Protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic signals between in-vehicle networks and a computer

• US 7,603,471 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Sodergren, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr.; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shingles; Kristie D
• Application Number:
  US10/970,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 709/230, 709/217, 709/218
• US Class Current: 709/230
• 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

A protocol adapter for simultaneously communicating with one or more remote computers over any one of a plurality of protocols. The adapter includes a motherboard having an integrated CPU, a plurality of interface modules, a plurality of device drivers and a plurality of daughter-board module slots. The protocol adapter further includes at least one daughter-board interface module mounted in one of the plurality of daughter-board slots. The at least one daughter-board modules expands the number of protocols of the adapter beyond those protocols being run by the motherboard.

Claims

1. A protocol adapter for communicating with one or more remote computers of a vehicle network over any one of a plurality of protocols, said adapter comprising:

a motherboard including an integrated central processing unit (CPU), a plurality of interface modules, a plurality of device drivers and a plurality of daughtercard interface slots, said CPU capable of simultaneously communicating with the one or more remote computers in the vehicle network operating different protocols;

a server program operable for communicating with said one or more computers of the vehicle network through the use of an O/S TCP/IP interface;

at least one daughtercard interface module having an associated protocol type and serial number, said at least one daughtercard interface module mounted in one of the plurality of daughtercard interface slots, wherein said at least one daughtercard interface module expands the number of protocols of the adapter beyond those protocols being run by the CPU;

at least one of said plurality of device drivers in communication with said server program and associated with the protocol type of said daughtercard interface module mounted in said one of the plurality of daughtercard interface slots, wherein a separate device driver exists for each daughtercard interface module protocol type mounted in each one of the plurality of daughtercard interface slots; and

hardware autodetection with configuration software programs operable for detecting the identity and type of said at least one daughtercard interface module mounted in one of said plurality of daughtercard interface slots, wherein said at least one device driver is loaded into said server program in response to the detection of the type of said at least one daughtercard interface module by said hardware autodetection software.

2. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of interface modules include a message scheduler module that includes a user-controllable multiplexed network message scheduler.

3. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of interface modules include a script loader module for allowing the controlled download, management and activation of user defined scripts.

4. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of interface modules includes a message filter module for filtering received multiplexed network messages.

5. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of interface modules include a message transponder module for providing user-definable message gatewaying functionality.

6. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 further comprising an on-board web server program for providing communication between the adapter and a web browser.

7. The protocol adapter claim 1 wherein the motherboard further includes a flash-ROM for providing non-volatile memory space.

8. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 wherein the motherboard further includes components selected from a group consisting of an alphanumeric LCD and keypad, a 10-T Ethernet interface, an EIA232 serial port, a compact flash storage, PCMCIA slots for connection of industry standard peripherals, a 72-pin SODIMM socket for connection of system RAM, and IDE interface for connection of mass-storage devices, a coin-cell battery for clock and configuration memory backup, an IRDA infrared serial interface, a piezoelectric speaker, level shifting buffers, an ATA interface for providing an attachment point for mass storage devices and a programmable logic block.

9. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of protocols are selected from the group consisting of controller area network protocols, J1850 protocols, key word protocol 2000, and UART-based protocols.

10. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 wherein the at least one daughtercard interface module is selected for the group consisting of SAJ185, UBP, CCD, SCI, Can, SAEJ1587,J1939, J2284,J2411,ISO 11992, 9141-2 and KWP2000 modules.

11. A protocol adapter for communicating with one or more remote computers of a vehicle network over any one of a plurality of protocols, said adapter comprising:

a motherboard including an integrated central processing unit (CPU) wherein the CPU is capable of simultaneously communicating with the one or more remote computers of the vehicle network over the plurality of protocols, where the plurality of protocols are selected from the group consisting of controller area network protocols, J1850 protocols, keyword protocol 2000 and UART-based protocols;

a server program operable for communicating with said one or more remote computers of the vehicle network through the use of an O/S TCP/IP interface;

at least one daughtercard interface module having an associated protocol type and serial number, said at least one daughtercard interface module mounted in one of the plurality of daughtercard interface slots, wherein said at least one daughtercard interface module expands the number of protocols of the adapter beyond those protocols being run by the CPU;

at least one device driver in communication with said server program and associated with the protocol type of said daughtercard interface module mounted in said one of the plurality of daughtercard interface slots, wherein a separate device driver exists for each daughtercard interface module protocol type mounted in each one of the plurality of daughtercard interface slots; and

hardware autodetection with configuration software programs operable for detecting an identity and type of said at least one daughtercard interface module mounted in one of said plurality of daughtercard interface slots on said motherboard, wherein said at least one device driver is loaded into said server program in response to the detection of the type of said at least one daughtercard interface module by said hardware autodetection software.

