Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic control unit for a motor vehicle with a plurality of data networks and an electronic immobilizer. The control unit according to the invention is configured both as a vehicle-end control section for the electronic immobilizer and as a gateway between at least two of the data networks. At least one component of the gateway also serves as a component of the vehicle-end control section for the electronic immobilizer. Preferably, there is common use of components of the gateway for the immobilizer function such that, in addition to the normal vehicle-end immobilizer control section, a further, redundant vehicle-end immobilizer control section, is formed, which significantly reduces the failure rate of the immobilizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic control unit for a motor vehicle with a plurality of data networks and an electronic immobilizer. The control unit according to the invention is configured both as a vehicle-end control section for the electronic immobilizer and as a gateway between at least two of the data networks. At least one component of the gateway also serves as a component of the vehicle-end control section for the electronic immobilizer. Preferably, there is common use of components of the gateway for the immobilizer function such that, in addition to the normal vehicle-end immobilizer control section, a further, redundant vehicle-end immobilizer control section, is formed, which significantly reduces the failure rate of the immobilizer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for programming at least one control device in a vehicle having a plurality of control devices to be programmed, and a central control device with a non-volatile vehicle configuration memory. A bus system connects all the control devices in the vehicle to one another and to the central control device. When one of said control devices is retrofitted or replaced, it initiates a comparison of data located in its memory with the vehicle configuration data resident in the configuration memory of the central control device and, in the case of differences between these data, the data in the retrofitted or replaced control device are overwritten with current vehicle configuration data called up from the vehicle configuration memory.