Patent ID: 11951917
Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  H | IPC B  H

Claim 3:
4. A control method to be performed in an in-vehicle communication system including a first switching device and a second switching device each configured to relay information between a plurality of function devices mounted to a vehicle, the control method comprising:
a step, performed by the first switching device upon being supplied with a first power source voltage via a power-source-dedicated line from a power source device mounted to the vehicle, of (i) supplying a second power source voltage via a first transmission path to at least one function device of the plurality of function devices that are connected to the first switching device and (ii) supplying a third power source voltage via a second transmission path to the second switching device;
a step, performed by the second switching device, of extracting the third power source voltage from the second transmission path and supplying a fourth power source voltage via a third transmission path to at least one function device of the plurality of function devices that are connected to the second switching device; and
steps of, when a new function device has been connected to the second switching device, by the second switching device:
transmitting a request for a media access control (MAC) address and authentication information to the new function device,
updating an address table using the MAC address received from the new function device;
transmitting, to the first switching device, the authentication information received from the new function device;
receiving, from the first switching device, power source control information indicating whether or not to supply a fifth power source voltage to the new function device; and
switching whether or not to supply the fifth power source voltage to the new function device, in accordance with the power source control information received.