Patent ID: 6601115
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A communication protocol converter system, comprising:an interface device, and external devices including an electronic control device and a control and arithmetic portion; the electronic control device having a microcomputer including a control program; the control and arithmetic portion having a microcomputer operating an externally created control program by using an operation parameter from said electronic control device; the interface device being connected between the external devices, communicating with each of the external devices according to a respective communications protocol; and a variable protocol converter means, included in the interface device, for communicating data between the external devices by performing a protocol conversion between the respective communications protocols of the external devices; wherein the variable protocol converter means is adapted to implement a different communications protocol, in place of one of the respective communications protocols, for communication with one of the external devices; whereby, when one of the external devices is changed to a different device, the interface device performs the protocol conversion and communicates with the different device according to the different communications protocol.