Method and Device for Connecting a Diagnostic Unit to a Control Unit in a Motor Vehicle

• US 20150351137A1
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: NEFF, Albrecht, KOENIGSEDER, Thomas, TURNER, Max, VOELKER, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 10,703,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• 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: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

For connecting a diagnostic unit to a vehicle controller of a motor vehicle via a network connection, it is provided that, when the connection has been established between the diagnostic unit and the vehicle controller, a check is performed as to whether the diagnostic unit is directly connected to the vehicle controller. The diagnostic unit receives diagnostic data from the vehicle controller only when there is a direct connection.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a diagnostic unit to a vehicle controller in a motor vehicle via a network connection, the method comprising the acts of:

prompting performance of a check to determine whether the diagnostic unit is directly connected to the vehicle controller upon a connection setup between the diagnostic unit and the vehicle controller; and

providing the diagnostic unit with diagnosis data from the vehicle controller only when the diagnostic unit is directly connected to the vehicle controller.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

not outputting diagnosis data from the vehicle controller if the vehicle controller is connected via the network connection to at least one network component that is independent of the diagnostic unit and/or that is not authorized.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein for verification in the course of the connection setup, the diagnostic unit changes over at least one characteristic of a physical connection between network interfaces of the vehicle controller and the diagnostic unit to prescribed values in a prescribed temporal sequence, and

wherein the vehicle controller enables full communication only if the vehicle controller receives the prescribed values in the prescribed temporal sequence.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the characteristic of the physical connection is a transmission rate.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the verification additionally comprises interchanging communication data between the diagnostic unit and the vehicle controller, said communication data having prescribed contents and/or said interchanging being according to prescribed communication rules.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network connection is an Ethernet connection, a WLAN connection, or another wireless connection used to transmit Ethernet packets.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic unit, or a connecting device connected between the diagnostic unit and the vehicle controller, has a first network port for connection between the vehicle controller and the diagnostic unit and has a second network port of a same network type for connection to further network units, the method further comprising the act of:

at least temporarily physically or functionally isolating the second network port from the first network port such that, while there is a communication connection between the diagnostic unit and the vehicle controller via the first network port, it is not possible for the diagnostic unit and/or the vehicle controller to simultaneously communicate via the second network port.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein verification, in the course of the connection setup between the diagnostic unit, the connecting device and/or the vehicle controller, involves at least one characteristic of the physical connection between network interfaces of the diagnostic unit the connecting device, and/or the vehicle controller, which characteristic is changed over to prescribed values in a prescribed temporal sequence;

and

wherein the connecting device and/or the vehicle controller enable full communication only if the prescribed values in the prescribed temporal sequence is received.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a network switch is connected between a network interface of the diagnostic unit and a network interface of the vehicle controller, said network switch selectively connecting the diagnostic unit either to the vehicle controller or to at least one other network unit.

10. A unit, comprising:

a microprocessor configured to execute a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, said computer program executing a method to;

prompt performance of a check to determine whether the diagnostic unit is directly connected to the vehicle controller upon a connection setup between the diagnostic unit and the vehicle controller; and

provide the diagnostic unit with diagnosis data from the vehicle controller only when the diagnostic unit is directly connected to the vehicle controller.

11. The unit according to claim 10, wherein the unit is a diagnostic unit.

12. The unit according to claim 10, wherein the unit is an access unit.

13. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle controller configured to execute a computer program stored on a nonvolatile computer readable medium to;

prompt performance of a check to determine whether the diagnostic unit is directly connected to the vehicle controller upon a connection setup between the diagnostic unit and the vehicle controller; and

provide the diagnostic unit with diagnosis data from the vehicle controller only when the diagnostic unit is directly connected to the vehicle controller.