Abstract: The present invention relates to a network device comprising: a first input interface, a first output interface, and a second output interface, wherein the network device is configured to change from a first state, referred to as a time state, to a second state, referred to as a spatial state, and vice versa, wherein the network device is configured to generate each of a first output message and a second output message based on a first input message, wherein the network device is configured to transmit, in the time state, both, the first output message and the second output message, offset in time either via the first output interface or second output interface, and wherein the network device is configured to transmit, in the spatial state, the first output message via the first output interface and the second output message via the second output interface. The present invention also relates to a communication system comprising the network device and to a method for the network device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a network interface device is disclosed. The device includes a network interface configured to provide an interface to a network, a functional component interface configured to provide an interface to a functional component, and distributed test logic located in a path between the network interface and the functional component interface and configured to manage test information related to testing of the functional component and to communicate test information between the network interface and the distributed test logic and between the functional component interface and the distributed test logic.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a network interface device is disclosed. The device includes a network interface configured to provide an interface to a network, a functional component interface configured to provide an interface to a functional component, and distributed test logic located in a path between the network interface and the functional component interface and configured to manage test information related to testing of the functional component and to communicate test information between the network interface and the distributed test logic and between the functional component interface and the distributed test logic.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) device is disclosed. In the embodiment, the IC device includes an Ethernet frame processor, at least one Ethernet port coupled to the Ethernet frame processor, and a hardware synchronization circuit coupled to the Ethernet frame processor and to the at least one Ethernet port, the hardware synchronization circuit including a controller, a local clock, a media-independent peripheral coupled to the controller, and a media-dependent peripheral coupled to the media-independent peripheral, wherein power can be provided to the hardware synchronization circuit independent of the Ethernet frame processor.

Abstract: A device for proactively providing fault tolerance to a vehicle network is disclosed. The device includes a first interface to collect performance data from a plurality of network components of the vehicle network and a second interface to send reconfiguration instructions to the plurality of network components. The device may also include a database for storing the collected performance data, a processor to calculate a probability of failure of a network component in the plurality of network components based on the stored performance data.

Abstract: A central network component, a FlexRay-compatible central network component, and a method for bit processing in a central network component are described. In one embodiment, a central network component for facilitating communication among communication nodes includes a bit oversampling module configured to oversample bits received from a first communication node of the communication nodes with an oversampling factor to generate oversampled bit streams, a time point selection module configured to select time points in the oversampled bit streams, where the time points correspond to inner samples of the oversampled bit streams with respect to the oversampling factor, and a bit outputting module configured to output the inner samples to a second communication node of the communication nodes between the time points. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A FlexRay network guardian including: a resetting leading coldstart node (RLCN) detector configured to detect a RLCN failure; a deaf coldstart node (DCN) detector configured to detect a DCN failure; a babbling idiot (BI) detector configured to detect a BI failure; and a FlexRay network decoder configured to output a signal regarding the status of the FlexRay network to the RLCN detector, DCN detector, and BI detector, wherein the RLCN detector, DCN detector, and BI detector are configured to send an indication of a failure to a containment module.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) device is disclosed. In the embodiment, the IC device includes an Ethernet frame processor, at least one Ethernet port coupled to the Ethernet frame processor, and a hardware synchronization circuit coupled to the Ethernet frame processor and to the at least one Ethernet port, the hardware synchronization circuit including a controller, a local clock, a media-independent peripheral coupled to the controller, and a media-dependent peripheral coupled to the media-independent peripheral, wherein power can be provided to the hardware synchronization circuit independent of the Ethernet frame processor.

Abstract: Data packets are received from a plurality of communication nodes within a local Ethernet network, the data packets including a media access control address (“MAC address”) are indicative of a destination and a data packet traffic class. Based upon the traffic class of each data packet, each of the received data packets are assigned in to one of the plurality of queues of a memory circuit. Based upon the MAC address of each data packet, the data packets within at least one of the queues are sorted. Each queue is then serviced and the data packets within are transmitted based upon the sorting.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a plurality of data streams is disclosed. At a first processing stage, a first memory area is associated to an element of a plurality of data streams. Upon arrival of a frame associated with one of the plurality of data streams, a second memory area is associated to the arrived frame based on the element. In the second memory area, a data indicating an arrival of the arrived frame is recorded and on a successful recording, the frame is forwarded to a second processing stage. An independent process executes at a preselected time interval to erase contents of the first memory area.

