Vehicle network with interrupted shared access bus
A vehicle network architecture includes an interrupted shared-access bus and a switch fabric incorporated therein at the point of interruption. The switch fabric permits incorporation of a feature or device into the shared access bus architecture without modification or revisions of the shared access bus protocol or legacy devices.
1 . A method of incorporating a feature into a shared-access bus architecture comprising the steps of:
isolating a device from the shared-access bus architecture;
coupling the device to a switch fabric;
providing a feature device for enabling the feature;
coupling the feature device to the switch fabric; and
controlling communication of information between the device and the feature device via the switch fabric.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of coupling the device to the switch fabric comprises coupling the device to a network element of the switch fabric.
3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
isolating a second device from the shared-access bus architecture;
coupling the second device to the switch fabric; and
controlling communication of information between the device and the feature device via the switch fabric.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of isolating the device from the shared-access bus architecture comprises isolating the device on a shared-access bus segment.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of coupling the device to the switch fabric comprises coupling the shared-access bus segment to a network element of the switch fabric.
6 . A vehicle comprising:
a switch fabric;
a device coupled to a first network element of the switch fabric via an isolated shared-access bus segment;
a feature device coupled to a second network element of the switch fabric;
wherein the device and feature device are operably coupled for communication via the switch fabric.
7 . The vehicle of claim 6 , the first network element being separate and distinct from the second network element.
8 . The vehicle of claim 6 , comprising a second device coupled via a second isolated shared access bus segment to the switch fabric at a third network element, wherein the second device and the feature device are operably coupled for communication via the switch fabric.
9 . The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the switch fabric comprises a plurality of network elements including the first, second and third network elements communicatively interconnected.
10 . The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the isolated shared-access bus segment comprises one of a CAN, LIN, MOST, Flexray and J1850 bus segment.
11 . A vehicle comprising:
a switch fabric disposed within the vehicle, the switch fabric including a plurality of communicatively coupled network elements; and
a plurality of devices coupled to the switch fabric via isolated shared-access bus segments, wherein communication of information to and from the plurality of devices is controlled by the switch fabric.
12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the isolated shared-access bus segment comprises one of a CAN, LIN, MOST, Flexray and J1850 bus segment.
13 . A kit for installing a feature on a vehicle comprising:
a switch fabric, the switch fabric including a plurality of communicatively coupled network elements;
a network element of the plurality of communicative coupled network elements being adapted to couple to a device within the vehicle via a isolated shared-access bus segment; and
a feature device coupled to the switch fabric for implementing the feature.
14 . The kit of claim 13 , further comprising installation instructions.
15 . A vehicle including a shared-access bus architecture comprising:
means for isolating a device from the shared-access bus architecture;
means for coupling the device to a switch fabric;
a feature device:
means for coupling the feature device to the switch fabric; and
means for controlling communication of information between the device and the feature device via the switch fabric.
16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the means for coupling the device to the switch fabric comprises a network element of the switch fabric.
17 . The vehicle of claim 15 , comprising:
means for isolating a second device from the shared-access bus architecture;
means for coupling the second device to the switch fabric; and
means for controlling communication of information between the device and the feature device via the switch fabric.
18 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the means for isolating the device from the shared-access bus architecture comprises a shared-access bus segment.
19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the means for coupling the device to the switch fabric comprises means for coupling the shared-access bus segment to a network element of the switch fabric.