Arrangement for distributed control system, for example in vehicles

• US 20060077998A1
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC), Kvaser Consultant Aktiebolag
• Original Assignee: Xinshu Management LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Fredriksson, Lars-Berno
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

In an arrangement, functions and/or structures in a distributed control system (24) that works with a first protocol (28) are analysed and/or monitored. A first unit (23) is connected or can be connected to the control system, which first unit, due to its compatibility with the first protocol, receives and/or sends task instructions concerning the functions and/or structures. The first unit comprises or is connected to a second (22) and transforms at least those parts in the first protocol that relate to the task instructions concerning the functions and/or structures into a second protocol, by means of which the said tasks can be initiated and/or carried out in a tool arrangement (1) that is comprised in or can be connected to the second unit. This tool arrangement works with the second protocol, whereby primary readings and/or modifications in the first protocol on the basis of the analysis and/or monitoring can be carried out by means of secondary readings and/or modifications in the second protocol. The analysis and monitoring are simplified and tools and protocol-handling can be separated. In addition, time functions in the system(s) can be made unambiguous.

Claims

1. Arrangement for analyzing, simulating and/or monitoring functions and/or structures in a distributed control system (24) that works with a first protocol (29), characterized in that a first unit (23, 26) is connected or can be connected to the control system via contacts (5′

, 6′

, 6″

), which first unit by means of the first protocol receives and/or sends task instructions concerning the functions and/or structures, in that the first unit is connected to a second unit (22), in that the second unit in turn is connected or can be connected either to a tool arrangement interactable with a user and comprising a computer equipment (21) adapted with large capacity in order to be able to carry out sophisticated calculation, simulation and/or analysis tasks, or to a PDA unit or corresponding unit connected or connectable to a computer equipment adapted to configurate the PDA unit or the corresponding unit, which PDA unit or corresponding unit is adapted to carry out more limited tasks of the mentioned kind, in that the first unit transforms at least those parts in the first protocol (29) that relate to said tasks into a second protocol (28), by means of which the tasks or parts of tasks can be transformed to the second unit (22), in that the second unit by means of the second protocol or a third protocol (27) can communicate with the tool arrangement, which at readings and/or modifications in the first protocol and in the first and second protocols, respectively, treats the same with readings and/or modifications in the second and third protocols, respectively, in that the first unit (23 or 26) comprises at least one microprocessor which communicates partly with the control system by means of connection, protocol and bit speed valid for the control system, partly with the second unit (22), and in that the second unit is equipped with at least one microprocessor, as well, by means of which microprocessor the second unit is adapted to exchange information with the first unit and the tool arrangement.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the second protocol is developed specially to serve as a common platform for the analysis of two or more systems with different or the first protocol, respectively.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the second unit provides a common time base for units (23) working in parallel.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first unit or first units (23) are arranged for independent collection, processing and saving of information from the connected system and in that the information generated in this way is arranged to be able to be read and/or interpreted via the generated information via the second unit (22).

5. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that second parts of task instructions downloaded or transferred from the computer equipment (21) can be allocated to a number of technicians for use of PDA units in different systems.

6. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that in the interaction between the computer equipment and the user, rules are generated for automatic repetition, and in that the rules can be modified for a PDA unit with regard to the collected information and the presentation of the analysis result.

7. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool arrangement is adapted with a connection arrangement adapted to communicate with one or more microprocessors via serial or wireless communication, for example USB, Ethernet, etc.

8. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first or second unit is adapted to communicate via a serial communication, for example CAN or LIN, in one direction and with a microprocessor (4) via a serial communication, for example CAN, USB, etc. towards the other direction and to work with reduced interface, for example light diod(-s), summer, etc., toward user(-s).

9. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first or second unit communicates with one or more units via a serial communication by means of a microprocessor and works with reduced interface toward a user(-s), carries out processing of signals from another unit according to rules attained from another unit, and comprises a number of units having microprocessors which communicate with serial communication.

10. Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the units comprise a local clock which respectively is adjusted or related to a clock in another unit.