform a function for the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising using data included in the second message to control at least one of tractive effort or braking effort provided by the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first format is a closed format and the second format is an open format.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first format is a first closed format and the second format is a second closed format.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first format is an open format and the second format is a closed format.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second message is communicated to a first client module, and the method further comprises the first client module publishing the data parameter for receipt and use by one or more second client modules to perform the function for the vehicle or another function.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the converting step includes converting the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message by at least one of applying a multiplier or divisor to the value in the first message, applying a bias to the value in the first message, converting a first data parameter identification in the first message into a different, second data parameter identification, moving a decimal point in the value of the first message, or extracting a subset of data included in the first message.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising downloading conversion information from at least one of an on-board source or an off-board source that is used to convert the first format of the first message into the second format of the second message.

19. A method for converting data for a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a data parameter related to operation of the vehicle in a first message, the first message provided in a closed format, wherein the data parameter is received from an interface gateway device that receives the data parameter from a data acquisition module in an open format; and

publishing the data parameter for communication to one or more client modules to use the data parameter for a function of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

at the interface gateway device, receiving the data parameter from the data acquisition module in a second message having the open format, converting the second message to the first message in the closed format, and communicating the first message.