Network management module for a vehicle communication network

1. A network management module comprises:

a network interface module operable for providing data packet communication with a vehicle communication network;

a memory operable to store a processing requirement database that includes vehicle operation processing requirement information and infotainment processing requirement information; and

a processing module operably coupled to the network interface module, wherein the processing module executes a set of instructions stored in memory to manage a vehicle communication network by:

determining content type of a first packet as corresponding to infotainment content;

determining a processing requirement of the first packet based on the infotainment processing requirement information;

determining content type of a second packet as corresponding to vehicle operation content;

determining a processing requirement of the second packet based on the vehicle operation processing requirement information;

prioritizing execution of the processing requirement of the second packet above the processing requirement of the first packet;

determining the content type of a third packet to correspond to mission critical content; and

determining a mission critical task of the third packet based on content of the third about.

2. The network management module of claim 1 , the managing the vehicle communication network comprises one or more of:

managing resources of a network fabric of the vehicle communication network;

managing devices coupled to the network fabric; or

managing configuration of the network fabric.

3. The network management module of claim 1 , wherein the memory is further operable to store a network fabric configuration database that includes at least one of:

predetermined network topologies;

resource allocation information;

load balancing information; or

traffic information.

4. The network management module of claim 1 , wherein the processing requirement database further includes security information associated with the second packet.

5. The network management module of claim 1 , wherein the content type of a fourth packet comprises network data content.

6. The network management module of claim 1 , wherein the memory is further operable to store a content-based network packet processing database that includes one or more of:

packet forwarding information;

packet routing information;

packet filtering information; or

packet prioritization information.

7. The network management module of claim 1 , wherein the memory is further operable to store a resource database that includes at least one of:

link status information; or

link performance information.

8. The network management module of claim 1 wherein the processing requirement database further includes mission critical processing requirement information for association with the third packet.

9. The network management module of claim 1 wherein managing the vehicle communication network further includes:

determining a processing requirement of the third packet based on determining whether a mission critical output will be generated in response to a mission critical input.

10. The network management module of claim 9 wherein managing the vehicle communication network to support the content-based network packet processing protocol further includes:

when the mission critical output will be generated, pre-queuing the mission critical output.

11. A network management module comprises:

a network interface module operable for providing data packet communication with a vehicle communication network;

a memory operable to store a processing requirement database that includes vehicle operation processing requirement information and infotainment processing requirement information; and

a processing module operably coupled to the network interface module, wherein the processing module executes a set of instructions stored in memory to manage a vehicle communication network that communicates a plurality of packets by:

determining content type of a first packet of the plurality of packets as corresponding to infotainment content;

determining a processing requirement of the first packet of the plurality of packets based on the infotainment processing requirement information;

determining content type of a second packet of the plurality of packets as corresponding to vehicle operation content;

determining a processing requirement of the second packet based on the vehicle operation processing requirement information;

prioritizing execution of the processing requirement of the second packet above the processing requirement of the first packet;

determining the content type of a third packet of the plurality of packets to correspond to mission critical content; and

determining a mission critical task of the third packet based on content of the third packet.

12. The network management module of claim 11 , the managing the vehicle communication network comprises one or more of:

managing resources of a network fabric of the vehicle communication network;

managing devices coupled to the network fabric; or

managing configuration of the network fabric.

13. The network management module of claim 11 , wherein the memory is further operable to store a network fabric configuration database that includes at least one of:

predetermined network topologies;

resource allocation information;

load balancing information; or

traffic information.

14. The network management module of claim 11 , wherein the processing requirement database further includes security information associated with the second packet.

15. The network management module of claim 11 , wherein the content type of a fourth packet of the plurality of packets comprises network data content.

16. The network management module of claim 11 , wherein the memory is further operable to store a content-based network packet processing database that includes one or more of:

packet forwarding information;

packet routing information;

packet filtering information; or

packet prioritization information.

17. The network management module of claim 11 , wherein the memory is further operable to store a resource database that includes at least one of:

link status information; or

link performance information.

18. The network management module of claim 11 wherein managing the vehicle communication network further includes:

determining a processing requirement of the third packet based on determining whether a mission critical output will be generated in response to a mission critical input.

19. The network management module of claim 18 wherein managing the vehicle communication network further includes:

when the mission critical output will be generated, pre-queuing the mission critical output.

20. A network management system comprises:

a network interface module operable for providing data packet communication with a vehicle communication network of a vehicle;

a memory operable to store a processing requirement database that includes vehicle operation processing requirement information and infotainment processing requirement information; and

a processing module operably coupled to the network interface module, wherein the processing module executes a set of instructions stored in memory to manage a vehicle communication network that communicates a plurality of packets by:

determining content type of a first packet of the plurality of packets as corresponding to infotainment content;

determining a processing requirement of the first packet of the plurality of packets based on the infotainment processing requirement information;

determining content type of a second packet of the plurality of packets as corresponding to vehicle operation content;

determining a processing requirement of the second packet based on the vehicle operation processing requirement information;

prioritizing execution of the processing requirement of the second packet above the processing requirement of the first packet;

determining the content type of a third packet of the plurality of packets to correspond to mission critical content; and

determining a mission critical task of the third packet based on content of the third packet.