Systems, network devices and methods for highly configurable peer-to-peer communications between network devices communicating via a common bus

• US 7,174,402 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Ellerbrock, Philip J., Winkelmann, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen; Rehana
• Assistant Examiner(s): MISIURA, BRIAN THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US10/408,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 710/316
• US Class Current: 710/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40267 Bus for use in transportation systems

Abstract

A system and method are provided for initiating peer-to-peer communications via a network bus. The system includes a bus controller in electrical communication with the network bus for controlling communications on the network bus, such as by transmitting commands onto the network bus. The system also includes at least one network device in electrical communication with the network bus, where the network devices collectively comprise at least first and second data channels. The first data channel is configured for Surrogate operation and includes an initiator command and a surrogate command. When the bus controller transmits a command onto the network bus that matches the initiator command of at least the first data channel, at least the second data channel is capable of executing the initiator command and at least the first data channel is capable of executing the respective surrogate command.

Claims

1. A system for initiating peer-to-peer communications via a network bus, said system comprising:

a bus controller in electrical communication with the network bus for controlling communications on the network bus, wherein said bus controller is capable of transmitting commands onto the network bus; and

at least one network device in electrical communication with the network bus, wherein said at least one network device collectively comprise at least first and second data channels, wherein the first data channel is configured for Surrogate operation by including an initiator command and a surrogate command,

wherein when said bus controller transmits a command onto the network bus that matches the initiator command of the first data channel, at least the second data channel is capable of executing the initiator command and at least the first data channel is capable of subsequently executing the respective surrogate command to thereby permit peer-to-peer communications between at least the first and second data channels.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein when said bus controller transmits a command addressed to at least the first data channel that is configured for Surrogate operation that matches the respective initiator command, at least the first data channel is capable of executing the command and thereafter executing the respective surrogate command.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least the first data channel that is configured for Surrogate operation further includes at least one surrogate control code indicating at least one of a predetermined amount of data, an initial piece of data, and an order of a predefined amount of data.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one network device includes a first network device comprising the first data channel configured for Surrogate operation and including a “

Read Data”

initiator command and a “

Write Data”

surrogate command, wherein when said bus controller transmits a “

Read Data”

command addressed to the second data channel, the second data channel is capable of executing the “

Read Data”

command by reading data onto the network bus, and the first data channel of the first network device is capable of executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command by writing the data from the network bus.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the first network device comprises both the configured first data channel and the second data channel.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one network device includes a first network device comprising the first data channel configured for Surrogate operation and including a “

Trigger”

initiator command and a “

Read Data”

surrogate command, wherein the at least one network device also includes a second network device comprising the second data channel that is also configured for Surrogate operation and includes a “

Trigger”

initiator command and a “

Write Data”

surrogate command, wherein when said bus controller transmits a “

Trigger”

command, the configured first data channel of the first network device is capable of executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command by reading data onto the network bus, and the configured second data channel of the second network device is capable of executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command by writing the data from the network bus.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein when said bus controller transmits a “

Trigger”

command addressed to a group of data channels including the configured first and second data channels of the first and second network devices, the configured first data channel of the first network device is capable of executing the “

Trigger”

command followed by the “

Read Data”

surrogate command, and the configured second data channel of the second network device is capable of executing the “

Trigger”

command followed by the “

Write Data”

surrogate command.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one network device includes a first network device comprising the first data channel configured for Surrogate operation and including a “

Trigger”

initiator command, a “

Read Data”

surrogate command and a surrogate control code specifying a predetermined amount of data, wherein the at least one network device also includes at least one second network device comprising at least one second data channel that is also configured for Surrogate operation and includes a “

Trigger”

initiator command, a “

Write Data”

surrogate command and a surrogate control code collectively specifying the predetermined amount of data and individually indicating an initial piece of data, wherein when said bus controller transmits a “

Trigger”

command, the configured first data channel of the first network device is capable of executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command by reading the predetermined amount of data onto the network bus, and the configured second data channels of the second network devices are capable of executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command by writing the predetermined amount of data from the network bus with each data channel starting with the respective initial piece of data.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein when said bus controller transmits a “

Trigger”

command addressed to a group of data channels including the configured first and second data channels of the first and second network devices, the configured first data channel of the first network device is capable of executing the “

Trigger”

command followed by the “

Read Data”

surrogate command, and the configured second data channels of the second network devices are capable of executing the “

Trigger”

command followed by the “

Write Data”

surrogate command.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one network device includes a first network device comprising a plurality of first data channels configured for Surrogate operation and including “

Trigger”

initiator commands, “

Read Data”

surrogate commands and surrogate control codes collectively specifying a predetermined amount of data and individually indicating an order of execution of the surrogate command, wherein the at least one network device also includes at least one second network device comprising at least one second data channel that is also configured for Surrogate operation and includes a “

