Data exchange between users connected by a bus system and having separate time bases

• US 6,842,808 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hartwich, Florian, Fuehrer, Thomas, Hugel, Robert, Weigl, Andreas, Müller, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US09/754,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20010018720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 710/110, 710104-107, 710/117, 710/124, 710 58- 61, 710/314, 710 29- 35, 710 8- 10, 710 15- 18, 713500-503
• US Class Current: 710/117
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/04 by utilising inertia B01D45/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25031 TTCAN bus, time triggered can bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0655 using timestamps

Abstract

A method and device for the exchange of data in messages between at least two users which are connected by a bus system and have separate time bases, the messages containing the data being transmitted by the users via the bus system; and a first user, in a function as timer, controls the messages as a function of time in such a way that it repeatedly transmits a reference message, which contains time information regarding the time base of the first user, via the bus at a specifiable time interval; the at least second user forms its own time information, using its time base, as a function of the time information of the first user; a correction value is ascertained from the two pieces of time information; and the second user adapts its time information and/or its time base as a function of the correction value.

Claims

1. A method for an exchange of data in messages between at least two users connected by a bus system and having separate time bases but operating a same bus speed, comprising:

causing the at least two users to transmit data via the bus system in the messages, the at least two users operating at the same bus speed;

causing a first one of the at least two users, in a function as timer, to control the messages as a function of time such that the first one of the at least two users repeatedly transmits a reference message including a first time information regarding a time base of the first one of the at least two users, via the bus system at a specifiable time interval;

causing at least a second one of the at least two users to form a second time information in accordance with a time base of the at least second one of the at least two users, as a function of the first time information;

ascertaining a correction value from the first time information and the second time information; and

causing the at least second one of the at least two users to adapt as a function of the correction value at least one of the second time information and the time base of the at least second one of the at least two users, whereby the at least two users continue to operate at the same bus speed.

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

subdividing the specifiable time interval into timing windows of a specifiable length; and

transmitting the messages including the data in the timing windows.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

ascertaining the correction value from a difference of the specifiable time interval of the first one of the at least two users and another time interval of the at least second one of the at least two users.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

omitting a cyclical message transfer in at least one timing window of one of a first cycle and a second cycle; and

transmitting arbitrating messages in the at least one timing window.

3. A method for an exchange of data in messages between at least two users connected by a bus system and having a separate time bases, comprising:

causing the at least two users to transmit data via the bus system in the messages;

causing a first one of the at least two users, in a function as timer, to control the messages as a function of time such that the first one of the at least two users repeatedly transmits a reference message including a first time information regarding a time base of the first one of the at least two users, via the bus system at a specifiable time interval;

causing at least a second one of the at least two users to form a second time information in accordance with a time base of the at least second one of the at least two users, as a function of the first time information;

ascertaining a correction value from the first time information and the second time information;

causing the at least second one of the at least two users to adapt as a function of the correction value at least one of the second time information and the time base of the at least second one of the at least two users;

subdividing the specifiable time interval into timing windows of a specifiable length;

transmitting the messages including the data in the timing windows; and

combining the reference message and subsequent ones of the timing windows up to a next reference message to form a first cycle of at least one of the specifiable length and a specifiable structure, wherein;

the specifiable structure corresponds to the specifiable length, number, and time position of the timing windows in the specifiable time interval following the reference message.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

combining a plurality of first cycles of a same specifiable structure to form a second cycle; and

repeatedly transmitting messages in the second cycle in timing windows having a time interval greater than a time length of the first cycle.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

starting each first cycle with the reference message; and

causing the at least second one of the at least two users to determine an interval of the time base of the at least second one of the at least two users with respect to the time base of the first one of the at least two users.

8. A device for an exchange of data in messages between at least two users connected by a bus system and having separate time bases but operating at a same bus speed, comprising:

an arrangement for causing the at least two users to transmit data via the bus system in the messages, the at least two users transmitting the data at the same bus speed;

an arrangement for causing a first one of the at least two users, in a function as timer, to control the messages as a function of time such that the first one of the at least two users repeatedly transmits a reference message including a first time information regarding a time base of the first one of the at least two users, via the bus system at a specifiable time interval;

an arrangement for causing at least a second one of the at least two users to form a second time information in accordance with a time base of the at least second one of the at least two users, as a function of the first time information;

an arrangement for ascertaining a correction value from the first time information and the second time information; and

an arrangement for causing the at least second one of the at least two users to adapt as a function of the correction value at least one of the second time information and the time base of the at least second one of the at least two users, wherein the at least two users continue to operate at the same bus speed.