Abstract: The invention relates to a cluster coupler in a time triggered network for connecting clusters operating on the same protocol. Further, it relates to a triggered network having a plurality of clusters, which are coupled via the cluster coupler. It also relates to a method for communicating between different clusters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a time triggered network used in particular in an automotive network having a plurality of clusters. Each cluster (A-X) includes a plurality of nodes (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of synchronizing the clock of different clusters including a first cluster (1) and a second cluster (2) which are connected by means of a connecting element (3) wherein the timing of the second cluster (2) is at least almost aligned to the timing of the first cluster (1), wherein the timing of the second cluster is determined by a node (4) of the second cluster which is connected to a reference node of the first cluster and wherein the node of the second cluster synchronizes itself with the reference node's timing and transfers an offset correction to the second cluster.

Abstract: A star network (1) having a star coupler (14) and at least a first and second network branch (112, 122), wherein each network branch (112, 122) comprises at least one network node (110, 120) and a bus driver (11, 12) connected between the star coupler (14) and the at least one network node (110, 120). A first bus driver (11) of the first network branch (112) is adapted to detect a symbol pattern comprising at least two predetermined equal control symbols, which are transmitted from the first network node (110) to the second network node (120), wherein a control symbol is part of a control pattern. The control pattern is used to force at least the second network node (120) to switch into a predetermined state. The first bus driver (11) is disabling the first network branch (112) from the star network (1) based on whether the transmitted symbol pattern is detected. By using the protection mechanism a reliable detection of babbling idiots is provided.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a method and network for clock synchronization within a time triggered network using time slots, having at least two clusters. The clusters are connected to a coupling unit that includes a clock alignment control logic. The clock alignment control logic includes a coupling unit clock source which is more accurate than the node clock source. The accuracy of the coupling unit clock source is due to the coupling unit clock source including an oscillator crystal with smaller guaranteed deviations than the guaranteed deviations of the node clock source and/or the coupling unit clock source receiving a clock signal from an external clock device or from a GPS device. The method includes using a rate correction for offset correction.

Abstract: Receiver for receiving a data stream via a data bus, which receiver samples the bits of the data stream in an over-sampling process, in which n bit strobe offsets are used and n data sets with i bits are sampled,—applies a decision criterion for identifying those data sets with correct bit values. This decision uses checksum CRC,—selects one of the identified data sets with correct bit values and—uses the bit strobe offset, which was used for receiving the selected data streams, for receiving the data stream. In this way the multiphase clock with optimal phase shifts is selected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of synchronising the clock of different clusters including a first cluster (1) and a second cluster (2) which are connected by means of a connecting element (3) wherein the timing of the second cluster (2) is at least almost aligned to the timing of the first cluster (1), wherein the timing of the second cluster is determined by a node (4) of the second cluster which is connected to a reference node of the first cluster and wherein the node of the second cluster synchronises itself with the reference node's timing and transfers an offset correction to the second cluster.

Abstract: A time-triggered communication system in a dual-channel network of singlechannel architecture, wherein in each case one communication controller (2, 6) is assigned to one channel, and two corresponding communication controllers (2, 6) communicate with one another via an inter-channel interface (1a, 1b). Said inter-channel communication contains information about limiting points (G1, G2 . . . G12) of a time path. A limiting point (G1, G2 . . . G12) is, for example, the point in time when a cycle starts. The interchange of limiting points enables the temporal offset of the two channels to be determined as well as a correction value. After every two cycles also the rate error of the local clocks can be ascertained and a suitable correction value determined. The reliability of safety-relevant networks is increased by the time-triggered communication system described hereinabove.

