Method for activating a network component of a vehicle network system

• US 9,270,482 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Balbierer, Norbert, Nbauer, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/580,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20120320792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/462 LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method and system for activating at least one temporarily inactive network component of a network system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. A central network device of the network system is connected via signals to the network components by a path inside the network system, the path extending at least partially across a network segment of the network system. The network segment connects via signals the network component and a first activation device associated therewith to a switch device arranged in the path and to a second activation device associated therewith in an unbranched manner. The central network device responds to the first activation device by the switch device by sending a network function control signal.

Claims

1. A method for activating at least one temporarily inactive network component of a network system for a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, comprising:

transmitting by a central network device of the network system a signal to a first network component via a path inside the network system that leads at least partially across a network segment of the network system;

connecting at least partially in response to the signal the first network component and its associated first activation device connected unbranched to at least one switch device arranged in a path and to an associated second activation device; and

the central network device addressing the associated first activation device by the at least one switch device by sending a network function control signal whereby the at least one temporarily inactive machine network component is activated.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

activating the first network component by the associated first activation device after receipt of the network function control signal; and

subsequently the first network component sending out a further network function control signal to the associated second activation device to confirm the activation.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second activation device brings the at least one switch device into a transmitting/receiving state after receipt of the further network function control signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network system is an Ethernet network.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network system has a tree topology formed by the central network device, the at least one switch device and the at least one network component.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first network component and the central network device is at least part of a control device of a vehicle component.

7. A network system of a vehicle, configured to activate at least one temporarily inactive network component, comprising:

at least one network component having an associated first activation device;

at least one switch device;

a central network device connected for signal communication to the at least one network component via a path within the network system, the path leading at least partially across a network segment of the network system and the network segment connecting for signal communication the at least one network component and the associated first activation device unbranched to the at least one switch device arranged in the path and to an associated second activation device,

wherein the central network device addresses the associated first activation device via the at least one switch device by sending a network function control signal.

8. The network system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the network system is an Ethernet network.

9. The network system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the network system is a tree topology formed by the central network device, the at least one switch device and the at least one network component.

10. A motor vehicle comprising:

a network system configured to activate at least one temporarily inactive network component, having;

at least one network component having an associated first activation device;

at least one switch device;

a central network device connected for signal communication to the at least one network component via a path within the network system, the path leading at least partially across a network segment of the network system and the network segment connecting for signal communication the at least one network component and the associated first activation device unbranched to the at least one switch device arranged in the path and to an associated second activation device,

wherein the central network device addresses the associated first activation device via the at least one switch device by sending a network function control signal.