Abstract: A method for operating at least two data processing units with high availability, in particular in a vehicle, is provided. A first data processing unit and a second data processing unit can each provide the same function to an extent of at least 60 percent or at least 90 percent. The second data processing unit removes automatically at least one entry for a process to be executed from a memory unit or automatically places itself into a standby mode.

Abstract: A method for operating a communication network, in particular an ethernet network is provided. Each network device coupled to the network has a first control device, a first switch device which is assigned to the first control device, a second control device, and a second switch device which is assigned to the second control device. Each switch device has a transmitting and receiving port for transmitting and receiving data via the communication network, a first internal transmitting and receiving port for transmitting and receiving data between the switch devices, and a second internal transmitting and receiving port for transmitting and receiving data to or from the control device. A respective data exchange at the first and second internal transmitting and receiving port is prioritized over a data exchange at the transmitting and receiving port for transmitting and receiving data via the communication network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a communication network (101), in particular an Ethernet network. Network devices (1) which are coupled to the network comprise a switch device (4), a first and a second control device (2, 3) which are coupled to the switch device (4), and the switch device (4) comprises for the first and the second control device (2, 3) a respective input port (10, 14) and emitter port (9, 13) for sending and receiving data via the communication network (6). Ring-shaped communication paths for data are provided so that redundant data can be transmitted in different directions and checked for consistency. An improved protection against failure and error analysis in the event of transmission errors are ensured by the ring-shaped structure using bidirectional communication paths. The invention further relates to a network arrangement (101) comprising several corresponding network devices (100, 200, 300) which operate according to the method.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a network arrangement including multiple network devices that are coupled to each other in a ring structure. Each network device includes a control device and a switch device with at least two ports for coupling to a communication path. During operation, at least two VLANs are simultaneously provided in the ring structure, and the sending of a data packet from the control device of a selected network device is performed via a port of the switch device in one of the two VLANs. In order to achieve this, the other port of the switch device of the selected network device is deactivated for the one VLAN. By using two VLANs, a redundant and reliable data transmission may be achieved. A destabilization of the VLANs in the network ring is prevented by the targeted deactivation of specific ports of the sending network device.

Abstract: A method for operating a communications network, in particular an Ethernet network is provided. Network devices that are coupled to the network have a switch device and a control device that is coupled to the switch device, and the switch device has at least one receiving port and a sending port for sending and receiving data via the communications network. Fuse devices for monitoring a particular data transfer rate are assigned to the receiving ports. The fuse devices block data reception at a particular receiving port when a previously determined maximum data transfer rate is exceeded. A possible annular structure using bidirectional communication paths and the limitation of the data transfer rate at the receiving ports improve fail-safety and error analysis in the event of transfer and hardware errors, in particular babbling idiot errors. The invention further relates to a network arrangement having a plurality of corresponding network devices which function according to said method.

Abstract: A method for operating a network arrangement having a plurality of network systems is disclosed. Data belonging to a first class is synchronously transmitted in a specified time slot identical for all network systems. A network system, which owing to a synchronization error during the specified time slot, receives data belonging to other classes from a plurality of senders, then only sends data belonging to the first class, but now in standard messages belonging to class 2. Non-vital data belonging to the other classes is no longer transmitted in this operating state. Improved failure safety and in particular a fail-operational mode is provided by the behavior of the network systems in the event of synchronization errors. A network system which implements the method and a network arrangement having a plurality of corresponding network systems is also proposed.

Abstract: A network mechanism for a communication network, e.g., Ethernet environment, includes a first control mechanism with an assigned first physical port and a second control mechanism with an assigned second physical port, the first and the second physical port being configured to receive and send data via a transmission medium. The network mechanism is configured such that transmitted data from the first control mechanism are coupled by an internal transmit connector of the first control mechanism via the first physical port into the transmission medium and received data at the second physical port are routed to an internal receive connector of the first control mechanism. Alternatively, received data can be routed crosswise to the other control mechanism, i.e., the control mechanism not assigned to the receiving physical port. The crosswise routing enables the formation of two independent ring-shaped communication paths of different transmit/receive directions within a single physical ring-shaped network.