Method and apparatus for dynamic configuration of multiprocessor system

• US 8,027,268 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micropairing Technologies Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Eagle Harbor Holdings, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Lutter, Robert Pierce, Preston, Dan Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sloms, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US12/258,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20090047904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2035 without idle spare hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2046 where the redundant components share persistent storage G06F11/2043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3013 where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3051 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 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 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

A multiprocessor system used in a car, home, or office environment includes multiple processors that run different real-time applications. A dynamic configuration system runs on the multiple processors and includes a device manager, configuration manager, and data manager. The device manager automatically detects and adds new devices to the multiprocessor system, and the configuration manager automatically reconfigures which processors run the real-time applications. The data manager identifies the type of data generated by the new devices and identifies which devices in the multiprocessor system are able to process the data.

Claims

1. A vehicle audio system, comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly detect an audio source brought into or next to a vehicle; and

logic circuitry responsive to detection of the audio source configured to;

identify a security attribute associated with the audio source;

use the identified security attribute to identify the audio source as an authorized audio source or an unauthorized audio source;

responsive to identifying the audio source as an authorized audio source, connect the audio source to an on-board processor and identify a type of data processed with a first software application operated by the audio source; and

responsive to identifying the type of data, dynamically configure a second software application from within the vehicle to;

process the same type of data processed by the first software application operated by the audio source,

initiate transfer of the data from the audio source to the on-board processor, and

process the data received from the audio source,

wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to wirelessly detect an additional audio source brought into or next to the vehicle; and

the logic circuitry is further configured to;

identify a security attribute associated with the additional audio source;

use the identified security attribute to identify the additional audio source as an authorized audio source or an unauthorized audio source;

responsive to identifying the additional audio source as an authorized audio source, connect the additional audio source to the on-board processor and identify a type of data processed with a third software application operated by the additional audio source, wherein the third software application is different from the first and second software applications; and

responsive to identifying the type of data, configure a fourth software application in the on-board processor, wherein the fourth software application is different from the first and second software applications, to;

process the same type of data processed by the third software application operated by the additional audio source,

initiate transfer of the data from the additional audio source to the on-board processor, and

process the data received from the additional audio source.

2. The vehicle audio system according to claim 1 wherein:

the on-board processor is not configured to run the second software application and not configured to receive and process the data from the audio source prior to identification of the audio source; and

in response to identifying the audio source, the on-board processor is configured to run the second software application and initiate transfer of the data from the audio source to the on-board processor.

3. The vehicle audio system according to claim 1 wherein the on-board processor is configured to:

display a first indicator of the audio source on an on-board display screen;

display a second indicator of the additional audio source on the on-board display screen;

in response to a selection on the on-board display screen, selectively connect the audio source to a first speaker located in a first section of the vehicle and connect the additional audio source to a second speaker located in a second section of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle audio system according to claim 1 wherein the audio source is a cell phone and the additional audio source is an MP3 player.

5. The vehicle audio system according to claim 1 wherein the logic circuitry is further configured to:

monitor a speed of the vehicle; and

configure the on-board processor to run the second application based on the speed of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle audio system according to claim 1 wherein the audio source comprises a cell phone.

7. The vehicle audio system according to claim 1 wherein the on-board processor is coupled to a display and is configured to control a readable and writeable data storage media.

8. The vehicle audio system according to claim 1 wherein the on-board processor is coupled to a display and the display is coupled to an internal vehicle radio system.

9. The vehicle audio system according to claim 1 wherein the on-board processor is configured to run a navigation system that operates in conjunction with a global positioning system.

10. The vehicle audio system according to claim 1 wherein the on-board processor is coupled to a display that includes a touch screen configured to operate as a user interface.

11. A vehicle data processing system, comprising:

a first data source in a vehicle;

a transceiver configured to wirelessly detect and identify a second data source brought into or next to a vehicle; and

a processor configured to;

identify a security attribute associated with the second data source;

allow a connection with the second data source based on the identified security attribute;

responsive to allowing the connection with the second data source, connect the data source to an on-board processor;

identify a type of data used in the second data source and processed with a first software application operated by the second data source;

identify a second software application located in memory in the vehicle;

dynamically configure and initiate the second software application in the on-board processor to control the second data source; and

initiate transfer of the data from the second data source to the on-board processor and use the second software application to process the data received from the second data source;

