Patent ID: 7103688

Claim:
A method of transmission of data messages between a plurality of stations interconnected by a bus line, wherein each said message comprises a frame portion representing content and priority information of the data message and a data portion representing data to be transmitted, the method comprising the steps of: causing at least one of said plurality of stations to transmit a data message on to the bus line such that said frame portion thereof is transmitted at a first data transmission rate, and the data portion thereof is transmitted at a second data transmission rate not less than said first data transmission rate; receiving information relating to signal quality on said bus line; determining whether to adjust the first data transmission rate in dependence on the information relating to signal quality on the bus line; determining whether to adjust the second data transmission rate in dependence on the information relating to signal quality on the bus line; and adjusting at least one of said first data transmission rate or said second data transmission rate in dependence on said determinations.