Communication node, communication system, and method for performing a communication

• US 9,485,139 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ando, Hiroya
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Oanh
• Application Number:
  US13/872,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40241 Flexray
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting

Abstract

A communication node includes a transmission and receipt setting part configured to perform a transmission setting or a receipt setting for each information based on a transmission request or a receipt request included in a transmission and receipt request information corresponding to a second communication node detected by a communication node detector among the transmission and receipt request information stored in a memory part, a communication part configured to transmit information representing the transmission setting or the receipt setting set by the transmission and receipt setting part and to receive information representing the transmission setting or the receipt setting from another first communication node, and a consistency determining part configured to determine consistency of the transmission setting or the receipt setting set by the transmission and receipt setting part and the transmission setting or the receipt setting received by the communication part from another first communication node.

Claims

1. A system-communication node used in a communication system including a plurality of first communication nodes and one or more second communication nodes, one of the plurality of first communication nodes being the system-communication node, the one or more second communications nodes being connected to the system-communication node, the system- communication node comprising:

a processor and a memory and being configured to perform transmission or receipt of a signal with the one or more second communication nodes,

the memory storing transmission and receipt request information representing a receipt request or a transmission request for each information transmitted or received between the system-communication node and the one or more second communication nodes, the transmission and receipt request information being prepared for the one or more second communication nodes connected to the system-communication node, the receipt request representing a request of the one or more second communication nodes for receipt of information, the transmission request representing a request of the one or more second communication nodes for transmission of information;

a communication node detector configured to detect the one or more second communication nodes connected to the system-communication node;

a transmission and receipt setting part, stored in the memory and executed by the processor, for performing a transmission setting or a receipt setting for each information based on the transmission request or the receipt request included in the transmission and receipt request information corresponding to the one or more second communication nodes detected by the communication node detector among the transmission and receipt request information stored in the memory;

a communication part configured to transmit information representing the transmission setting or the receipt setting set by the transmission and receipt setting part and to receive information representing transmission setting or receipt setting from another one of the first communication nodes; and

a consistency determining part, stored in the memory and executed by the processor for determining consistency of the transmission setting or the receipt setting set by the transmission and receipt setting part and the transmission setting or the receipt setting received by the communication part from said another first communication node.

2. The system-communication node as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication part starts to transmit a control message, if the consistency determining part determines that the consistency is maintained.

3. The system-communication node as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission and receipt setting part performs the transmission setting or the receipt setting again with regard to information included in the transmission and receipt request information corresponding to the second communication node detected by the communication node detector based on the transmission and receipt request information, if the consistency determining part determines that the consistency is not maintained.

4. The system-communication node as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication part performs a communication with another first communication node in accordance with FlexRay.

5. The system-communication node as claimed in claim 1, wherein the consistency determining part determines that the consistency is maintained, if the transmission setting or the receipt setting set by the transmission and receipt setting part and the transmission setting or the receipt setting received from said another first communication node include a single transmission setting.

6. The system-communication node as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication node detector detects the second communication node by performing a communication with the second communication node in a case where the system-communication node and the second communication node are connected by a communication wire.

7. The system-communication node as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication node detector detects the second communication node based on variation of voltage applied to an electric cable or variation of current flowing through the electric cable, in a case where the system-communication node and the second communication node are connected by the electric cable.

8. The system-communication node as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information transmitted or received between the system-communication node and the second communication node is a message or data corresponding to a designated function, the data being included in a message.

9. A communication system including a plurality of first communication nodes and one or more second communication nodes, one of the plurality of first communication nodes being a system-communication node, the one or more second communications nodes being connected to the system-communication node, the system-communication node comprising:

a processor and a memory and being configured to perform transmission or receipt of a signal with the one or more second communication nodes, the memory storing transmission and receipt request information representing a receipt request or a transmission request for each information transmitted or received between the system-communication node and the one or more second communication nodes, the transmission and receipt request information being prepared for the one or more second communication nodes connected to the system-communication node, the receipt request representing a request of the one or more second communication nodes for receipt of information, the transmission request representing a request of the one or more second communication nodes for transmission of information,

a communication node detector configured to detect the one or more second communication nodes connected to the system-communication node;

a transmission and receipt setting part, stored in the memory and executed by the processor, for performing a transmission setting or a receipt setting for each information based on the transmission request or the receipt request included in the transmission and receipt request information corresponding to the one or more second communication nodes detected by the communication node detector among the transmission and receipt request information stored in the memory;

a communication part configured to transmit information representing the transmission setting or the receipt setting set by the transmission and receipt setting part and to receive information representing transmission setting or receipt setting from another one of the first communication nodes; and

a consistency determining part, stored in the memory and executed by the processor, for determining consistency of the transmission setting or the receipt setting set by the transmission and receipt setting part and the transmission setting or the receipt setting received by the communication part from said another first communication node.

10. A method for performing a communication in a communication system including plural a plurality of first communication nodes and one or more second communication nodes, one of the plurality of first communication nodes being a system-communication node, the one or more second communications nodes being connected to the system-communication node, the system-communication node comprising a processor and a memory and being configured to perform transmission or receipt of a signal with the one or more second communication nodes, the memory storing transmission and receipt request information representing a receipt request or a transmission request for each information transmitted or received between the system-communication node and the one or more second communication nodes, the transmission and receipt request information being prepared for the one or more second communication nodes connected to the system-communication node, the receipt request representing a request of the one or more second communication nodes for receipt of information, the transmission request representing a request of the one or more second communication nodes for transmission of information, the method comprising:

detecting, by a communication node detector, the second communication node connected to the system-communication node;

performing a transmission setting or a receipt setting for each information based on the transmission request or the receipt request included in the transmission and receipt request information corresponding to the one or more second communication nodes detected by the communication node detector among the transmission and receipt request information stored in the memory;

transmitting information representing the transmission setting or the receipt setting set by the transmission and receipt setting part;

receiving, by a communication part, information representing transmission setting or receipt setting from another one of the first communication nodes; and

determining consistency of the transmission setting or the receipt setting set by the transmission and receipt setting part and the transmission setting or the receipt setting received by the communication part from said another first communication node, wherein the transmission and receipt setting part is stored in the memory and executed by the processor.