Patent Abstract:
A method for handling a faulty device in a vehicle communication network is provided, which is used to identify devices that are either faulty, were removed from the vehicle communication network or were switched off, and to automatically initiate a fault-remedying measure. An expanded, device-specific driver having diagnostic functions is loaded by another device of the network to send a test signal to the faulty device. Either the faulty device is restarted or the faulty device is switched off depending on the reaction to the test signal. If a device is removed from the network, this is indicated in a database. A bus manager will inform other devices connected to the network that this device was removed from the network. Due to a classification of the individual devices connected to the network, not every device is able to perform the fault handling, but rather only suitably classified devices. Misuse is thereby prevented.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of German patent application no. 10027362.9, which was filed in Germany on Jun. 2, 2000, and which was filed as PCT/DE01/01541 on Apr. 24, 2001 in the United States, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method for handling a faulty device in a vehicle communication network. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Vehicle communication networks are used in motor vehicles, wherein individual devices which are connected to the vehicle communication network are controlled by drivers for these individual devices. The drivers are managed in a database. 
     SUMMARY 
     In contrast, the method of the present invention for handling a faulty device in a vehicle communication network, wherein an automated fault handling sets in when a device becomes defective, is switched off or is removed from the vehicle communication network. This prevents disturbing the operation of the vehicle communication network. A fault-remedying measure appropriate to the faulty device is initiated by the systematized procedure. 
     When the faulty device does not respond to a test signal, this test signal is sent at least one more time, and if the faulty device again shows no reaction, the faulty device is removed from the vehicle communication network by altering an entry in the database of the vehicle communication network for the faulty device in the manner that this faulty device is marked as removed. A signal is then optionally also sent to the faulty device, such that it switches itself off. This further development prevents it being checked with great probability, whether or not the device is still capable of responding to the test signal. If it is not capable, then the vehicle communication network is able to perform no other automatic fault-handling other than to switch off the faulty device. 
     Moreover, when the faulty device responds to the test signal with an error code, a restart of the faulty device is forced, and after the restart, the test signal is sent once more, and if the error code is again sent by the faulty device as reaction to the test signal, then the faulty device is switched off. This permits an automated fault handling, attempt being made to remove the fault by restarting the device recognized as faulty. If this does not help, then this device is removed from the vehicle communication network in the manner described above. 
     The bus manager may inform the other devices connected to the vehicle communication network that the faulty device was removed from the vehicle communication network. This rules out the other devices from attempting to access the removed and faulty device. Malfunctions and unnecessary data traffic on the vehicle communication network are thereby avoided. 
     In this context, the bus manager is installed on a device of the vehicle communication network, this device also optionally being able to take over other functions besides the bus manager. 
     Furthermore, the individual devices connected to the vehicle communication network may be classified. This classification complies with a sensitivity level which controls access to other devices. In this context, it is distinguished whether a device is permitted to load drivers, whether a device is permitted to load device-specific and expanded drivers, and whether a device can moreover use the drivers to handle a fault. An unauthorized access to devices is thereby prevented. In particular, this must be seen in light of access to the communication network from outside. A vehicle communication network may have a radio interface which permits access from outside. The classification prevents a device, which accesses the communication network from outside via the radio interface, from not having a sensitivity level that permits fault handling. The access for a device connected to the vehicle communication network from outside may also be restricted by the classification. 
     Moreover, it is advantageous that devices are present which are able to perform the fault handling according to the invention, and that a device emits an error code if it is also supposed to react to a test signal and has determined an error of its own. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a vehicle communication network. 
         FIG. 2  is a method flowchart for handling a faulty device in a vehicle communication network. 
         FIG. 3  is a fault handling flowchart for the bus manager. 