wherein the transceiver is configured to wirelessly detect and identify a third data source brought into or next to the vehicle; and

the processor is configured to;

identify a security attribute associated with the third data source;

allow a connection with the third data source based on the identified security attribute;

responsive to allowing the connection with the third data source, connect the third data source to the on-board processor;

identify a type of data used in the third data source and processed with a third software application operated by the third data source, wherein the third software application is different from the first and second software applications;

identify a fourth software application located in memory in the vehicle, wherein the fourth software application is different from the first and second software applications;

dynamically configure and initiate the fourth software application in the on-board processor to control the third data source; and

initiate transfer of the data from the third data source to the on-board processor and use the fourth software application to process the data received from the third data source.

12. The vehicle data processing system according to claim 11 wherein:

the second software application is not configured in the on-board processor prior to identification of the second data source and is configured to run in the on-board processor and initiate transfer of the data from the second data source to the on-board processor in response to identifying the second data source.

13. The vehicle data processing system according to claim 11 wherein the data includes audio data.

14. The vehicle data processing system according to claim 11 wherein the data includes video data.

15. The vehicle data processing system according to claim 11 wherein the data includes graphic data.

16. The vehicle data processing system according to claim 11 wherein the data includes text data.

17. The vehicle data processing system according to claim 11 wherein the on-board processor identifies the type of data exchanged with the second data source and associates the data with the second software application located in the memory of the vehicle.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to identify a device brought proximate to the processor, wherein the processor, responsive to identifying the device, is further configured to;

identify a security attribute associated with the device;

use the identified security attribute to allow a connection to the device;

responsive to allowing the device to be connected;

connect the device to the processor;

identify a first application on the device;

dynamically configure a second application to provide at least some functions similar to the first application located on the device;

initiate the second application, wherein the second application in response to being initiated is configured to;

initiate transfer of data from the device to the processor, and

perform some of the functions previously performed by the first application on the device;

the processor further configured to identify an additional device brought proximate to the processor, wherein the processor, responsive to identifying the additional device, is further configured to;

identify a security attribute associated with the additional device;

use the identified security attribute to allow a connection to the additional device;

responsive to allowing the additional device to be connected;

connect the additional device to the processor;

identify a third application on the additional device, wherein the third software application is different from the first and second software applications; and

dynamically configure a fourth application to provide at least some functions similar to the third application located on the additional device;

initiate the fourth application, wherein the fourth software application is different from the first and second software applications, and wherein the fourth application in response to being initiated is configured to;

initiate transfer of data from the additional device to the processor, and

perform some of the functions previously performed by the third application on the additional device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the second application is not configured on the on-board processor when the device is first identified by the processor.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the processor removes the second application from the on-board processor when a communication link no longer exists with the device.

21. A vehicle audio system, comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly detect an audio source brought into or next to a vehicle; and

an application management system configured to;

detect and establish communications with the audio source,

check the audio source for an identification,

check the audio source for an encryption key,

check for data codes associated with the audio source,

connect the audio source to the vehicle audio system,

use the data codes to identify data types used in the audio source;

identify a processor in the vehicle audio system that can input or output the identified data types; and

in response to detecting the audio source, reconfigure the vehicle audio system to run a first application on the processor that processes the identified data types received from the audio source, wherein the vehicle audio system prior to detecting the audio source is not configured to run the first application and not configured to input or output the identified data types used in the audio source;

wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to wirelessly detect an additional audio source brought into or next to the vehicle; and

the application management system is further configured to;

detect and establish communications with the additional audio source,

check the additional audio source for an identification,

check the additional audio source for an encryption key,

check for data codes associated with the additional audio source,

connect the additional audio source to the vehicle audio system,

use the data codes to identify data types used in the additional audio source; and

in response to detecting the additional audio source, reconfigure the vehicle audio system to run a second application on the processor that processes the identified data types received from the additional audio source, wherein the second application is different from the first application and the vehicle audio system prior to detecting the additional audio source is not configured to run the second application and not configured to input or output the identified data types used in the additional audio source.

22. The vehicle audio system according to claim 21 wherein the audio source is a cellular telephone.

23. The vehicle audio system according to claim 21 wherein the audio source has an integrated display screen.

24. The vehicle audio system according to claim 23 wherein at least a portion of content received from the audio source is displayed on the integrated display screen.

25. The vehicle audio system according to claim 21 wherein the audio source includes a data storage device.