Multi-protocol adapter for in-vehicle and industrial communications networks

• US 20010025323A1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Published: 09/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jason Sodergren
• Original Assignee: Jason Sodergren
• Inventors: Sodergren, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/251
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25204 Translate between different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair

Abstract

An adapter device for providing the user a remote access point for supporting interaction between the device and one or more target devices supporting one or more of several communication protocols for automotive and industrial automation applications employing user-selectable protocols, such as multiplexed communication networks.

Claims

1. A multi-protocol adapter having circuitry and programs for in-vehicle and non-vehicle networks, the adapter comprising:

simultaneous interaction between the adapter and at least one device using multiple protocols.

2. A multi-protocol adapter having circuitry and programs for in-vehicle and non-vehicle networks according to

claim 1

, the adapter further comprising:

at least one daughter board for expansion of the adapter.

3. A multi-protocol adapter having circuitry and programs for in-vehicle and non-vehicle networks according to

claim 1

, the adapter further comprising:

an embedded operating system.

5. A multi-protocol adapter having circuitry and programs for in-vehicle and non-vehicle networks according to

claim 3

wherein the embedded operating system comprises Linux operating system.

6. A multi-protocol adapter having circuitry and programs for in-vehicle and non-vehicle networks according to

claim 1

, the adapter further comprising:

definition of communication routines between the adapter and a client via a host device, and

communication between the adapter and the client after definition of communication routines between the adapter and the client.

7. A multi-protocol adapter having circuitry for use with programs for in-vehicle and non-vehicle networks according to

claim 1

, the adapter further comprising:

a TCP/IP connection established between two software elements, the connection of serial multiplex network messages between software entities being generalized without knowledge of a specific type of multiplex network.

10. A method of using the multi-protocol adapter according to

claim 1

comprising the following steps:

interacting between the adapter and multiple devices using multiple protocols.

11. A method of using the multi-protocol adapter according to

claim 10

wherein the step of interacting between the adapter and multiple devices using multiple protocols being simultaneously interacting.

12. The multi-protocol adapter according to

claim 1

further comprising:

an on-board web server.

13. The multi-protocol adapter according to

claim 12

further comprising:

communication between users of the adapter and the adapter via a web browser technology.

14. The multi-protocol adapter according to

claim 13

further comprising communication between users of the adapter and the adapter via a web browser with HTML.

4. A multi-protocol adapter having circuitry and programs for in-vehicle and non-vehicle networks, the adapter comprising:

an integrated CPU having an embedded operating system;

the CPU having simultaneous interaction between at least one multiple device using multiple protocols;

at least one daughter board having interconnect slots;

an interface for interconnection of the at least one daughterboard;

a serial port for diagnostics and system maintenance;

a flash socket for storage of system software;

a slot for connection of a peripheral;

a socket for connection of RAM;

an interface for connection of system RAM;

an interface for connection of mass-storage devices;

a battery for clock and configuration memory backup;

an infrared serial interface; and

a piezoelectric speaker.

8. A program for use with a multi-protocol adapter for in-vehicle and non-vehicle networks, the program comprising:

a server program handling communications between a source entity and a destination entity.

9. A program for use with a multi-protocol adapter for in-vehicle and non-vehicle networks, the program according to

claim 8

further comprising:

at least one of message scheduler, a message responder, a message filter and a script loader.