Vehicle active network with fault tolerant devices
View Patent ↗A vehicle active network ( 12 ) communicatively couples devices ( 14 - 20 ) within a vehicle ( 10 ). Device operation is independent of the interface ( 22 - 28 ) of the device ( 14 - 20 ) with the active network ( 12 ). Additionally, the architecture of the active network ( 12 ) provides one or more levels of communication redundancy. The architecture provides for the total integration of vehicle systems and functions, and permits plug-and-play device integration and upgradeability.
1. In a vehicle comprising a first device and a second device, an active network communicatively coupling the first and second devices,
wherein the active network comprises a fabric of active network elements such that each of the active network elements is interconnected to a plurality of other active network elements of the fabric of active network elements via a corresponding plurality of point-to-point connections each of which connects no more than two active network elements to one another,
wherein the active network elements are configured to route data packets through the fabric of active network elements to provide at least one communication path selected from multiple potential communication paths between the first device and the second device.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the active network supports multiple, simultaneous communication paths between the first and the second device.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the active network complies with an Internet protocol standard.
4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the active network comples with asynchronous transfer mode protocol.
5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the active network elements comprises a router.
6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the active network elements are linked electronically.
7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the active network elements are linked by radio frequency.
8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the active network elements are arranged in an array topology.
9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the active network communicatively couples at least one additional device to the first and second devices.
10. Apparatus comprising:
an active network of an automobile configured to communicatively couple a first device of the automobile and a second device of the automobile,
wherein the active network comprises a fabric of active network elements such that each of the active network elements is interconnected to a plurality of other active network elements of the fabric of active network elements via a corresponding plurality of point-to-point connections each of which connects no more than two active network elements to one another,
wherein the active network elements are configured to route data packets through the fabric of active network elements to provide at least one communication path selected from multiple potential communication paths between the first device and the second device.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the active network supports multiple, simultaneous communication paths between the first device and the second device.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the active network complies with an Internet protocol standard.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the active network complies with asynchronous transfer mode protocol.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the active network elements comprises a router.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the active network elements are linked electronically.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the active network elements are linked by radio frequency.
17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the active network elements are arranged in an array topology.
18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the active network communicatively couples at least one additional device to the first and second devices.
19. A method comprising:
adding at least one additional active element;
adding connection media coupling the at least one additional active element to an active network of an automobile, wherein the active network is configured to communicatively couple a first device of the automobile and a second device of the automobile,
wherein the active network comprises a fabric of active network elements such that each of the active network elements is interconnected to a plurality of other active network elements of the fabric of active network elements via a corresponding plurality of point-to-point connections each of which connects no more than two active network elements to one another, and
wherein the active network elements are configured to route data packets through the fabric of active network elements to provide at least one communication path selected from multiple potential communication paths between the first device and the second device.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the active network communicatively couples at least one additional device to the first and second devices.