Abstract: Two or more modules communicate over a common control network including receiving by a message packet having data defined by a signal level at defined bit quanta of a bit, the defined bit quanta being less than every bit quanta of a bit, and the communication device samples bit quanta other than the defined bit quanta. The module receives signal disturbances and decodes the signal disturbances as having a value different from an expected value of the certain bit. In another form, the module uses a first counter based on a clock local to the communication device and a second counter having a higher sampling rate than the first counter. Here, the module receives over the control network a synchronizing portion of a message and counts clock ticks of the second counter over a portion of the message to determine a clock rate for a module that transmitted the message.

Abstract: Two or more modules communicate over a common control network including receiving by a message packet having data defined by a signal level at defined bit quanta of a bit, the defined bit quanta being less than every bit quanta of a bit, and the communication device samples bit quanta other than the defined bit quanta. The module receives signal disturbances and decodes the signal disturbances as having a value different from an expected value of the certain bit. In another form, the module uses a first counter based on a clock local to the communication device and a second counter having a higher sampling rate than the first counter. Here, the module receives over the control network a synchronizing portion of a message and counts clock ticks of the second counter over a portion of the message to determine a clock rate for a module that transmitted the message.

Abstract: Two or more modules communicate over a common control network including receiving by a message packet having data defined by a signal level at defined bit quanta of a bit, the defined bit quanta being less than every bit quanta of a bit, and the communication device samples bit quanta other than the defined bit quanta. The module receives signal disturbances and decodes the signal disturbances as having a value different from an expected value of the certain bit. In another form, the module uses a first counter based on a clock local to the communication device and a second counter having a higher sampling rate than the first counter. Here, the module receives over the control network a synchronizing portion of a message and counts clock ticks of the second counter over a portion of the message to determine a clock rate for a module that transmitted the message.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for efficient utilization of available band-width on the system's bus connection. The system includes a scheduler configured to receive a virtual schedule that provides at least one slot for sending a message over the communication bus. A module is configured to send a message over the communication bus.

Abstract: A communication module is configured to communicate a first part of a message packet configured to identify message content contained in the message packet and a second part of the message packet and change the second part of the message packet in response to a trigger. A received message packet's changing portion is compared with the set of the authorized changing portions to determine whether the received message packet is authorized for the common control network. The received message packet is discarded or ignored in response to the received message packet's changing portion not matching at least one of the authorized changing portions in the set of the authorized changing portions.

Abstract: Two or more modules communicate over a common control network including receiving by a message packet having data defined by a signal level at defined bit quanta of a bit, the defined bit quanta being less than every bit quanta of a bit, and the communication device samples bit quanta other than the defined bit quanta. The module receives signal disturbances and decodes the signal disturbances as having a value different from an expected value of the certain bit. In another form, the module uses a first counter based on a clock local to the communication device and a second counter having a higher sampling rate than the first counter. Here, the module receives over the control network a synchronizing portion of a message and counts clock ticks of the second counter over a portion of the message to determine a clock rate for a module that transmitted the message.

Abstract: A control network communication arrangement includes a second protocol embedded into a first protocol in a way that modules supporting the second protocol may be aware of and utilize the first protocol whereas modules supporting only the first protocol may not be aware of the second protocol. Operation of modules using the second protocol does not disturb operation of the modules not configured to use or understand the second protocol. By one approach, the messages sent using the second protocol will be seen as messages sent using the first protocol but not having a message necessary to understand or as needing a particular response. In another approach, modules using the second protocol can be configured to send message during transmission of first protocol messages by other modules, the second protocol messages being triggered off of expected aspects of the message sent under the first protocol.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for efficient utilization of available band-width on the system's bus connection. The system includes a scheduler configured to receive a virtual schedule that provides at least one slot for sending a message over the communication bus. A module is configured to send a message over the communication bus.

Abstract: A control network communication arrangement includes a second protocol embedded into a first protocol in a way that modules supporting the second protocol may be aware of and utilize the first protocol whereas modules supporting only the first protocol may not be aware of the second protocol. Operation of modules using the second protocol does not disturb operation of the modules not configured to use or understand the second protocol. By one approach, unique additional information is embedded into an end of frame portion of a message to confirm that the portion is the end of frame portion. This acts as a quality check confirming proper synchronization and decoding of the signaling on the communication bus.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for efficient utilization of available band-width on the system's bus connection. The system includes a scheduler configured to receive a virtual schedule that provides at least one slot for sending a message over the communication bus. A module is configured to send a message over the communication bus.