12. The protocol adapter according to claim 11 further comparing a message scheduler module that includes a user-controllable multiplexed network message scheduler.

13. The protocol adapter according to claim 11 further comprising a script loader module for allowing the controlled download, management and activation of user defined scripts.

14. The protocol adapter according to claim 11 further comprising a message filter module for filtering received multiplexed network messages.

15. The protocol adapter according to claim 11 further comprising a message transponder module for providing user-definable message gatewaying functionality.

16. The protocol adapter according to claim 11 wherein the motherboard further includes components selected from a group consisting of an alphanumeric LCD and keypad, a 10-base T Ethernet interface, an EIA232 serial port, a compact flash storage, PCMCIA slots for connection of industry standard peripherals, a 72-pin SODIMM socket for connection of system, RAM, an IDE interface for connection of mass-storage devices, a coin-cell battery for clock and configuration memory backup, an IRDA infrared serial interface, a piezoelectric speaker, level shifting buffers, an ATA interface for providing a attachment point for mass storage devices and a programmable logic block.

17. The protocol adapter according to claim 11 wherein the at least one daughtercard interface module is selected from the group consisting of SAJ1850, UBP, CCD, SCI, CAN, SAEJ1587, J1939, J2284, J2411, ISO 11992, 9141-2 and KWP2000 modules.

18. A protocol adapter for communicating with one or more remote computers of a vehicle network over any one of a plurality of protocols, said adapter comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) being capable of simultaneously communicating with the one or more remote computers of vehicle network operating different protocols;

a message scheduler module that includes a user-controllable multiplexed network message scheduler;

a script loader module for allowing the controlled download, management and activation of user-defined scripts;

a message filter module for filtering received multiplexed network messages;

a message transponder module for providing user-definable message gatewaying functionality;

an on-board web server program for providing communication between the adapter and a web browser, said on-board web sewer operable for communicating with said one or more remote computers of a vehicle network through the use of an O/S TCP/IP interface;

at least one daughtercard interface module having an associated protocol type and serial number, said at least one daughtercard interface module mounted in one of a plurality of daughtercard interface slots, wherein said at least one daughtercard interface module expands the number of protocols of the adapter beyond those protocols being run by the CPU;

at least one device driver in communication with said on-board web server program and associated with the protocol type of said daughtercard interface module mounted in said one of the plurality of daughtercard interface slots, wherein a separate device driver exists for each daughtercard interface module protocol type mounted in each one of the plurality of daughtercard interface slots; and

hardware autodetection with configuration software programs operable for detecting an identity and type of said at least one daughtercard interface module mounted in one of said plurality of daughtercard interface slots on said motherboard, wherein said at least one device driver is loaded into said on-board web server program in response to the detection of the type of said at least one daughtercard interface module by said hardware autodetection software.

19. The protocol adapter according to claim 18 further comprising components selected from a group consisting of an alphanumeric LCD and keypad, a 10-base T Ethernet interface, an EIA232 serial port, a compact flash storage, PCMCIA slots for connection of industry standard peripherals, a 72-pin SODIMM socket for connection of system RAM, an IDE interface for connection of mass-storage devices, a coin-cell battery for clock and configuration memory backup, an IRDA infrared for providing an attachment point for mass storage devices and a programmable logic book.

20. The protocol adapter according to claim 18 wherein the at least one daughtercard interface module is selected fro the group consisting of SAJ1850, UBP, CCD, SCI, CAN, SAEJ1587, J1939,J2284, J2211, ISO 11992, 9141-2 and KWP2000 modules.