Trigger”

initiator command, a “

Write Data”

surrogate command and a surrogate control code collectively specifying the predetermined amount of data and individually indicating an initial piece of data, wherein when said bus controller transmits a “

Trigger”

command, the configured first data channels of the first network device are capable of executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command in the indicated order of execution to thereby read the predetermined amount of data onto the network bus, and the configured second data channels of the second network devices are capable of executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command by writing the predetermined amount of data from the network bus with each data channel starting with the respective initial piece of data.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein when said bus controller transmits a “

Trigger”

command addressed to a group of data channels including the configured first and second data channels of the first and second network devices, the configured first data channels of the first network device are capable of executing the “

Trigger”

command followed by the “

Read Data”

surrogate command, and the configured second data channels of the second network devices are capable of executing the “

Trigger”

command followed by the “

Write Data”

surrogate command.

33. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least the second data channel and at least the first data channel are capable of executing the initiator command and the respective surrogate command, respectively, in response to said bus controller transmitting the command that matches the initiator command.

34. A system according to claim 1, wherein said bus controller and said at least one network device are separated and in electrical communication via the network bus.

12. A method of initiating peer-to-peer communications in a network comprising at least one network device communicating via a common network bus and collectively having at least first and second data channels including at least a first data channel configured for Surrogate operation, wherein at least the first data channel configured for Surrogate operation includes an initiator command and a surrogate command, said method comprising:

transmitting at least one command onto the network bus;

detecting a command on the network bus that matches the initiator command of at least the first data channel;

executing the initiator command via at least the second data channel; and

thereafter executing the respective surrogate command via at least the first data channel to thereby permit peer-to-peer communications between at least the first and second data channels.

13. A method according to claim 12 farther comprising configuring at least the first data channel for surrogate operation before transmitting the at least one command.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein configuring at least the first data channel comprises configuring at least the first data channel to further include at least one surrogate control code indicating at least one of a predetermined amount of data, an initial piece of data, and an order of a predefined amount of data.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein transmitting at least one command comprises includes transmitting a command addressed to at least the first data channel configured for Surrogate operation, wherein detecting a command comprises detecting the command addressed to at least the first data channel, and wherein the method further comprises executing the initiator command via at least the first data channel before executing the respective surrogate command.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one network device includes a first network device comprising the first data channel configured for Surrogate operation and including a “

Read Data”

initiator command and a “

Write Data”

surrogate command, wherein transmitting at least one command comprises transmitting a “

Read Data”

command addressed to the second data channel, wherein executing the respective surrogate command comprises executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command by writing the data from the network bus, and wherein the method further comprises executing the “

Read Data”

command before executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command by reading data onto the network bus.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one network device includes a first network device comprising the first data channel configured for Surrogate operation and including a “

Trigger”

initiator command and a “

Read Data”

surrogate command, wherein the at least one network device also includes a second network device comprising the second data channel that is also configured for Surrogate operation and including a “

Trigger”

initiator command and a “

Write Data”

surrogate command, wherein transmitting at least one command comprises transmitting a “

Trigger”

command, wherein executing the respective surrogate command comprises executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command via the configured first data channel of the first network device by reading data onto the network bus, and executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command via the configured second data channel of the second network device by writing the data from the network bus.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein transmitting the “

Trigger”

command comprises transmitting the “

Trigger”

command addressed to a group of data channels including the configured first and second data channels of the first and second network devices, wherein the method further comprises executing the “

Trigger”

command via the configured first data channel of the first network device before executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command via the configured first data channel of the first network device, and executing the “

Trigger”

command via the configured second data channel of the second network device before executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command via the configured second data channel of the second network device.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one network device includes a first network device comprising the first data channel configured for Surrogate operation and including a “

Trigger”

initiator command, a “

Read Data”

surrogate command and a surrogate control code specifying a predetermined amount of data, wherein the at least one network device also includes at least one second network device comprising at least one second data channel that is also configured for Surrogate operation and including a “

Trigger”

initiator command, a “

Write Data”

surrogate command and a surrogate control code collectively specifying the predetermined amount of data and individually indicating an initial piece of data, wherein transmitting at least one command comprises transmitting a “

Trigger”

command, wherein executing the respective surrogate command comprises executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command via the configured first data channel of the first network device by reading the predetermined amount of data onto the network bus, and executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command via the configured second data channels of the second network devices by writing the predetermined amount of data from the network bus with each data channel starting with the respective initial piece of data.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein transmitting the “

Trigger”

command comprises transmitting a “

Trigger”

command addressed to a group of data channels including the configured first and second data channels of the first and second network devices, wherein the method further comprises executing the “

Trigger”

command via the configured first data channel of the first network device before executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command via the configured first data channel of the first network device, and executing the “

Trigger”

command via the configured second data channels of the second network devices followed by the “

Write Data”

surrogate command via the configured second data channels of the second network devices.