Abstract: A star network (1) having a star coupler (14) and at least a first and second network branch (112, 122), wherein each network branch (112, 122) comprises at least one network node (110, 120) and a bus driver (11, 12) connected between the star coupler (14) and the at least one network node (110, 120). A first bus driver (11) of the first network branch (112) is adapted to detect a symbol pattern comprising at least two predetermined equal control symbols, which are transmitted from the first network node (110) to the second network node (120), wherein a control symbol is part of a control pattern. The control pattern is used to force at least the second network node (120) to switch into a predetermined state. The first bus driver (11) is disabling the first network branch (112) from the star network (1) based on whether the transmitted symbol pattern is detected. By using the protection mechanism a reliable detection of babbling idiots is provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a star coupler connected to a plurality of nodes within a network using a time triggered protocol on a time slot basis. The invention further relates to a network including a cluster having at least one node. Further, the invention relates to a method for communication between nodes within a network using a time trigger protocol. To provide a star coupler, which is able to increase the bandwidth and to communicate with low propagation delay for communicating the relevant data it is proposed to provide a star coupler (11) comprising a switch (12) having a plurality of input branches and output branches, wherein a switch controller (13) is provided for controlling the switch (12), further comprising means (14, 15) for deriving knowledge about the protocol timing, which knowledge is used for selectively forward data in a certain time slot to at least one predetermined output.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a packet switch for synchronising port controllers (1) with cross-connection means (40). By switching cross-connection means from loopback configurations (41a, 43a) to no-transmission configurations, consecutively an offset counter (32) in a port controller (1) may be altered until transmission of cells is synchronised, so as cells are switched within said cross-connection means (40) within transmission periods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a time triggered network used in particular in an automotive network having a plurality of clusters. Each cluster (A-X) includes a plurality of nodes (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cluster coupler in a time triggered network for connecting clusters operating on the same protocol. Further, it relates to a triggered network having a plurality of clusters, which are coupled via the cluster coupler. It also relates to a method for communicating between different clusters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network operating on a time triggered protocol using time slots, wherein at least two clusters are included in the network, each cluster includes at least a node. Further, it relates to a method for clock synchronization within a time triggered network.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for monitoring a communication media access schedule of a communication controller (5) of a communication system (1) by means of a bus guardian (6). The communication system (1) comprises a communication media (2) and nodes (3) connected to the communication media (2). Each node (3) comprises a communication controller (5) and a bus guardian (6) assigned to the communication controller (5). Messages are transmitted among the nodes (3) across the communication media (2) based on a cyclic time triggered communication media access scheme.

Abstract: A dual-channel network with in each case one communication controller (2, 6) for each of the two channels (A, B). In order to ensure that the two channels (A, B) operate on a temporally matched basis, an exchange of current states (“ready, “abort”) takes place via an external or an on-chip interface (1a, 1b). The cold start operation is carried out only if, and so long as, both communication controllers are in the “ready” state.

Abstract: A method and a bit stream decoding unit for bit stream decoding has a bit stream comprising a number of consecutive samples. In order to provide for rapid and, in particular, reliable decoding of the bit stream, a detection window comprising a number of samples is defined and the detection window is positioned at certain positions on the bit stream in order to comprise certain samples with respective sample values. A majority voting is applied to the sample values in the detection window and, in dependence on the result of the majority voting, the bit stream is decoded and respective bit values are generated.

Abstract: In order to carry out in a communication system (1) a temporal synchronization of clocks in a particularly rapid and efficient manner, a method is proposed which has the following steps: acquiring state values which are dependent on a time base (10); filing each acquired state value at a position in a first list L comprising (k+1) positions, if the acquired state value is smaller than or equal to the (k+1) smallest element of the list L, where k is a predefinable error tolerance; filing the acquired state value at a position in a second list H comprising (k+1) positions, if the acquired state value is greater than or equal to the (k+1) greatest element of the list H; forming a mean value from the (k+1) smallest element of the list L and the (k+1) greatest element of the list H, if the number of acquired state values is greater than or equal to (2k+2); determining a correction value as a function of the mean value; and correcting a current state value of the clocks that are to be synchronized.

Abstract: A time-triggered communication system in a dual-channel network of singlechannel architecture, wherein in each case one communication controller (2, 6) is assigned to one channel, and two corresponding communication controllers (2, 6) communicate with one another via an inter-channel interface (1a, 1b). Said inter-channel communication contains information about limiting points (G1, G2 . . . G12) of a time path. A limiting point (G1, G2 . . . G12) is, for example, the point in time when a cycle starts. The interchange of limiting points enables the temporal offset of the two channels to be determined as well as a correction value. After every two cycles also the rate error of the local clocks can be ascertained and a suitable correction value determined. The reliability of safety-relevant networks is increased by the time-triggered communication system described hereinabove.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a packet switched and a use of a packet switch for configuring a cross-connection matrix within switching means based on status information provided by port controllers of input/output means. By providing generic functions within an arbiter to change weight-values provided by the port controller in order to anticipate the effect of the arbitration result to the weight-values, the bandwidth for status information communication may be reduced.