Patent ID: 8248971

Claim:
A vehicle network system comprising: a plurality of star networks, wherein a plurality of devices mounted on a vehicle are connected in a star shape through respective branch lines in each of the plurality of star networks; a trunk line for connecting the plurality of star networks; and a plurality of converters, each of the plurality of converters connected to respective star networks of the plurality of star networks configured for performing mutual conversions between optical signals and electric signals, wherein: the respective branch lines are communication lines configured for optical communications, and not electric communication, to prevent occurrence of a ringing phenomenon in each of the plurality of star networks, the trunk line is a communication line configured for electric communication and not optical communications, the plurality of devices are connected to the plurality of converters through the respective branch lines in the respective star networks of the plurality of star networks, each of the plurality of converters are connected to each other through the trunk line, each of the plurality of converters output the signals inputted from the trunk line to the respective branch lines, and each of the plurality of converters output the signals inputted from one of the branch lines to the trunk line and other branch lines in the respective star network.