Patent ID: 8118122

Claim:
Method to monitor integrity of a signal generated and communicated in a control system for a powertrain system including an engine, a transmission and a torque generating machine connected to an energy storage device, the transmission operative to transfer power between the engine and the torque generating machine and an output member, the method comprising: establishing a distributed control module system comprising a first control module operatively connected to the engine, a second control module operatively connected to the torque generating machine, a third control module operatively connected to the transmission device, and a hybrid control module operative to command operation of the first, second, and third control modules; establishing a communications link to transmit the signal between any two of the first control module, the second control module, the third control module and the hybrid control module and a user interface; monitoring integrity of each of the first, second, third, and hybrid control modules; generating the signal in an originating control module comprising one of the first, second, third and hybrid control modules; verifying integrity of the signal within the originating control module; transmitting the signal via the communications link to a receiving control module comprising one of the first, second, third and hybrid control modules that is not the originating control module; and verifying integrity of the transmitted signal within the receiving control module.