Vehicle communications system and method
First Claim
1. A vehicle communications system, comprising:
- a central computer which performs data networking applications;
a plurality of individual devices for transmitting, receiving, recording, and/or processing data associated with the data networking applications;
at least one data transmission channel with associated interfaces by which the individual devices can be connected with the central vehicle computer; and
an adaptive application control separate from the data networking applications which communicates with the data networking applications through a uniform data format that is independent of the interfaces and the individual devices, the application control selecting flexibly and on the basis of a required function which is required by a selected one of the data networking applications, an appropriate one of the individual devices and an appropriate one of the interfaces required for said selected one of the data networking applications, the application control controlling the necessary data transmission processes, for which purpose the application control includes device gateways and interface gateways separate from the device gateways, which gateways the application control selects independently of one another, flexibly and on the basis of said required function, in order to control the respective individual devices through the respective interfaces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle communications system and method includes a central computer for performing data networking applications, individual devices for transmitting, receiving, recording, and/or processing data associated with the data networking applications, and one or more data transmission channels with associated interfaces through which the individual devices can be connected with a central vehicle computer. According to the invention, the individual devices are flexibly associated in a controllable fashion with the various data networking applications, with an adaptive application control being provided that selects the individual devices on the basis of their functions that are required for performing a given application, and controls the necessary data transmission processes.
135 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vehicle communications system, comprising:
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a central computer which performs data networking applications; a plurality of individual devices for transmitting, receiving, recording, and/or processing data associated with the data networking applications; at least one data transmission channel with associated interfaces by which the individual devices can be connected with the central vehicle computer; and an adaptive application control separate from the data networking applications which communicates with the data networking applications through a uniform data format that is independent of the interfaces and the individual devices, the application control selecting flexibly and on the basis of a required function which is required by a selected one of the data networking applications, an appropriate one of the individual devices and an appropriate one of the interfaces required for said selected one of the data networking applications, the application control controlling the necessary data transmission processes, for which purpose the application control includes device gateways and interface gateways separate from the device gateways, which gateways the application control selects independently of one another, flexibly and on the basis of said required function, in order to control the respective individual devices through the respective interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of controlling a vehicle communications system having a central computer which performs data networking applications;
- a plurality of individual devices for transmitting, receiving, recording, and/or processing data associated with the data networking applications;
at least one data transmission channel with associated interfaces by which the individual devices can be connected with the central vehicle computer; and
an adaptive application control separate from the data networking applications, the application control including device gateways and interface gateways separate from the device gateways, said method comprising;communicating with the data networking applications via said adaptive application control through a uniform data format that is independent of the interfaces and the individual devices; selecting flexibly and on the basis of a required function which is required by a selected one of the data networking applications, an appropriate one of the individual devices and an appropriate one of the interfaces required for said selected one of the data networking applications via said adaptive application control; and independently selecting said gateways flexibly and on the basis of said required function via said application control, in order to control the respective individual devices through the respective interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
- a plurality of individual devices for transmitting, receiving, recording, and/or processing data associated with the data networking applications;
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11. A communications system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a central computer installed in said motor vehicle, said central computer performing a plurality of data networking applications; a plurality of individual devices for at least one of transmitting, receiving, recording, and processing data associated with said data networking applications; at least two interfaces via which each of said individual devices is communicable with said central vehicle computer; and an adaptive application control separate from the data networking applications communicable with the data networking applications through a uniform data format that is independent of the interfaces and the individual devices, said application control including independent device gateways and interface gateways which gateways are selectable by said application control independently of one another, wherein responsive to a request by one of said data networking applications, said application control (a) determines an appropriate one of said individual devices with which to communicate, and (b) chooses an appropriate one of said interfaces via which to communicate.
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Specification