Method for transmitting messages between bus users

• US 20040193954A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Griessbach, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation

Abstract

A method is provided for transmitting messages between bus users that are each linked with a communication bus for the purpose of exchanging messages and with a diagnostic device for detecting the failure of the communication bus. In a diagnostic operation mode that is different from the normal operation mode, the bus user receiving the message is requested by the diagnostic device to output the message to the communication bus, thereby diagnosing a message transmission between two bus users.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting messages between a plurality of bus users, each of which is connected with a communication bus for exchanging messages, and including a diagnostic device for diagnosing a disturbance of the communication bus, the method comprising the acts of:

conducting a message transmission between two of the plurality of bus users; and

for diagnosing the message transmission, operating in a diagnostic operating mode which differs from a normal operation, and asking by the diagnostic device a bus user receiving the message to output said message on the communication bus.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

in the diagnostic operating mode, causing a third bus user to receive the message; and

reading-out a status of the message from the three bus users.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein messages are transmitted between more than two bus users, the method further comprising the act of reading-out the status of the message for all bus users participating in the message transmission in an operating mode differing from the normal operation.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein messages are transmitted between more than two bus users, the method further comprising the act of reading-out the status of the message for all bus users participating in the message transmission in an operating mode differing from the normal operation.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the bus users participating in the message transmission are read-out of a table.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the bus users participating in the message transmission are read-out of a table.

7. A diagnostic method for messages transmitted between bus users, in which said bus users are each linked with a communication bus for purposes of exchanging messages and with a diagnostic device for detecting a failure of the communication bus, wherein in a diagnostic operation mode that is different from a normal operation mode, a first bus user receiving a message is requested by the diagnostic device to output said message to the communication bus, thereby diagnosing the message transmission between two bus users.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein in the diagnostic operation mode, a third bus user is caused to receive the message, and further wherein a status of the message is read out from each of the three bus users.