Switch module
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A switching module comprising:
- an intra-vehicular network fabric interface for interface to an intra-vehicular network fabric contained within a vehicle;
a switching circuit communicatively coupled to a plurality of local intra-vehicular network ports;
memory configured to store intra-vehicular network information, the intra-vehicular network information including packet content type information and intra-vehicular network topology information;
a first bypass module configured to receive and transmit packets via the intra-vehicular network fabric interface;
a second bypass module configured to receive and transmit packets via one of the plurality of intra-vehicular network ports;
a processing module coupled to the memory, the intra-vehicular network fabric interface and the switching circuit, the processing module to;
determine a priority of a received packet based, at least in part, on the packet content type information;
determine a selected switching protocol based, at least in part, on the intra-vehicular network topology information; and
process the received packet based on the priority of the received packet and the selected switching protocol, including;
identifying top-priority packets based on packet content; and
controlling delivery of top-priority packets between the first bypass module and the second bypass module.
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Abstract
A switching module can route packets between a network fabric and a local network, both of which form a closed network such as a vehicular network. The switching module provides local network management functions, and handles packet transfers between the local network and the network fabric. The switching module uses network information, which can include information about packet content type and network topology, to determine a packet'"'"'s priority, and an appropriate switching protocol to use for processing and routing packets.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A switching module comprising:
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an intra-vehicular network fabric interface for interface to an intra-vehicular network fabric contained within a vehicle; a switching circuit communicatively coupled to a plurality of local intra-vehicular network ports; memory configured to store intra-vehicular network information, the intra-vehicular network information including packet content type information and intra-vehicular network topology information; a first bypass module configured to receive and transmit packets via the intra-vehicular network fabric interface; a second bypass module configured to receive and transmit packets via one of the plurality of intra-vehicular network ports; a processing module coupled to the memory, the intra-vehicular network fabric interface and the switching circuit, the processing module to; determine a priority of a received packet based, at least in part, on the packet content type information; determine a selected switching protocol based, at least in part, on the intra-vehicular network topology information; and process the received packet based on the priority of the received packet and the selected switching protocol, including; identifying top-priority packets based on packet content; and controlling delivery of top-priority packets between the first bypass module and the second bypass module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A switching module to be incorporated into a closed intra-vehicular network fabric, the switching module comprising:
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a plurality of intra-vehicular network fabric interfaces configured to be coupled to other elements of the closed intra-vehicular network fabric; selection circuitry configured to select among the plurality of intra-vehicular network fabric interfaces; a switching circuit coupled to a plurality of local intra-vehicular network ports; a first bypass module configured to receive and transmit packets via at least some of the plurality of intra-vehicular network fabric interfaces; a second bypass module configured to receive and transmit packets via at least one of the plurality of local intra-vehicular network ports; memory configured to store intra-vehicular network information, the intra-vehicular network information including packet content type information and intra-vehicular network topology information; a processing module coupled to the memory, selection circuitry, the plurality of intra-vehicular network fabric interfaces and the switching circuit, the processing module configured to; determine a priority of a received packet based, at least in part, on the packet content type information; determine a selected switching protocol based, at least in part, on the intra-vehicular network topology information; and process the received packet based on the priority of the received packet and the selected switching protocol, including; identifying top-priority packets based on packet content; and controlling delivery of top-priority packets between the first bypass module and the second bypass module. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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receiving a packet from a intra-vehicular network; determining a priority of the packet based, at least in part, on packet content type information; determining a selected switching protocol based, at least in part, on intra-vehicular network topology information; and processing the packet based on the priority of the packet and the selected switching protocol, including; determining if the priority of the packet satisfies a top-priority threshold; in response to determining that the priority of the packet satisfies a top-priority threshold; bypassing non-priority processing of the packet; transmitting the packet substantially immediately to one of the intra-vehicular network fabric and a local intra-vehicular network node; and in response to determining that the priority of the packet fails to satisfy a top-priority threshold; time stamping the packet to establish a packet time-to-live; adding the packet to a queue; and processing the packet in priority order, subject to the packet time-to-live. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification