Abstract: The present invention relates to a clock supervision unit (100) and an electronic system clocked by at least one clock (c*) and using the clock supervision unit (100). The clock supervision unit (100) analyzes the at least one clock (c*) based on a monitor clock (m*) provided together with the at least one clock (c*) or separately to the clock supervision unit (100). The clock supervision unit (100) at least comprises an activity unit (210), a deviation unit (220) and an auxiliary clock generator (240). The auxiliary clock generator (240) outputs an auxiliary clock (a*). The activity unit (210) detects the presence of the monitor clock (m*) based on the auxiliary clock (a*) and the presence of the auxiliary clock (a*) based on the monitor clock (m*). The deviation unit (220) detects clock faults in the monitor clock (m*) based on the auxiliary clock (a*).

Abstract: A system and method for providing fault detection capability is provided which comprises a first node (2). The first node (2) comprises a first processing subsystem (5) generating data (14) to be transmitted. The first node (2) has a fault supervisor unit (13) adapted to gather and process fault indications arising in the first node (2). The first processing subsystem (5) and the fault supervisor unit are both integrated in the first node (2). The first node (2) is structured such that, when no fault indications are detected by the fault supervisor unit (13), the fault supervisor unit (13) provides a first key (15) as a validity key, and, when at least one fault indication is detected by the fault supervisor unit (13), the fault supervisor unit (13) provides a second key (16) as the validity key, and the data (14) to be transmitted are encrypted by overlaying the respective validity key (15; 16) on the data.

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: A network node (1) with a communication unit (2), which is provided for the implementation of a communication protocol for the purpose of communication with other network nodes via a communication medium (5), and with a bus monitor (3), which, mutually independently, each implement an access time schedule contained in a configuration data record, and which each make available, in accordance with the access time schedule, a release signal for a bus driver (4) provided in the network node (1), which evaluates these two signals and, in the event that the two release signals do not coincide, blocks the access of the network node (1) to the communication medium (5).

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the monitoring and management of data traffic in a communication system with several communication nodes which communicate via interfaces monitored by a bus monitor, comprising the following steps: a) provision of a predefined communication time schedule for all communication nodes, b) initialization of the bus monitor, c) synchronization of the communication time schedule of the bus monitor with the predefined communication time schedule executed by the communication nodes in a distributed arrangement, the synchronization taking place on the basis of activities observed at the interfaces, d) monitoring of the activities of the communication nodes by the bus monitor, e) comparison of the activities with the predefined communication time schedule, and f) deactivation of the interface for any communication node for which an activity not compatible with the predefined communication time schedule has been detected. A circuit arrangement and its use are also described.

Abstract: A system and method for providing fault detection capability is provided which comprises a first node (2). The first node (2) comprises a first processing subsystem (5) generating data (14) to be transmitted. The first node (2) has a fault supervisor unit (13) adapted to gather and process fault indications arising in the first node (2). The first processing subsystem (5) and the fault supervisor unit are both integrated in the first node (2). The first node (2) is structured such that, when no fault indications are detected by the fault supervisor unit (13), the fault supervisor unit (13) provides a first key (15) as a validity key, and, when at least one fault indication is detected by the fault supervisor unit (13), the fault supervisor unit (13) provides a second key (16) as the validity key, and the data (14) to be transmitted are encrypted by overlaying the respective validity key (15; 16) on the data.

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 system for providing fault tolerance for at least one micro controller unit, hereinafter called MCU (10). The MCU receives information from at least one sensor (11) coupled to the MCU (10) and outputs information to at least one actuator (12) coupled to the MCU (10). To provide a system for controlling or influencing the fault tolerance or the error processing of at least one MCU without requiring a replication of software or hardware components and which is able to react differently on various events it is proposed to include a System Supervision unit (200), hereinafter called SSU (200), in the MCU (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clock supervision unit (100) and an electronic system clocked by at least one clock (c*) and using the clock supervision unit (100). The clock supervision unit (100) analyzes the at least one clock (c*) based on a monitor clock (m*) provided together with the at least one clock (c*) or separately to the clock supervision unit (100). The clock supervision unit (100) at least comprises an activity unit (210), a deviation unit (220) and an auxiliary clock generator (240). The auxiliary clock generator (240) outputs an auxiliary clock (a*). The activity unit (210) detects the presence of the monitor clock (m*) based on the auxiliary clock (a*) and the presence of the auxiliary clock (a*) based on the monitor clock (m*). The deviation unit (220) detects clock faults in the monitor clock (m*) based on the auxiliary clock (a*).

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: In order to further develop a communication system (400) as well as a corresponding communication method in such way that a protection of the communication medium (300, 310) from timing failures of a communication controller (120) of a node (100), in particular a limited protection of the communication channel (300, 310) from illegal transmissions in the time domain, can be achieved without providing any bus guardian, it is proposed to prevent any transmission of the node (100) during phases with high susceptibility to illegal transmission, in particular during the communication startup of the communication system (400).

Abstract: A device and method for detection of timing errors or failures of a communication controller (24) by a decentralized bus guardian (26) is provided. In a node (20) on a communication network (38), a communication controller (24), a bus guardian (26) and a bus driver (34) operate to receive and transmit information in a designated communication time slot on a communication medium (38). The bus guardian monitors activity on a communication medium and determines if it appears that the communications from other specific nodes on the communication medium are placing information on the communication medium within their designated communication time slots (54). If two or more of the communications from the other specific nodes are operating outside of there designated time slots, then the bus guardian determines that its own related communication controller has a timing failure.

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: The invention relates to a communications network with at least two network nodes, between which data may be transmitted via a transmission medium, in which a communications schedule is provided which allots time slots to the network nodes for access to the transmission medium, in which the network nodes each comprise at least one communication controller with a first scheduler for controlling access by the network nodes to the transmission medium according to the communications schedule, in which the communications network comprises at least one bus guardian with a second scheduler for monitoring accesses by the network nodes to the transmission medium according to a monitoring schedule, in which the communication controller comprises means for generating a local, independent clock signal and a global clock signal, which may be influenced by at least one parameter of the communications system and in which the global clock signal is provided both to control the first schedulers of the communication control

Abstract: The invention relates to a communication network with at least two network nodes, with transmission channels for transmitting data packets between the network nodes, and with at least one active coupler. The invention provides for coupler information to be attached to the data packets as they pass through the active coupler, and data-packet running-time information to be determined from the coupler information in a network node that receives a data packet.

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: 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: 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: The invention relates to a communication network with at least two network nodes, with transmission channels for transmitting data packets between the network nodes, and with at least one active coupler. The invention provides for coupler information to be attached to the data packets as they pass through the active coupler, and data-packet running-time information to be determined from the coupler information in a network node that receives a data packet.

Abstract: A network node (1) with a communication unit (2), which is provided for the implementation of a communication protocol for the purpose of communication with other network nodes via a communication medium (5), and with a bus monitor (3), which, mutually independently, each implement an access time schedule contained in a configuration data record, and which each make available, in accordance with the access time schedule, a release signal for a bus driver (4) provided in the network node (1), which evaluates these two signals and, in the event that the two release signals do not coincide, blocks the access of the network node (1) to the communication medium (5).