Patent ID: 8209705

Claim:
A method for sharing information, the method comprising: allowing receipt of information associated with a message, utilizing a first network protocol associated with a first network; causing a determination as to whether a storage resource is available; in the event the storage resource is not available, determining whether a timeout has been reached and causing a re-request in connection with the storage resource if the timeout has not been reached; in the event the timeout has been reached, causing an error notification to be sent; in the event the storage resource is available, causing storage of the information utilizing the storage resource; and causing the information to be shared by: in real-time, sharing the information utilizing at least one message format corresponding to a second network protocol associated with a second network which is different from the first network protocol; wherein the method is associated with an electronic control unit with at least one gateway function, and a plurality of interface portions including: a first interface portion for interfacing with the first network, the first interface portion including a first interface-related first layer part for receiving first interface-related first layer messages and a first interface-related second layer part, the first interface-related first layer messages being processed after which first interface-related second layer messages are provided, where the first network is at least one of a Controller Area Network, a Flexray network, or a Local Interconnect Network; and a second interface portion for interfacing with the second network, the second interface portion including a second interface-related first layer part for receiving second interface-related first layer messages and a second interface-related second layer part, the second interface-related first layer messages being processed after which second interface-related second layer messages are provided, where the second network is different from the first network and is at least one of the Controller Area Network, the Flexray network, or the Local Interconnect Network.