System, method and device for providing network communications

• US 8,767,753 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Van de Maele, Wim
• Primary Examiner(s): ANWAR, MOHAMMAD S
• Application Number:
  US13/218,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20130051435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 370/419, 370/451, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A system and device for providing communications between two or more buses is provided. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a transfer component having a first port configured to be connected to a first bus and a second port configured to be connected to a second bus. The transfer component may be operable in a first operational mode in which signals received via the first port are output the second port and operable in a second operational mode in which signals received via the first port are not output the second port. The device may include a controller communicatively coupled to the transfer component to transition the transfer component between the first and second operational modes.

Claims

1. A device for providing communications between a first bus and a second bus and wherein a plurality of first communication nodes are connected to the first bus and a plurality of second communication nodes are connected to the second bus and wherein the plurality of first communication nodes and the plurality of second communication nodes are operable in a low power mode and operable in a second mode in which the communication node consumes more power than in the low power mode, the device comprising:

a transfer component having a first port configured to be connected to the first bus and a second port configured to be connected to the second bus, and a switch circuit coupled between the first port and the second port;

said transfer component operable in a first operational mode in which the switch circuit is closed to couple signals received via the first port to the second port to be output the second port;

said transfer component operable in a second operational mode in which the switch circuit is open to communicatively isolate signals received on the first port from the second port so that no signals received via the first port are coupled to the second port and are not output the second port;

a controller communicatively coupled to said transfer component and configured to receive one or more messages from the transfer component received via the first port;

said controller configured to cause said switch circuit to operate in the first operational mode in response to receipt of one or more first messages; and

said controller configured to cause said switch circuit to operate in the second operational mode in response to receipt of one or more second messages.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said transfer component comprises:

a first transceiver communicatively coupled to said first port to communicate over the first bus and a second transceiver communicatively coupled to said second port to communicate over the second bus; and

wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver are configured for bi-directional communication with each other in said first operational mode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more first messages comprise at least one LIN (Local Interconnect Network) message.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said switch circuit when open isolates the second port from the first port.

5. A method of forming a device for providing communications, comprising:

providing a transfer component having a first port configured to be connected to a first bus and having a second port configured to be connected to a second bus;

configuring the transfer component to be operable in a first operational mode in which the first port is communicatively coupled to the second port;

configuring the transfer component to be operable in a second operational mode in which the first port is communicatively isolated from the second port wherein no messages from the first port are coupled to the second port;

communicatively coupling a controller to the transfer component;

configuring the controller to receive messages from the transfer component received via at least one of the first port and the second port;

configuring the controller to respond to receipt of one or more first messages by causing the transfer component to operate in the first operational mode; and

configuring the controller to respond to receipt of one or more second messages by causing the transfer component to operate in the second operational mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the transfer component comprises a repeater circuit disposed between the first port and the second port.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first port comprises a first transceiver configured to communicate over the first bus and the second port comprises a second transceiver configured to communicate over the second bus;

and

wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are configured for bi-directional communication with each other in the first operational mode.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the transfer component comprises a repeater circuit communicatively coupling the first port to the second port;

the method further comprising;

enabling the repeater circuit in the first operational mode; and

disabling the repeater circuit in the second operational mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the repeater circuit comprises a CAN (Controller Area Network) repeater circuit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transfer component comprises a switch circuit disposed between the first port and the second port.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the one or more first messages comprises a CAN signal.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the one or more first messages comprises a LIN (Local Interconnect Network) message.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein configuring the controller to respond to receipt of one or more second messages by causing the transfer component to operate in the second operational mode includes causing the transfer component to not output messages on the second port in the second operation mode.

14. A system for providing communications, comprising:

a first bus;

a plurality of first communication nodes connected to said first bus;

a second bus;

a plurality of second communication nodes connected to said second bus;

each of said plurality of first and second communication nodes configured to operate in at least a first state and a lower power state;

wherein operation in the lower power state consumes less power than operation in the first state;

a transfer component connected to said first bus and said second bus;

said transfer component operable in a first operational mode in which said first bus is communicatively coupled to said second bus;

said transfer component operable in a second operational mode in which said first bus is communicatively isolated from said second bus wherein all signals received on the first bus are not transmitted to the second port and wherein at least one of the second communication nodes remains in the lower power state;

said system operable in a first mode in which;

(a) two or more of the plurality of first communication nodes communicate over the first bus while operating in the first state, concurrently with

(b) the plurality of second communication nodes operate in the lower power state and the transfer component operates in the second operational mode; and

said system operable in a second mode in which one of the plurality of first communication nodes communicate over the first bus and the second bus with one of the plurality of second communication nodes while the transfer component operates in the first operational mode.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the transfer component comprises a first transceiver configured to communicate over the first bus and said transfer component comprises a second transceiver configured to communicate over the second bus;

and

wherein said first transceiver and said second transceiver are configured for bi-directional communication with each other in the first operational mode of the transfer component.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the transfer component comprises a switch circuit.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein two or more of the plurality of first communication nodes communicate over the first bus but not to one or more of the plurality of second communication nodes, while operating in the first state.