Patent Publication Number: US-2011055292-A1

Title: System and method for standardizing vehicle network data across vehicle product lines

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a vehicle network. More particularly, the invention is directed to a gateway system and method for standardizing data across various vehicle networks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, vehicles use a network to communicate information about the status and operation of the vehicle. A typical network in cars today is the Controller Area Network or “CAN”. A data that is shared by the network is intended to be consumed by other systems on the network or by external diagnostic systems specially configured to communicate with the vehicle network. However, the network data is not available for consumption by consumer electronic devices that are owned by drivers/passengers and brought into the vehicle. 
     One solution requires a user to know a protocol of the vehicle network and a format of the data on the network, and thereby modify a user system to interpret the network data correctly. However, this solution requires a modification to the user system for each vehicle having a different format or vehicle network protocol. For example, a navigation system requiring vehicle speed from the network would require a custom data interpreter for each vehicle line. 
     It would be desirable to develop a gateway system and method of standardizing a data on a vehicle network, wherein the gateway system and method provide a standardized, vehicle independent data to a user over various vehicle lines. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Concordant and consistent with the present invention, a gateway system and method of standardizing a data on a vehicle network, wherein the gateway system and method provide a standardized, vehicle independent data to a user over various vehicle lines, has surprisingly been discovered. 
     In one embodiment, a gateway system comprises: a vehicle network having a network data; a processor for extracting the network data from the vehicle network and converting the network data into a standardized data having an open source format; and a broadcaster in communication with the processor to receive the standardized data and transmit the standardized data to a user device for use thereby. 
     In another embodiment, a gateway system comprises: a vehicle network having a network data; and a processor in uni-directional communication with the vehicle network to extract the network data from the vehicle network and convert the network data into a standardized data having a vehicle independent format; and a broadcaster in communication with the processor to receive the standardized data and transmit the standardized data to a user device, wherein the user device is interconnected with the gateway module for bi-directional data communication. 
     The invention also provides methods for standardizing data on a vehicle network. 
     One method comprises the steps of: providing a vehicle network having a network data; extracting the network data; converting the network data into a standardized data having a vehicle independent format; and providing a programmable interface to receive the standardized data and generate a feedback based upon the standardized data. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic block diagram of a gateway system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. In respect of the methods disclosed, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical. 
     The drawing illustrates a gateway system  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The gateway system  10  includes a gateway module  12  in data communication with a vehicle network  14 . As shown, the vehicle network  14  interconnects a plurality of vehicle systems  16  and communicates a network data  17  therebetween. It is understood that the vehicle systems  16  may be any system adapted to communicate with the vehicle network  14  such as a speedometer, a global positioning system, an engine control unit (ECU), a transmission control unit (TCU), an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a body control modules (BCM), and other electronic module, for example. As a non-limiting example, the vehicle network  14  is a Controller Area Network or “CAN”. However, other networks and protocols may be used such as a vehicle area network, a FlexRay™ network, a local interconnect network, a J1939 network, a media oriented systems transport, a domestic digital bus, Ethernet, EthernetAVB, J1394 and a DC-BUS, for example. 
     As shown, the gateway module  12  includes a processor  18 , a storage device  20 , a programmable component  22 , and a broadcaster  24 . The gateway module  12  may include additional components such as a communication port (not shown) for sending and receiving data via a plurality of hard-wire and wireless protocols, for example. In certain embodiments, the gateway module  12  has the ability to connect to the Internet  25 . 
     The processor  18  is adapted to extract data from the vehicle network  14  and process the extracted data based upon an instruction set  26 . The instruction set  26 , which may be embodied within any computer readable medium, includes processor executable instructions for configuring the processor  18  to perform a variety of tasks. In certain embodiments, the instruction set  26  configures the processor  18  to analyze, convert, and standardize the extracted data into a pre-determined, vehicle independent data language or protocol. As a non-limiting example, the data format may be an open-source format known to those skilled in the art of software development. It is understood that any data passing through the vehicle network  14  may be extracted by the processor  18 . As a non-limiting example, the extracted data includes a vehicle message having message identification, a sender information, a message type, a message length, and a signal list. As a further example, the extracted data includes a network signal information such as the type, byte ordering, size, and scaling values to translate the signal information from a raw value to a physical value. 
