Patent ID: 8213321
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring a condition of a communications network having a plurality of controllers communicatively coupled over the network by a communication bus, the method comprising: maintaining a count of each type of error code and a histogram of all network messages seen by each of the controllers within a separate communication bus segment during a measurement period; using the count and the histogram in determining a bus health index of each segment of the communication bus based upon (i) a percentage of a given type of error and (ii) a total count of all errors during a measurement period, wherein the count is used to determine the percentage of the given type of error and the histogram is used to determine the total count of all errors; and detecting and isolating an individual controller of the plurality of controllers that is having a communications problem by determining that the individual controller having the communication problem has an elevated health index when compared to other controllers of the plurality of controllers, whereby an indication is given to a user that the individual controller or communication bus segment should be replaced or repaired.