Abstract: A device and method for encoding bits to symbols for a communication system are described. In one embodiment, a method for encoding bits to symbols for a communication system includes receiving a set of N-bit data to be transmitted, where N is an integer, generating side scrambling values using a polynomial, scrambling the set of N-bit data using the side scrambling values to produce scrambled data, mapping the scrambled data to a particular set of M symbols from a plurality of sets of M symbols, where M is an integer and M is smaller than N, and outputting the particular set of M symbols for transmission over a transmission medium. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Data packets are received from a plurality of communication nodes within a local Ethernet network, the data packets including a media access control address (“MAC address”) are indicative of a destination and a data packet traffic class. Based upon the traffic class of each data packet, each of the received data packets are assigned in to one of the plurality of queues of a memory circuit. Based upon the MAC address of each data packet, the data packets within at least one of the queues are sorted. Each queue is then serviced and the data packets within are transmitted based upon the sorting.

Abstract: Devices and methods for providing filtering for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) are described. In one embodiment, a method for providing filtering for an ADC involves obtaining a filter coefficient of a post-filtering filter that is located after the ADC on a signal path and generating a filter coefficient of a pre-filtering filter that is located before the ADC on the signal path based on the filter coefficient of the post-filtering filter. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A FlexRay network guardian including: a resetting leading coldstart node (RLCN) detector configured to detect a RLCN failure; a deaf coldstart node (DCN) detector configured to detect a DCN failure; a babbling idiot (BI) detector configured to detect a BI failure; and a FlexRay network decoder configured to output a signal regarding the status of the FlexRay network to the RLCN detector, DCN detector, and BI detector, wherein the RLCN detector, DCN detector, and BI detector are configured to send an indication of a failure to a containment module.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a plurality of data streams is disclosed. At a first processing stage, a first memory area is associated to an element of a plurality of data streams. Upon arrival of a frame associated with one of the plurality of data streams, a second memory area is associated to the arrived frame based on the element. In the second memory area, a data indicating an arrival of the arrived frame is recorded and on a successful recording, the frame is forwarded to a second processing stage. An independent process executes at a preselected time interval to erase contents of the first memory area.

Abstract: A device and method for encoding bits to symbols for a communication system are described. In one embodiment, a method for encoding bits to symbols for a communication system includes receiving a set of N-bit data to be transmitted, where N is an integer, generating side scrambling values using a polynomial, scrambling the set of N-bit data using the side scrambling values to produce scrambled data, mapping the scrambled data to a particular set of M symbols from a plurality of sets of M symbols, where M is an integer and M is smaller than N, and outputting the particular set of M symbols for transmission over a transmission medium. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A FlexRay network guardian including: a resetting leading coldstart node (RLCN) detector configured to detect a RLCN failure; a deaf coldstart node (DCN) detector configured to detect a DCN failure; a babbling idiot (BI) detector configured to detect a BI failure; and a FlexRay network decoder configured to output a signal regarding the status of the FlexRay network to the RLCN detector, DCN detector, and BI detector, wherein the RLCN detector, DCN detector, and BI detector are configured to send an indication of a failure to a containment module.

Abstract: Data communications are effected over one or more network branches to ensure appropriate receipt of data at different devices on the network. In accordance with an example embodiment, time-based communications are effected for a plurality of different network devices, at least two of which are connected to a common wired network link, with each network device being assigned to communicate during different time slots within a communication cycle. Each communication received on the common wired network link is assessed as being error-indicative or not error-indicative. In response to a received communication on the common wired network link being assessed as being error-indicative, the common wired network link is operated to corrupt data received on the branch, such as by driving the branch during a time slot in which the error-indicative communication is received, therein ensuring that other network devices disregard the data received during that time slot.

Abstract: A device and method for encoding bits to symbols for a communication system are described. In one embodiment, a method for encoding bits to symbols for a communication system includes receiving a set of N-bit data to be transmitted, where N is an integer, generating side scrambling values using a polynomial, scrambling the set of N-bit data using the side scrambling values to produce scrambled data, mapping the scrambled data to a particular set of M symbols from a plurality of sets of M symbols, where M is an integer and M is smaller than N, and outputting the particular set of M symbols for transmission over a transmission medium. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: As consistent with one or more embodiments, electronic circuitry is characterized to provide an indication of susceptibility of the circuitry to error. As consistent with one or more embodiments, bits corresponding to a circuit component of a circuit design are evaluated using a software program that characterizes a hardware description language representing the circuit components and their interconnectivity. A noise power value is calculated for each bit, and bits are identified as being susceptible to data error based upon the noise power value and a signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio reference value. A characterization of the circuit components (e.g., a quality factor) is provided based upon a number of bits susceptible to data errors.