Method and apparatus for dynamic configuration of multiprocessors system

• US 8,364,335 B1
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MicroPairing Technologies LLC (Micropairing Technologies Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eagle Harbor Holdings, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Lutter, Robert Pierce, Preston, Dan Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau B
• Application Number:
  US13/188,959
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 370/403, 370/410, 370/455, 370/465, 364/424.031, 455/569.1, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 701/24
• 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. An apparatus, comprising:

a speed sensor configured to generate speed data for a vehicle;

a multiprocessor system located within the vehicle and coupled to the speed sensor, wherein the multiprocessor system comprises multiple different processors controlling different functions within the vehicle, wherein the multiprocessor system is configured to;

identify a processor operating in a new device not currently configured as part of the multiprocessor system;

identify a speed of the vehicle based on the speed data generated from the speed sensor;

initiate a connection with the new device, take over operation of an application for the new device, and exchange data with the new device based on the speed of the vehicle; and

operate a security manager, wherein the security manager is configured to;

identify a security attribute associated with the new device;

identify the new device as authorized or unauthorized according to the security attribute;

allow connection of the new device to the multiprocessor system in response to the new device being identified as authorized; and

prevent connection of the new device to the multiprocessor system in response to the new device being identified as unauthorized.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the new device comprises a mobile device brought into or next to the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the new device comprises a cellular telephone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the multiprocessor system connects to the new device via a Bluetooth connection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the multiprocessing system is further configured to:

detect a hazardous condition based on the speed of the vehicle; and

control the connection and the exchange of data with the new device based on the hazardous condition.

6. A method, comprising:

controlling operations in a vehicle with an in-vehicle processing system;

detecting a mobile device not currently connected to the in-vehicle processing system moving into or next to the vehicle;

monitoring a speed of the vehicle with the in-vehicle processing system;

establishing a connection between the in-vehicle processing system and the mobile device based on the speed of the vehicle;

configuring the in-vehicle processing system and the mobile device to exchange responsibilities for processing data based on the speed of the vehicle;

exchanging data between the in-vehicle processing system and the mobile device based on the speed of the vehicle;

identifying a security attribute associated with the mobile device;

identify the mobile device as authorized or unauthorized according to the security attribute;

allowing the connection between the mobile device and the in-vehicle processing system in response to the mobile device being identified as authorized; and

preventing the connection between the mobile device and the in-vehicle processing system in response to the mobile device being identified as unauthorized.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone brought into or next to the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the mobile device comprises a personal computer.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the in-vehicle processing system connects to the mobile device via a Bluetooth connection.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the in-vehicle processing system is further configured to:

detect a hazardous condition based on the speed of the vehicle; and

enable the connection and the exchange of data with the mobile device based on the hazardous condition.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a multi-processor system comprising multiple processors located in or next to a vehicle and configured to control different operations within the vehicle, wherein the multi-processor system is further configured to;

enable a first one of the multiple processors to run an application within the vehicle;

monitor a speed of the vehicle;

compare the speed of the vehicle with a speed threshold value;

disable the first one of the multiple processors from running the application within the vehicle in response to detecting the speed of the vehicle exceeding the speed threshold value, wherein a second one of the multiple processors is configured to run the application instead of the first one of the multiple processors; and

operate a security manager, wherein the security manager is configured to;

identify a security attribute associated with the second one of the multiple processors;

identify the second one of the multiple processors as authorized or unauthorized according to the security attribute;

allow connection of the second one of the multiple processors with the multiprocessor system in response to the second one of the multiple processors being identified as authorized; and

prevent connection of the second one of the multiple processors to the multiprocessor system in response to the second one of the multiple processors being identified as unauthorized.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second one of the multiple processors comprises a mobile device brought into or next to the vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second one of the multiple processors comprises a cellular telephone.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the multiprocessor system connects to the second one of the multiple processors via a Bluetooth connection.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the multiprocessing system is further configured to:

detect a hazardous condition based on the speed of the vehicle exceeding the speed threshold; and

control a connection and the exchange of data between the first one of the multiple processors and the second one of the multiple processors based on the hazardous condition.