Device for connecting communications networks in a motor vehicle

• US 6,917,122 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: May, Thomas, Koch, Hartwig
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/102,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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

Abstract

A device for connecting communications networks has a safety switch with which two communications networks present in the motor vehicle may be connected by a user. In this connection, in particular, a multimedia network having an air interface, preferably implemented by a mobile phone, is connected to a safety network to which vehicle components are connected that are critical to safety. This connection becomes necessary when a remote diagnosis of the vehicle components or a software update is to be undertaken.

Claims

1. A device for connecting at least two communications networks in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a safety switch for connecting the at least two communications networks, wherein there is a permanent one-way communication between the at least two communications networks, and the safety switch is configured to close so as to extend the one-way communication to a duplex communication.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two communications networks include a first communications network having an air interface, the air interface being activated by closing the safety switch.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the air interface is adapted to receive data when the safety switch is open.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the air interface is adapted to receive data only when the safety switch is closed.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the data is received from an external server via the air interface.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the air interface automatically contacts an opposite station when the safety switch is closed, the opposite station taking up connection with a second of the at least two communications networks in the motor vehicle.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the air interface establishes a connection for at least one of a remote diagnosis and a software update.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein the air interface includes a mobile telephone.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the safety switch is adapted to be closed only by a user.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein safety data from a data network is at least one of extracted and imported.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein software is updated for components connected to the data network.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two communications networks include a first communications network having a multimedia network.