In-vehicle control apparatus communicably coupled through a communication line
First Claim
1. A control apparatus communicably coupled through an in-vehicle communication line to at least one device for controlling an equipment unit installed in a vehicle, said control apparatus comprising:
- a determining unit configured to receive a request transmitted from the at least one device, said determining unit being configured to determine whether the received request corresponds to a previously specified request; and
a changing unit configured to change a mode of transmitting response data with respect to the received request according to a result of the determination by the determining unit such that a first responsiveness with respect to the received request corresponding to the specified request increases as compared with a second responsiveness with respect to the received request that does not correspond to the specified request.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control apparatus is communicably coupled through an in-vehicle communication line to a device. The control apparatus is operative to control an equipment unit installed therein. In the control apparatus, a determining unit receives a request transmitted from the device. The request includes information related to the device and the control apparatus. The determining unit is configured to determine whether the received request corresponds to a previously specified request according to the information of the received request. A changing unit changes a way of transmitting response data against the received request according to a result of the determination, thereby increasing a first responsibility against the received request corresponding to the specified request, as compared with a second responsibility against the received request except for the specified request.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A control apparatus communicably coupled through an in-vehicle communication line to at least one device for controlling an equipment unit installed in a vehicle, said control apparatus comprising:
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a determining unit configured to receive a request transmitted from the at least one device, said determining unit being configured to determine whether the received request corresponds to a previously specified request; and a changing unit configured to change a mode of transmitting response data with respect to the received request according to a result of the determination by the determining unit such that a first responsiveness with respect to the received request corresponding to the specified request increases as compared with a second responsiveness with respect to the received request that does not correspond to the specified request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A control apparatus communicably coupled through an in-vehicle communication line to at least one device for controlling an equipment unit installed in a vehicle, said control apparatus comprising:
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an identifying unit configured to receive a request transmitted from the at least one device, said request including information representing a content thereof, said identifying unit being configured to identify a content of the received request according to the information; a load detecting unit configured to detect a device process load required to control the equipment unit; a monitoring unit configured to monitor a traffic load in the in-vehicle communication line; and a load reducing unit configured to reduce a communication load required to transmit response data with respect to the received request according to (a) the identified content of the received request, (b) the detected load, and (c) the monitored traffic load. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A control apparatus communicably coupled through an in-vehicle communication line to at least one device for controlling an equipment unit installed in a vehicle, said control apparatus comprising:
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an identifying unit configured to receive a request transmitted from the at least one device, said request including information representing (a) a content of the request and (b) a source of the transmitted request, said identifying unit being configured to identify a content of the received request and a source of its transmission according to the information; a device load detecting unit configured to detect a device process load required to control an associated equipment unit; a monitoring unit configured to monitor a traffic load in the in-vehicle communication line; and a load reducing unit configured to reduce a communication load required to transmit response data with respect to the received request according to (a) the identified content of the received request, (b) the identified source of transmitting the request, (c) the detected load, and (d) the monitored traffic load.
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19. A control apparatus communicably coupled through an in-vehicle communication line to at least one device for controlling an equipment unit installed in a vehicle, said control apparatus comprising:
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a computer configured to execute a program which effects; a traffic load determining process to monitor a traffic load in the in-vehicle communication line and to determine if the monitored traffic load exceeds a predetermined threshold level; a request determining process to receive a request transmitted from the at least one device and to determine whether the received request corresponds to a previously specified request when the monitored traffic load exceeds the predetermined threshold level; and a changing process to change a mode of transmitting response data with respect to the received request when the received request corresponds to the previously specified request, thereby increasing a first responsiveness with respect to the received request corresponding to the specified request as compared with a second responsiveness with respect to the received request that does not correspond to the specified request. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A computer-readable storage unit including a program readable by a computer, said computer being communicably coupled through an in-vehicle communication line to at least one device for controlling an equipment unit installed in a vehicle, said program causing the computer to:
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receive a request transmitted from the at least one device and to determine whether the received request corresponds to a previously specified request; and change a mode of transmitting response data with respect to the received request according to a result of the determining process such that a first responsiveness with respect to the received request corresponding to the specified request increases as compared with a second responsiveness with respect to the received request that does not correspond to the specified request.
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22. A method of communicating through an in-vehicle communication line with at least one device installed in a vehicle and controlling an equipment unit installed in a vehicle, said method comprising:
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receiving a request transmitted from the at least one device installed in a vehicle and controlling an equipment unit installed in said vehicle; determining whether the received request corresponds to a previously specified request; and changing a mode of transmitting response data with respect to the received request according to a result of the determining step such that a first responsiveness with respect to the received request corresponding to the specified request increases as compared with a second responsiveness with respect to the received request that does not correspond to the specified request.
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23. A method for controlling time required for transmitting data in response to received requests on an in-vehicle communication line connecting plural vehicular control units which respond to plural different types of data requests from one another or from a service tool when it is connected to said communication line, said method comprising:
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determining the type of received data request; and if the received data request is of a predetermined type, then transmitting data in response thereto using an expeditious data transmission mode which expedites completion of such transmission as compared to a data transmission mode used for responding to other types of received data requests; wherein said expeditious data transmission mode transmits data bytes of greater size and at shorter intervening time intervals than is the case for said other transmission modes.
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Specification