System, method and computer program product for sharing information in a distributed framework

• US 8,566,843 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stragent, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Stragent, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Fuchs, Axel, Andrews, Scott Sturges
• Primary Examiner(s): Anya, Charles E
• Application Number:
  US13/531,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20120266184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 718/104, 719/313
• US Class Current: 719/313
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/547 Messaging middleware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/545 where tasks reside in different layers, e.g. user- and kernel-space
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for sharing information in a distributed system. After information is received, it is stored on a bulletin board. In use, the information is shared, in real-time, among a plurality of heterogeneous processes.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program product for sharing information, the computer program product, comprising:

code for allowing receipt of information associated with a message received utilizing a first network protocol associated with a first network;

code for causing a determination as to whether a storage resource is available;

code for determining whether a threshold has been reached and causing a request in connection with the storage resource if the threshold has not been reached;

code for, in the event the threshold has been reached, causing an error notification to be sent;

code for, in the event the storage resource is available, causing storage of the information utilizing the storage resource; and

code for causing the information to be shared by;

in real-time, sharing the information utilizing at least one message format corresponding to a second network protocol associated with a second network;

wherein the computer program product is associated with an electronic control unit with a plurality of interface portions including;

a first interface portion for interfacing with the first network, the first interface portion including a first interface-related first layer part for receiving first interface-related first layer messages and a first interface-related second layer part, the computer program product being operable such that the first interface-related first layer messages are processed after which first interface-related second layer messages are provided, where the first network is at least one of a Controller Area Network type, a Flexray network type, or a Local Interconnect Network type; and

a second interface portion for interfacing with the second network, the second interface portion including a second interface-related first layer part for receiving second interface-related first layer messages and a second interface-related second layer part, the computer program product being operable such that the second interface-related first layer messages are processed after which second interface-related second layer messages are provided, where the second network is at least one of the Controller Area Network type, the Flexray network type, or the Local Interconnect Network type.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the determination as to whether the storage resource is available is made utilizing an initial request in connection with the storage resource.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the storage resource includes a bulletin board resource.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the storage resource includes a shared memory.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the storage resource stores messages that are addressed to no particular process.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the storage resource stores messages available by any number of processes.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the storage resource is a section of a storage.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the storage resource involves a database.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the request is a re-request.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the request is a storage resource request.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the request is repeated until the storage resource is available unless a certain time beyond the threshold has elapsed.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the request is another storage resource request.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the request is for access to the storage resource.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the determining, causing, and threshold are each associated with a same layer of processing.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the determining, causing, and threshold are each associated with a middleware layer that sits under an application layer.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the sharing includes providing the information to a plurality of software or hardware operations that share the storage resource.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the electronic control unit is equipped with at least one gateway function.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the real-time involves a response time that is measured in milliseconds.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the real-time involves a response time that is measured in microseconds.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the real-time involves a response time that is less than 1 second.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first network or the second network is of the Controller Area Network type.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first network or the second network is of the Flexray network type.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first network or the second network is of the Local Interconnect Network type.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface-related first layer part or the second interface-related first layer part includes at least one of a controller, a communication interface, or an operating system interface;

and

the first interface-related second layer part or the second interface-related second layer part includes at least one of a remote message conversion layer, a communication interface, or an operating system interface.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface portion and the second interface portion are each separate portions of a same apparatus.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first network and the second network are heterogeneous networks.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the second network protocol is different than the first network protocol.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the second network protocol is different than the first network protocol such that rates thereof are different.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the second network protocol is different than the first network protocol, and the at least one message format corresponding to the second network protocol is different than a particular message format corresponding to the first network protocol, such that the information is converted from the particular message format to the at least one message format.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the information is processed utilizing the storage resource, where the information is originally received in a first message format corresponding to the first network protocol, to create, in real-time, messages in at least two other message formats including a second message format corresponding to the second network protocol and a third message format corresponding to a third network protocol, where the first network protocol is different than either of the second and third network protocols.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the storage resource is protected utilizing semaphores.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 31, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first network and the second network are heterogeneous networks, and each of a plurality of different processes process the information in a manner that is isolated from temporal characteristics associated with the heterogeneous networks.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 32, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the information is stored in response to interrupts associated with the different processes.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 32, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the different processes are updated with the information at a first rate that differs from a second rate with which the different processes send the information to the storage resource.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the storage resource is operable so as not to require a network layer translation of messages.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the threshold includes a timeout.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the threshold includes a time-related threshold.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface-related first layer messages, the first interface-related second layer messages, the second interface-related first layer messages, and the second interface-related second layer messages include protocol data units (PDUs).

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface-related first layer messages and the first interface-related second layer messages are different in terms of at least one aspect of headers thereof.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the processing includes conversion;

the first interface-related first layer messages are related to the first interface-related first layer by virtue of being received thereby; and

the first interface-related second layer part carries out the processing of the first interface-related first layer messages.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the message includes a protocol data unit (PDU).

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the message includes a header.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface-related first layer part is associated with a layer that is below another layer associated the first interface-related second layer part.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface-related second layer messages and the second interface-related first layer messages have a same format.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface-related second layer messages and the second interface-related first layer messages are a same messages.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 1, wherein the computer program product is operable such that a waiting period is implemented between re-requests for the storage resource.