         FIG. 4  is a fault handling flowchart for any device of the vehicle communication network which is not the bus manager. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the motor vehicle industry, multimedia components are increasingly being integrated into a vehicle. In so doing, the multimedia components are frequently interconnected via a bas, thus, a vehicle communication network. By the use of drivers for controlling devices which are connected to the vehicle communication network, it is possible that some devices that control other devices either have these drivers themselves or load them from a database if necessary. It is thereby possible to construct vehicle communication networks of variable complexity. If, at this point, a device of the vehicle communication network fails, or it is physically removed from the vehicle communication network or is switched off, then it must be ensured that the operation of the vehicle communication network continues to run normally. 
     Therefore, according to the invention, a method is put forward with which it is possible to react to faulty behavior of a device of the vehicle communication network. By the use of an expanded, device-specific driver having diagnostic functions for a faulty device, it is determined which fault-remedying measure must be initiated in each case. Fault-remedying measures according to the invention are switching off the device or restarting the faulty device. If a device was removed physically from the vehicle communication network, then solely the entry for this removed device is erased from the database. Thus, in this case, there is no fault-remedying measure, rather only an adjustment of the database entries. The bus manager of the vehicle communication network informs the other devices of the vehicle communication network about the removal of a device. Due to a classification of the individual devices of the vehicle communication network, it is possible that only specific devices are able to load the expanded, device-specific driver having diagnostic functions in order to carry out the fault handling for the faulty device. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a vehicle communication network as a block diagram. A bus manager  1  is connected via a data input/output to a first data input/output of a control unit  2 . A second data input/output of control unit  2  is linked to a bus  5 . A CD player  3  and a loudspeaker with audio amplifier  4  are in each case linked via data inputs/outputs to bus  5 . All devices have bus controllers in order to transmit data via bus  5 . Alternatively, it is possible for more devices to be linked to bus  5 . Bus  5  here is a multimedia bus which, for example, may be the MOST (MOS transistor) bus. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the method of the present invention for handling a faulty device in a vehicle communication network is illustrated as a flowchart. In method step  6 , control unit  2  controls CD player  3  and loudspeaker with audio amplifier  4 . Control unit  2  is activated by the driver or a passenger via an input device in order to cause CD player  3  to play a compact disc. To that end, control unit  2  has a driver for controlling CD player  3 . The driver has all functionalities which are possible with CD player  3 . Among them are the playback of individual titles, storage of a group of titles which may then be played back, pause, replay or a random playback of titles one after the other. In addition, mechanical functions are also controllable by control unit  2 , such as the insertion and ejection of the compact disc. CD player  3  has a driver to control the loudspeaker with audio amplifier  4 . The replay of the digital audio data which are loaded from the compact disc is thereby made possible. 
     In method step  7 , CD player  3  now illustrates a malfunction, in that it no longer reacts to a control signal from control unit  2 . For example, such a control signal causes the title having the track number 3 to be played back from the inserted CD. 
     In method step  8 , control unit  2  recognizes this and transmits an error message to bus manager  1 . Bus manager  1  thereupon loads from database  38  an expanded, device-specific driver for CD player  3  having diagnostic functions. This is performed in method step  9 . Therefore, bus manager  1  handles the fault. Alternatively, it is also possible for control unit  2  or another unit which is linked to bus  5  as the vehicle communication network to handle the fault. 
     In method step  10 , with the aid of the expanded, device-specific driver having diagnostic functions, bus manager  1  generates a test signal which it sends to CD player  3 . In method step  11 , the response to this test signal by CD player  3  is checked. If it is a known error code which CD player  3  sends back to bus manager  1 , then in method step  12 , CD player  3  is restarted. Bus manager  1  brings this about by a known command which is transmitted via bus  5 . In method step  13 , the test signal is then sent again by bus manager  1  to CD player  3 . In method step  14 , the response to the repeated sending of the test signal is evaluated. If the error code is again sent by CD player  3  to bus manager  1  as response to the test signal, then in method step  15 , CD player  3  is switched off by a corresponding command. In method step  16 , the entry for CD player  3  is entered as removed in database  38 . Bus manager  1  then sends a message in broadcast mode to all devices connected to bus  5 , with the communication that CD player  3  was removed from bus  5 . 