     The storage device  20  may be a single storage device or may be multiple storage devices. Portions of the storage device  20  may also be located on the processor  18 . Furthermore, the storage device  20  may be a solid state storage system, a magnetic storage system, an optical storage system or any other suitable storage system. It is understood that the storage device  20  is adapted to store the instruction set  26 . Other data and information may be stored in the storage device  20  such as the data extracted from the vehicle network  14 . A vehicle network look-up table  28  is also stored in reprogrammable memory of the storage device  20 . The look-up table  28  contains a catalog and mapping of specific network protocols associated with various vehicle lines and manufactures. It is understood that reprogramming the look-up table  28  modifies the processor  18  in order to provide compatibility between the gateway module  12  and the protocol used by the vehicle network  14 . It is further understood that the look-up table  28  is referenced for converting the extracted data to a standardized, vehicle independent format. 
     The programmable component  22  is in communication with the processor  18 . It is understood that the programmable component  22  may be in communication with any other component such as the instruction set  26  and the storage device  20 , for example. In certain embodiments, the programmable component  22  is adapted to manage and control processing functions of the processor  18 . Specifically, the programmable component  22  is adapted to control the analysis of the data extracted from the vehicle network  14 . It is understood that the programmable component  22  may be adapted to store data and information on the storage device  20  and retrieve data and information from the storage system  18 . Where the gateway module  12  includes the programmable component  22 , the analysis and standardization of the extracted data by the processor  18  may be pre-programmed. It is understood that the configuration and functions of the processor  18  may be adjusted in real-time or pre-programmed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or user. It is further understood that the functions of the processor  18  may have stored settings that may be recalled and processed, as desired. 
     The broadcaster  24  provides data intercommunication between the gateway module  12  and a user device  30  or programmable interface. It is understood that the user device may be any electronic device for storing and/or executing As a non-limiting example, the broadcaster  24  is a human machine interface having a hard-wire or wireless protocol for communication with the user device  30 . As a further example, the broadcaster  24  publishes the standardized vehicle data using a pre-determined non-proprietary protocol. 
     In use, the gateway module  12  extracts data from the vehicle network  14 . The processor  18  analyzes the data in order to properly convert the data into a standardized format having a pre-determined, vehicle independent protocol and data language. As a non-limiting example, the extracted data may include vehicle identification information that can be compared to the look-up table  28  to determine vehicle specific information such as a vehicle network protocol, a default messaging used by the vehicle network, a list of available options and accessories associated with the vehicle, and a vehicle make, model, and trim. In certain embodiments, the vehicle information is used in conjunction with a message identification extracted from the vehicle network  14  to properly classify and convert the extracted data for standardization. 
     Once converted, the standardized data is made available to a user. As a non-limiting example, the user device  30  receives the standardized data for use by an on-board software application  32 . The user device  30  connects to the vehicle via wired or wireless communication means and begins receiving the standardized data from the gateway module  12  necessary to execute the applets on the user device  30 . As a non-limiting example, a portable vehicle navigation system that normally loses GPS satellite lock can use vehicle speed information extracted from the vehicle network  14  for dead reckoning. 
     A user can also download applets directly to the gateway module  12  through an HMI gateway or other connectivity, wherein the downloaded applet can run on demand. For example, a tour guide applet may be downloaded to receive a vehicle information from the vehicle network  14  such as GPS location and a vehicle speed in order to provide an accurate feedback to the user. It is understood that the standardized nature of the extracted data facilitates third party developers in creating any number of applets and software applications, both to entertain and to inform. It is further understood that the gateway module  12  may be removed from the vehicle, whereby the standardized vehicle data may be extracted and analyzed to determine vehicle conditions and performance, analogous to a “black box” used in aircraft. 
     The gateway module  12  of the present invention publishes vehicle data in a known standardized format that is consistent across multiple vehicle car lines. No special importing processes are required to make use of the extracted data. The gateway module  12  provides a means to extract vehicle data that can enhance applications in consumer electronic devices as well as provide a foundation for new applications that have not been consider due to the lack of vehicle data available. 
     From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.