21. A method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one network device includes a first network device comprising a plurality of first data channels configured for Surrogate operation and including “

Trigger”

initiator commands, “

Read Data”

surrogate commands and surrogate control codes collectively specifying a predetermined amount of data and individually indicating an order of execution of the surrogate command, wherein the at least one network device also includes at least one second network device comprising at least one second data channel that is also configured for Surrogate operation and including a “

Trigger”

initiator command, a “

Write Data”

surrogate command and a surrogate control code collectively specifying the predetermined amount of data and individually indicating an initial piece of data, wherein transmitting at least one command comprises transmitting a “

Trigger”

command, wherein executing the respective surrogate command comprises executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command via the configured first data channels of the first network device in the indicated order of execution to thereby read the predetermined amount of data onto the network bus, and executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command via the configured second data channels of the second network devices by writing the predetermined amount of data from the network bus with each data channel starting wit the respective initial piece of data.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein transmitting the “

Trigger”

command comprises transmitting a “

Trigger”

command addressed to a group of data channels including the configured first and second data channels of the first and second network devices, wherein the method further comprises executing the “

Trigger”

command via the configured first data channels of the first network device before executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command via the configured first data channel of the first network device, and executing the “

Trigger”

command via the configured second data channels of the second network devices before executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command via the configured data second channels of the second network devices.

35. A method according to claim 12, wherein executing the initiator command and executing the respective surrogate command occur in response to detecting the command on the network bus that matches the initiator command.

23. A network device capable of peer-to-peer communications via a network bus, the network device comprising:

a first data channel configured for Surrogate operation;

a memory capable of storing an initiator command and a surrogate command associated with the first data channel; and

a surrogate processing module capable of detecting a command on the network bus that matches the initiator command, wherein when said surrogate processing module detects a command on the network bus that matches the initiator command, said surrogate processing module is capable of transmitting the surrogate command to said first data channel such that at least a second data channel is capable of executing the initiator command and said first data channel is thereafter capable of executing the surrogate command to thereby permit peer-to-peer communications between at least the first and second data channels.

24. A network device according to claim 23, wherein when said surrogate processing module detects a command on the network bus that is also addressed to said first data channel, said first data channel is capable of executing the command and thereafter executing the respective surrogate command.

25. A network device according to claim 23, wherein said memory is further capable of storing at least one surrogate control code indicating at least one of a predetermined amount of data, an initial piece of data, and an order of a predefined amount of data.

26. A network device according to claim 23 further comprising a second data channel, said wherein said memory is capable of storing a “

Read Data”

initiator command and a “

Write Data”

surrogate command, wherein when a “

Read Data”

command addressed to the second data channel is transmitted via the network bus, said second data channel is capable of executing the “

Read Data”

command by reading data onto the network bus, and said first data channel of the first network device is capable of executing the “

Write Data”

surrogate command by writing the data from the network bus.

27. A network device according to claim 23, wherein said memory is capable of storing a “

Trigger”

initiator command and a “

Read Data”

surrogate command, wherein when said surrogate processing module detects a “

Trigger”

command on the network bus, said surrogate processing is capable of transmitting the “

Read Data”

surrogate command to said first data channel such that said first data channel is capable of executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command by reading data onto the network bus.

28. A network device according to claim 27, wherein when said surrogate processing module detects a “

Trigger”

command addressed to at least said first data channel, said first data channel is capable of executing the “

Trigger”

command before executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command.

29. A network device according to claim 23, wherein said memory is capable of storing a “

Trigger”

initiator command, a “

Read Data”

surrogate command and a surrogate control code specifying a predetermined amount of data, wherein when said surrogate processing module detects a “

Trigger”

command on the network bus, said surrogate processing is capable of transmitting the “

Read Data”

surrogate command to said first data channel such that said first data channel is capable of executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command by reading the predetermined amount of data onto the network bus.

30. A network device according to claim 29, wherein when said surrogate processing module detects a “

Trigger”

command addressed to at least said firm data channel, said first data channel is capable of executing the “

Trigger”

command before executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command.

31. A network device according to claim 23, wherein the network device comprises a plurality of first data channels configured for Surrogate operation, wherein said memory device is capable of storing “

Trigger”

initiator commands, “

Read Data”

surrogate commands and surrogate control codes for said first data channels collectively specifying a predetermined amount of data and individually indicating an order of execution of the surrogate command, wherein when said surrogate processing module detects a “

Trigger”

command on the network bus, said surrogate processing is capable of transmitting the “

Read Data”

surrogate commands to said first data channels such that said first data channels are capable of executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command in the indicated order of execution to thereby read the predetermined amount of data onto the network bus.

32. A network device according to claim 31, wherein when said surrogate processing module detects a “

Trigger”

command addressed to at least said first data channel, said first data channels are capable of executing the “

Trigger”

command before executing the “

Read Data”

surrogate command.

36. A network device according to claim 23, wherein said surrogate processing module is capable of transmitting the surrogate command in response to detecting the command on the network bus that matches the initiator command.