Method and apparatus for isolating a fault in a controller area network

1. Method for monitoring a controller area network (CAN) on a mobile system including a plurality of CAN elements comprising a communication bus and a plurality of nodes, comprising:

detecting inactive nodes of the CAN;

employing an off-board controller to identify a candidate fault in the CAN based upon the inactive nodes of the CAN and a network topology for the CAN; and

isolating a fault in the CAN based upon the candidate fault.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein employing the off-board controller to identify a candidate fault in the CAN comprises:

comparing the inactive nodes of the CAN with a plurality of fault signature vectors associated with the network topology for the CAN;

identifying one of the fault signature vectors that correspond to the inactive node of the CAN;

determining a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector; and

identifying the candidate fault in the CAN based upon the fault symptom.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises employing a reachability analysis of the network topology of the CAN wherein communications are monitored to determine which of the nodes is inactive for the fault symptom.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises an open link between a power supply and a node.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises an open link between an electrical ground and a node.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises an open communications link between a first node and a second node.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises a fault in a node.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises a short in a communications link between a first node and a second node.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting inactive nodes of the CAN comprises employing an on-board controller to monitor communications from the nodes of the CAN and identifying as inactive any node of the CAN that fails to generate a message on the CAN within a predetermined period of time.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

employing an on-board monitoring routine to detect the inactive nodes of the CAN and capture a corresponding time stamp; and

in response to a query, communicating the inactive nodes of the CAN and the corresponding time stamp to the off-board controller.

11. Method for monitoring a controller area network (CAN) on a mobile system including a plurality of CAN elements comprising a plurality of controllers signally connected to a communication bus, comprising:

employing an on-board monitoring routine to identify each of the controllers of the CAN as either active or inactive;

in response to a query, communicating the identified active and inactive controllers of the CAN to an off-board controller;

employing the off-board controller to identify a candidate fault in the CAN based upon the inactive controllers of the CAN and a network topology for the CAN; and

isolating a specific fault in the CAN based upon the candidate fault.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein employing the off-board controller to identify a candidate fault in the CAN comprises:

comparing the inactive controllers of the CAN with a plurality of fault signature vectors associated with the network topology for the CAN;

identifying one of the fault signature vectors that correspond to the inactive controller of the CAN;

determining a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector; and

identifying the candidate fault in the CAN based upon the fault symptom.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises employing a reachability analysis of the network topology of the CAN wherein communications are monitored to determine which of the controllers is inactive for the fault symptom.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises an open link between a power supply and a controller.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises an open link between an electrical ground and a controller.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises an open communications link between a first controller and a second controller.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises a fault in a controller.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein a fault symptom associated with the identified fault signature vector comprises a short in a communications link between a first controller and a second controller.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein identifying each of the controllers of the CAN as either active or inactive comprises employing an on-board controller to monitor communications from the controllers of the CAN and identifying as inactive any controller of the CAN that fails to generate a message on the CAN within a predetermined period of time.