Abstract: A control network communication arrangement includes a second protocol embedded into a first protocol in a way that modules supporting the second protocol may be aware of and utilize the first protocol whereas modules supporting only the first protocol may not be aware of the second protocol. Operation of modules using the second protocol does not disturb operation of the modules not configured to use or understand the second protocol. By one approach, the messages sent using the second protocol will be seen as messages sent using the first protocol but not having a message necessary to understand or as needing a particular response. In another approach, modules using the second protocol can be configured to send message during transmission of first protocol messages by other modules, the second protocol messages being triggered off of expected aspects of the message sent under the first protocol.

Abstract: A control network communication arrangement includes a second protocol embedded into a first protocol in a way that modules supporting the second protocol may be aware of and utilize the first protocol whereas modules supporting only the first protocol may not be aware of the second protocol. Operation of modules using the second protocol does not disturb operation of the modules not configured to use or understand the second protocol. By one approach, the messages sent using the second protocol will be seen as messages sent using the first protocol but not having a message necessary to understand or as needing a particular response. In another approach, modules using the second protocol can be configured to send message during transmission of first protocol messages by other modules, the second protocol messages being triggered off of expected aspects of the message sent under the first protocol.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for efficient utilization of available band-width on the system's bus connection. The system includes a scheduler configured to receive a virtual schedule that provides at least one slot for sending a message over the communication bus. A module is configured to send a message over the communication bus.

Abstract: A control network communication arrangement includes tagging information being embedded within individual ones of bits of a message packet to distinguish bits having the tagging information as being either message packet protocol overhead bits or bits from the message data portion. So configured, a receiving module can readily exclude protocol overhead bits from message data portion bits.

Abstract: A control network communication arrangement includes a second protocol embedded into a first protocol in a way that modules supporting the second protocol may be aware of and utilize the first protocol whereas modules supporting only the first protocol may not be aware of the second protocol. Operation of modules using the second protocol does not disturb operation of the modules not configured to use or understand the second protocol. By one approach, unique additional information is embedded into a message to provide authentication of the first protocol message. This acts as a quality check protecting against unauthorized messaged being sent on the control network.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for efficient utilization of available band-width on the system's bus connection. The system includes a scheduler configured to receive a virtual schedule that provides at least one slot for sending a message over the communication bus. A module is configured to send a message over the communication bus.

Abstract: A control network communication arrangement includes a second protocol embedded into a first protocol in a way that modules supporting the second protocol may be aware of and utilize the first protocol whereas modules supporting only the first protocol may not be aware of the second protocol. Operation of modules using the second protocol does not disturb operation of the modules not configured to use or understand the second protocol. By one approach, the messages sent using the second protocol will be seen as messages sent using the first protocol but not having a message necessary to understand or as needing a particular response. In another approach, modules using the second protocol can be configured to send message during transmission of first protocol messages by other modules, the second protocol messages being triggered off of expected aspects of the message sent under the first protocol.

Abstract: A control network communication arrangement includes a second protocol embedded into a first protocol in a way that modules supporting the second protocol may be aware of and utilize the first protocol whereas modules supporting only the first protocol may not be aware of the second protocol. Operation of modules using the second protocol does not disturb operation of the modules not configured to use or understand the second protocol. By one approach, the messages sent using the second protocol will be seen as messages sent using the first protocol but not having a message necessary to understand or as needing a particular response. In another approach, modules using the second protocol can be configured to send messages within a CAN message frame without being compatible with CAN.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for efficient utilization of available band-width on the system's bus connection. The system includes a scheduler configured to receive a virtual schedule that provides at least one slot for sending a message over the communication bus. A module is configured to send a message over the communication bus.

Abstract: A control network communication arrangement includes a second protocol embedded into a first protocol in a way that modules supporting the second protocol may be aware of and utilize the first protocol whereas modules supporting only the first protocol may not be aware of the second protocol. Operation of modules using the second protocol does not disturb operation of the modules not configured to use or understand the second protocol. By one approach, unique additional information is embedded into a message to provide authentication of the first protocol message. This acts as a quality check protecting against unauthorized messaged being sent on the control network.