Data storage system for a motor vehicle and method for storing data in a motor vehicle

• US 7,216,032 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Probst, Gregor, Graf, Friedrich, Roy, Tanja, Nelles, Oliver, Lachmayr, Martin, Manz, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAULIEU, YONEL
• Application Number:
  US10/682,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23- 25, 701/36, 701200-202, 701/208, 701/35, 701/210, 340/988, 340/995.1, 340/995.18
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/06 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A data storage system for a motor vehicle has at least two control units (1) for controlling one or several vehicle components each, at least two memories (2) for storing data that characterize the route to be traveled on in future, and an interface (3) to a data source (4). Every control unit (1) inquires with the data source (4) a subset of the route data contained therein via the interface (3) and stores the route data transmitted in response in the memory (2) associated with the respective control unit (1).

Claims

1. Data storage system for a motor vehicle comprising:

at least two control units for controlling one or more vehicle components, respectively,

at least two memories for storing data characterizing a future route being traveled,

an interface to a data source,

wherein each control unit is able, via the interface, to request from the data source a subset of the route data available there and to store the consequently transmitted route data in the memory assigned to the relevant control unit.

2. Data storage system according to claim 1, wherein the data source is located inside the motor vehicle.

3. Data storage system according to claim 1, wherein the data source is located at least partially outside the motor vehicle.

4. Data storage system according to claim 1, wherein the route data is transmitted at least partially on a wireless basis.

5. Data storage system according to claim 1, wherein the data source has a data processing unit by which the route data can be selected, combined, classified, or compressed.

6. Method for storing data characterizing a future route in a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

requesting in each case a subset of the data which is available in a data source and which characterizes the future route being traveled by at least two control units for controlling one or more vehicle components, respectively,

transmitting the requested route data from the data source via an interface to the relevant control unit, and

storing the route data in a memory assigned to the relevant control unit.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the route data transmitted from the data source is further processed in the relevant control unit before being stored in the assigned memory.

8. Method according to claim 6, wherein the route data is transmitted at least partially on a wireless basis.

9. Method according to claim 6, wherein the data source selects, combines, classifies, or compresses the route data.

10. Data storage system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a data source,

an interface coupled to the data source,

two control units coupled to the interface, each comprising a memory for storing data characterizing a future route being traveled, for controlling one or more vehicle components, respectively,

wherein each control unit is operable, via the interface, to request from the data source a subset of the route data available there and to store the consequently transmitted route data in the memory of the respective control unit.

11. Data storage system according to claim 10, wherein the data source is located inside the motor vehicle.

12. Data storage system according to claim 10, wherein the data source is located at least partially outside the motor vehicle.

13. Data storage system according to claim 10, wherein the route data is transmitted at least partially on a wireless basis.

14. Data storage system according to claim 10, wherein the data source has a data processing unit by which the route data can be selected, combined, classified, or compressed.