Priority communication protocol for a distributed electrohydraulic system having multiple controllers

1. In a hydraulic system having a plurality of hydraulic functions on a vehicle which receive fluid under pressure from a source, wherein each hydraulic function includes a hydraulic actuator, a valve assembly that controls flow of fluid to the hydraulic actuator, and an electronic function controller that operates the valve assembly, and each function controller sends messages over a communication network, a method for controlling the hydraulic system comprising:

acquiring data indicating a dynamically varying operating condition for each of the plurality of hydraulic functions;

in response to the dynamically varying operating conditions, enabling a first electronic function controller to send messages over the communication network once every first time interval;

enabling a second electronic function controller to send messages over the communication network once every second time interval that is less than the first time interval; and

limiting other electronic function controllers to sending messages over the communication network less often than once every first time interval.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the other electronic function controllers are limited to sending messages over the communication network at intervals that are at least ten times longer than the first time interval.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

enabling the first electronic function controller comprises setting a network access rate variable to a value indicating the first time interval; and

limiting other electronic function controllers comprises setting at least one other network access rate variable to a value indicating a time interval that is longer than the first time interval.

4. In a hydraulic system having a plurality of hydraulic functions at different locations on a vehicle which receive fluid under pressure from a source, wherein each hydraulic function includes a hydraulic actuator, a valve assembly that controls flow of fluid to the hydraulic actuator, and an electronic function controller that operates the valve assembly, and each function controller sends messages over a communication network in the vehicle, a method for controlling the hydraulic system comprising:

in response to an instantaneous operating condition of at least one of the plurality of hydraulic functions, determining a given electronic function controller on the vehicle as generating messages which have a higher priority than messages from other electronic function controllers;

enabling the given electronic function controller to send messages over the communication network once every first time interval by setting a network access rate variable to a value indicating the first time interval; and

limiting other electronic function controllers on the vehicle to sending messages over the communication network no more often than once every second time interval that is longer than the first time interval by setting at least one other network access rate variable to a value indicating a time interval that is longer than the first time interval.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the second time interval is at least ten times longer than the first time interval.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising acquiring data indicating an operating condition for each of the plurality of hydraulic functions, wherein that data is used in determining a given electronic function controller.

7. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein

limiting other electronic function controllers comprises setting a separate network access rate variable for each of the other electronic function controllers to a value indicating a time interval that is longer than the first time interval.

8. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising enabling one of the electronic function controllers to send messages over the communication network once every third time interval that is less than the first time interval.

9. In a hydraulic system having a plurality of hydraulic functions on a vehicle which receive fluid under pressure from a source, wherein each hydraulic function includes a hydraulic actuator, a valve assembly that controls flow of fluid to the hydraulic actuator, and an electronic function controller that operates the valve assembly, and each function controller sends messages over a communication network in the vehicle, a method for controlling the hydraulic system comprising:

acquiring data indicating a dynamically varying operating condition for each of the plurality of hydraulic functions;

determining, in response to the dynamically varying operating conditions, a given electronic function controller as generating messages which have a higher priority than messages from other electronic function controllers;

enabling the given electronic function controller to send messages over the communication network once every first time interval by setting a network access rate variable to a value indicating the first time interval; and

limiting other electronic function controllers to sending messages over the communication network less often than once every first time interval by setting at least one other network access rate variable to a value indicating a time interval that is longer than the first time interval.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the other electronic function controllers are limited to sending messages over the communication network at intervals that are at least ten times longer than the first time interval.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein

limiting other electronic function controllers comprises for each of the other electronic function controllers setting a separate network access rate variable to a value indicating a time interval that is longer than the first time interval.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising enabling one of the electronic function controllers to send messages over the communication network once every second time interval that is less than the first time interval.