47. A method for sharing information, the method comprising:

allowing receipt of information associated with a message received utilizing a first network protocol associated with a first network;

causing a determination as to whether a storage resource is available;

determining whether a threshold has been reached and causing a request in connection with the storage resource if the threshold has not been reached;

in the event the threshold has been reached, causing an error notification to be sent;

in the event the storage resource is available, causing storage of the information utilizing the storage resource; and

causing the information to be shared by;

in real-time, sharing the information;

wherein the method is associated with an electronic control unit with a plurality of interface portions including;

a first interface portion for interfacing with the first network, the first interface portion including a first interface-related first layer part for receiving first interface-related first layer messages and a first interface-related second layer part, the first interface-related first layer messages being processed after which first interface-related second layer messages are provided, where the first network is at least one of a Controller Area Network, a Flexray network, or a Local Interconnect Network; and

a second interface portion, the second interface portion including a second interface-related part for receiving second interface-related messages, the second interface-related messages being processed after which processed second interface-related messages are provided.

48. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program product for sharing information, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving information associated with a message received utilizing a first network protocol associated with a first network;

code for issuing a storage resource request in connection with a storage resource for determining whether the storage resource is available;

code for determining whether a threshold has been reached in association with the determination whether the storage resource is available;

code for, when the storage resource is not available and the threshold associated with the determination whether the storage resource is available has not been reached, issuing another storage resource request in connection with the storage resource;

code for, when the storage resource is not available and the threshold associated with determination whether the storage resource is available has been reached, sending a notification; and

code for, when the storage resource is available, storing the information utilizing the storage resource;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the information is capable of being shared in real-time utilizing a control unit that includes a plurality of interfaces including;

a first interface for interfacing with the first network, the first interface including a first interface-related first component for receiving first data units and a first interface-related second component, the computer program product being operable such that the first data units are processed after which processed first data units are provided, where the first network is at least one of a Controller Area Network, a Flexray network, or a Local Interconnect Network; and

a second interface, the second interface including a second interface-related component for receiving second data units, the computer program product being operable such that the second data units are processed after which processed second data units are provided.

49. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program product for sharing information, the computer program product comprising:

code for allowing receipt of information associated with a message;

code for causing a determination as to whether a storage resource is available;

code for determining whether a threshold has been reached and causing a request in connection with the storage resource;

code for, in the event the storage resource is available and the threshold has not been reached, causing storage of the information utilizing the storage resource;

code for, in the event the threshold has been reached, causing an error notification to be sent; and

code for causing the information to be shared by;

in real-time, sharing the information utilizing at least one message format corresponding to a network protocol associated with a network;

wherein the computer program product is associated with a unit with a plurality of interface portions including;

a first interface portion, the first interface portion including a first interface-related part for receiving first messages, the computer program product being operable such that the first messages are processed after which processed first messages are provided; and

a second interface portion for interfacing with the network, the second interface portion including a second interface-related first part for receiving second messages and a second interface-related second part, the computer program product being operable such that the second messages are processed after which processed second messages are provided, where the network is at least one of a Controller Area Network, a Flexray network, or a Local Interconnect Network.

50. An apparatus, comprising:

an electronic control unit configured for;

receiving information associated with a message;

issuing a storage resource request in connection with a storage resource and determining whether the storage resource is available;

determining whether a threshold has been reached in association with the storage resource request;

when the storage resource is not available and the threshold associated with the storage resource request has not been reached, issuing another storage resource request in connection with the storage resource;

when the storage resource is not available and the threshold associated with the storage resource request has been reached, sending a notification; and

when the storage resource is available, storing the information utilizing the storage resource;

wherein the electronic control unit is operable such that the information is capable of being shared in real-time, and the electronic control unit includes a plurality of interfaces including;

a first interface, the first interface including a first interface-related component for receiving first signals, the electronic control unit being operable such that the first signals are processed for providing a result of the processing of the first signals; and

a second interface for interfacing with a network, the second interface including a second interface-related first component for receiving second signals and a second interface-related second component, the electronic control unit being operable such that the second signals are processed for providing a result of the processing of the second signals, where the network is at least one of a Controller Area Network, a Flexray network, or a Local Interconnect Network.

51. An apparatus, comprising:

a control unit configured for;

identifying information associated with a message received utilizing a first network protocol associated with a first network;

issuing a storage resource request in connection with a storage resource and determining whether the storage resource is available;

determining whether a threshold has been reached in association with the storage resource request;

in the event the storage resource is not available and the threshold associated with the storage resource request has not been reached, issuing another storage resource request in connection with the storage resource;

in the event the storage resource is not available and the threshold associated with the storage resource request has been reached, sending a notification; and

in the event the storage resource is available, storing the information utilizing the storage resource;

wherein the apparatus is operable such that the information is capable of being shared in real-time utilizing a second network protocol associated with a second network, and the control unit includes;

a first interface for interfacing with the first network, the first interface including a first interface-related first component for receiving first data units and a first interface-related second component, the control unit being operable such that the first data units are processed after which processed first data units are provided, where the first network is at least one of a Controller Area Network type, a Flexray network type, or a Local Interconnect Network type; and

a second interface for interfacing with the second network, the second interface including a second interface-related first component for receiving second data units and a second interface-related second component, the control unit being operable such that the second data units are processed after which processed second data units are provided, where the second network is at least one of the Controller Area Network type, the Flexray network type, or the Local Interconnect Network type.

52. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the processed first data units and the second data units have a same format.

53. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the processed first data units and the second data units are the same data units.

54. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the processing involves headers.

55. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the first network and the second network are heterogeneous networks.

56. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the second network protocol is different than the first network protocol.

57. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the second network protocol is different than the first network protocol such that rates thereof are different.

58. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the second network protocol is different than the first network protocol, and the at least one message format corresponding to the second network protocol is different than a particular message format corresponding to the first network protocol, such that the information is converted from the particular message format to the at least one message format.

59. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the information is originally received in a first message format corresponding to the first network protocol and processed to create, in real-time, messages in at least two other message formats including a second message format corresponding to the second network protocol and a third message format corresponding to a third network protocol, where the first network protocol is different than either of the second and third network protocols.