     If it was established in method step  14  that CD player  3  did not respond with an error code to the test signal, then normal operation is commenced again in method step  17 . Consequently, control unit  2  is then able to control CD player  3  once more. Bus manager  1  then erases the expanded, device-specific driver in order to keep its resources free. However, normal operation is only commenced in method step  17  if CD player  3  responds to the test signal with a correct code. If CD player  3  does not respond at all, then in method step  17 , CD player  3  is switched off, if this is possible. If this is not the case, then it must be assumed that CD player  3  was removed from vehicle communication network  5 . The switch-off is then also communicated by bus manager  1  to all other devices, and the corresponding entry for CD player  3  is marked as removed in database  38 . 
     If it was established in method step  11  that CD player  3  did not respond with an error code to the test signal, then no error exists which can be corrected by a restart. Therefore, in method step  18 , the message is sent by bus manager  1  to CD player  3  to switch off the device, in order then in method step  19  to mark the entry for CD player  3  as removed in database  38 . In method step  20 , normal operation is commenced, bus manager  1  informing all other devices that CD player  3  is no longer connected to bus  5 . If CD player  3  does not respond to the test signal, then it is also possible that CD player  3  was already removed from bus  5 . Since the reaction to the switch-off signal from bus manager  1  to CD player  3  is not checked, this case is also covered here. Either CD player  3  is switched off according to method step  18 , or it is already switched off. The result is the same. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the fault handling by bus manager  1  is represented as a chronological sequence of transmitted messages. A controlling device  21 , like control unit  2  described above, sends a message  22  to device  23  to be controlled, CD player  3 . Device  23  to be controlled does not respond to message  22 . Therefore, an error message  25  is sent by controlling device  21  to bus manager  24 . Bus manager  24 , to which the device code of device  23  to be controlled was transmitted together with error message  25 , thereupon requests of database  26 , using message  27 , the expanded, device-specific driver having diagnostic functions for device  23 . With message  28 , this driver is transmitted from database  26  to bus manager  24 . In step  29 , bus manager  24  performs the fault handling presented above. With message  30 , bus manager  24  transmits to database  26  the error report by which database  26  optionally marks device  23  to be controlled as removed. With message  31 , bus manager  24  then sends to all other devices connected to the vehicle communication network the message that device  23  was removed or that normal operation has commenced again. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates how controlling device  21  itself handles the fault. The controlling device again sends message  22 , to which device  23  to be controlled does not react. The device to be controlled thereupon requests from database  26  the expanded driver having diagnostic functions for device  23  to be controlled. With message  33 , exactly this driver is transmitted from database  26  to controlling device  21 . In method step  34 , the fault is then handled as presented above ( FIG. 2 ). With message  35 , an error report is transmitted to bus manager  24 . With message  36 , bus manager  24  then transmits the corresponding error report to database  26 . Since in this example, device  23  was removed from the vehicle communication network, with message  37 , all other devices are informed that precisely this has happened. Alternatively, it is possible that with message  37 , bus manager  24  informs the other devices that device  23  is again running in normal operation. 
     In the following, it is described by way of example how the devices may be classified. In this case, a corresponding sensitivity level is assigned to the individual devices. Those devices which cannot load any drivers and are unable to perform any fault handling belong to the lowest sensitivity level. They are, for example, devices which can solely be controlled and which do not perform any control functions themselves. The next sensitivity level has devices which can load drivers, these drivers being solely standard drivers, thus no device-specific drivers. Furthermore, these devices are also unable to perform any fault handling. In the class following next are devices which are able to use and load standard drivers and device-specific drivers, but not perform any fault handling. In the last class are the devices having the highest sensitivity level. These devices are able to load all drivers and also handle faults. A device which accesses the vehicle communication network from outside and integrates itself into the vehicle communication network will not receive the fault-handling function, in order to avoid unauthorized accesses. For example, this will only be assigned to special devices which are available solely to technicians.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7