Abstract: A vehicle network and method for communicating information within a vehicle. The network includes a plurality of network elements joined by communication links. A data frame is provided for communicating information between a first device and a second device attached to the network. A network element in the network is capable of mapping a first resource on an incoming communication link of the network element to a second link resource of an outgoing communication link of the network element. The network element further has ports for receiving the data frame from the first link resource of the incoming communication link and for communicating the data frame to the second link resource of the outgoing communication link. The mapping may be done statically or dynamically such as based on information stored in the network element or based on information stored in the data frame.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating the performance of an automotive switch fabric network using a diagnostic interface. A diagnostic device and interface is connected to an automotive switch fabric network, comprising of a plurality of communication nodes, through one of the nodes in the switch fabric network. The diagnostic device and interface configures the switch fabric network to operate in a test mode. The diagnostic device and interface will issue a first command to one node to start traffic across a test node at a predetermined traffic rate and a second command to another node to generate a test message that passes through the test node. The test node contains message processing logic that will process the messages as they pass through the test node. A plurality of timestamps is generated in the message processing logic of the test node to monitor the progression of the messages through the processing logic.

Abstract: A system and method for tunneling standard bus protocol messages through an automotive switch fabric network. When a bus protocol message arrives on a connecting node in the network, a bus driver in the node will capture the message and store it into a message buffer where the message can be further processed by a tunneling application. Each received bus protocol message will be broken, or combined, to suit the available packet size of the underlying transmit layer of the switch fabric network. Data portions such as message identification, sequence number, port number, bus data type, and data length are reserved in each data packet. If the message is being broken down, the sequence number is used to differentiate the broken segments of the bus protocol message. The bus data type is used to indicate the type of protocol data being transmitted over the switch fabric. The same tunneling application may be used to reassemble the bus protocol message at a receiving node.

Abstract: A system and method for streaming sequential data through a vehicle switch fabric network. This is particular useful in areas such as reprogramming nodes in the automotive switch fabric network where relatively large records or messages need to be transmitted through the switch fabric, although the invention may be used in other areas. In sum, the system and method described herein takes large data records and breaks them down into smaller units (data packets) that fit within the constraints of the physical layer on which communication links in the switch fabric network is built. The smaller data packets are assigned with a message identification and a sequence number. Data packets associated with the same data record or message are assigned with the same message identification but may differ in their sequence number. Each data packet is transmitted over the vehicle switch fabric network to a destination node.

Abstract: An asset visibility management system that comprises a common sytem backbone, an asset transaction system interface, and an asset data acquisition and communication device interface. The asset transaction system interface provides communications between the common system backbone and one of a plurality of asset transaction systems. The asset data acquisition and communication device interface provides communication between the common system backbone and a plurality of data acquisition and communication devices. Each of the data acquisition and communication devices are assigned to predefined categories. The predefined categories may include a substantially continuous location category, a substantially non-continuous location category, an identification category, a sensor category, and a time stamp category.

Abstract: A method in an asset visibility management system the includes the steps of associating an asset with a plurality of information elements and associating an asset carrier with a plurality of information elements. The information elements associated with the asset include an asset identification and a binding link. The information elements associated with the asset carrier include an asset carrier identification. The method further includes the steps of determining whether the asset has been placed on the asset carrier and, if so, updating the binding link associated with the asset so that an association is made between the information elements of the asset and the information elements of the asset carrier.

Abstract: An asset visibility management system that includes an asset transaction system interface, an asset data acquisition and communication device interface, and an event correlator. The asset transaction system interface provides communication between one of a plurality of asset transaction systems and a common communication format. The asset data acquisition and communication device interface provides communication between a plurality of data acquisition and communication devices and the common communication format. The event correlator receives transaction events from the asset transaction system interface and visibility events from the asset data acquisition and communication device interface and correlates the events together.

Abstract: An asset visibility management system that includes a visibility application interface, an asset data acquisition and communication device interface, and a rules engine. The visibility application interface provides communications between one of a plurality of visibility applications and a common communication format. The asset acquisition and communication device interface provides communications between a plurality of data acquisition and communication devices and the common communication format. The rules engine receives a rule criteria from the visibility application interface in the common communication format and receives visibility events from the asset data acquisition and communication device interface in the common communication format. The rules engine then uses the received visibility events to determine whether the rule criteria has been satisfied.

Abstract: An asset visibility management system for monitoring and managing assets across different domains. The system includes a plurality of proxies such as an originating proxy, a recipient proxy, and other facility proxies that are associated with transport facilities, transfer facilities and storage facilities. The proxies have a transaction component and a visibility component and communicate with each other over a common communication protocol. Each proxy is also individually connected to an associated local asset management system that is different from other local asset management systems connected to other proxies.

Abstract: A vehicle communication network (200) includes a plurality of network elements (208-212) and a plurality of communication links (214-230) communicatively coupling the network elements in a point-to-point configuration. A portion of the communication capability is reserved according to a class of message traffic.

Abstract: A vehicle communication network (200) includes a plurality of network elements (208-212) and a plurality of communication links (214-230) communicatively coupling the network elements in a point-to-point configuration. At least a portion of the plurality of communication links may be specified in accordance with a shared-access bus protocol. The plurality of communication links are arranged to communicate data packets between the network elements.

Abstract: A vehicle communication network (200) includes a plurality of network elements (202-212) and a plurality of communication links (214-230) communicatively coupling the network elements in a point-to-point configuration. At least a portion of the plurality of communication links are specified in accordance with a shared-access bus protocol. The plurality of communication links are arranged to communicate data packets between the network elements, and data packets are modified for transport via the plurality of communication links.