Abstract: A vehicle control module includes a vehicle device and a vehicle network interface. The vehicle device is operable to perform a vehicle function. The vehicle network interface facilitates communication regarding the vehicle function between the vehicle device and a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.

Abstract: A system for controlling power distribution within a vehicular communication network, including a power source equipment comprising a first port in communication with a network node module of a device, and a Power over Ethernet (POE) management module. The POE management module is configured to enable POE to the device via the first port, monitor a current draw of the device, determine whether the current draw of the device exceeds a threshold, and disable POE to the device, responsive to determining that the current draw exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A system for controlling power distribution within a vehicular communication network, including a power source equipment comprising a first port in communication with a network node module of a device, and a Power over Ethernet (POE) management module. The POE management module is configured to enable POE to the device via the first port, monitor a current draw of the device, determine whether the current draw of the device exceeds a threshold, and disable POE to the device, responsive to determining that the current draw exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A system for controlling power distribution within a vehicular communication network, including a power source equipment comprising a first port in communication with a network node module of a device, and a Power over Ethernet (POE) management module. The POE management module is configured to enable POE to the device via the first port, monitor a current draw of the device, determine whether the current draw of the device exceeds a threshold, and disable POE to the device, responsive to determining that the current draw exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A vehicular communication device and method for communicating with a remote server. In various embodiments, the vehicular communication device receives a plurality of device packets from a vehicle device(s) via a vehicular communication network, including device packets having a first priority and device packets having a second priority. Processing circuitry of the vehicular communication device determines the respective priorities of the received device packets based upon the contents of the packets, and queues at least some of the received device packets (and/or informational packets derived therefrom) in accordance with the respective priorities. The queued packets are output to a remote server for processing. The vehicular communication device receives responsive content from the remote server, which may include safety content, a servicing notice and/or targeted commercial content.

Abstract: A system and method for performing vehicle safety processing within a vehicle includes determining whether a driver is present in a vehicle, receiving driver sensed data, processing the driver sensed data to recognize a safety issue. The method continues by determining if the driver sensed data also indicates an externally sensed safety issue. For the driver sensed data without the externally sensed safety issue, the method includes generating one or more control signals to activate a driver awareness measure. For the driver sensed data with an externally sensed safety issue, the method includes activating auto safety precaution measures, determining whether the auto safety measures were successful in avoiding an accident, and, if not, recording the driver sensed data in a one-time programmable (OTP) memory device.

Abstract: A system and method for performing vehicle safety processing within a vehicle includes determining whether a driver is present in a vehicle, receiving driver sensed data, processing the driver sensed data to recognize a safety issue. The method continues by determining if the driver sensed data also indicates an externally sensed safety issue. For the driver sensed data without the externally sensed safety issue, the method includes generating one or more control signals to activate a driver awareness measure. For the driver sensed data with an externally sensed safety issue, the method includes activating auto safety precaution measures, determining whether the auto safety measures were successful in avoiding an accident, and, if not, recording the driver sensed data in a one-time programmable (OTP) memory device.

Abstract: A system for performing multi-level video processing within a vehicle includes a pre-processing module for determining an encoding mode and enabling one or more levels of encoding based on the encoding mode. The pre-processing module further receives a video stream from a camera attached to the vehicle via a vehicular communication network and encodes the video stream based on the encoding mode to produce a packet stream output. The system further includes a video decoder for receiving the packet stream output and decoding the packet stream output in accordance with the encoding mode to produce a decoded video output.

Abstract: A vehicular communication device and method for communicating with a remote server. In various embodiments, the vehicular communication device receives a plurality of device packets from a vehicle device(s) via a vehicular communication network, including device packets having a first priority and device packets having a second priority. Processing circuitry of the vehicular communication device determines the respective priorities of the received device packets based upon the contents of the packets, and queues at least some of the received device packets (and/or informational packets derived therefrom) in accordance with the respective priorities. The queued packets are output to a remote server for processing. The vehicular communication device receives responsive content from the remote server, which may include safety content, a servicing notice and/or targeted commercial content.

Abstract: A vehicle network node module includes device buffers, a network buffer, a switch circuit, and a processing module. The device buffers temporarily store outgoing device packets from, and temporarily store incoming device packets for, vehicle devices in accordance with a locally managed prioritization scheme. The network buffer receives incoming network packets from, and outputs the outgoing network packets to, a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network protocol. The network buffer also temporarily stores the incoming network packets and the outgoing network packets in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme. The switching circuit selectively couples the network buffer to individual ones of the device buffers in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme.

Abstract: A network management module includes a network interface module, memory, and a processing module. The network interface module is operable for coupling the network management module to a vehicle communication network. The processing module is operable to manage a global vehicle network communication protocol that includes instituting a content-based network packet processing protocol and managing the vehicle communication network to support the network packet processing protocol. The content-based network packet processing protocol includes determining content type of a packet, determining a processing requirement of the packet, and prioritizing execution of the processing requirement based on the content type.

Abstract: A data bridge controls packet transfers between network fabrics forming a closed network, such as a vehicular network and a home network. The data bridge includes two or more sets of modules, each of which communicates with a different network fabric. When a packet is to be delivered between network fabrics, a first set of modules, which is used to communicate with a first network fabric, decides whether to accept the packet or discard it. If the packet is accepted, it is delivered to a second set of modules, which is used for communicating with a second network fabric. The second set of modules makes a second, independent decision about whether the packet will be sent to the second network fabric. Each set of modules can base its decision on packet content type, and may discard any packet not to be delivered to the other network.

Abstract: A vehicle network node module includes device buffers, a network buffer, a switch circuit, and a processing module. The device buffers temporarily store outgoing device packets from, and temporarily store incoming device packets for, vehicle devices in accordance with a locally managed prioritization scheme. The network buffer receives incoming network packets from, and outputs the outgoing network packets to, a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network protocol. The network buffer also temporarily stores the incoming network packets and the outgoing network packets in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme. The switching circuit selectively couples the network buffer to individual ones of the device buffers in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme.

Abstract: A bridge routing module can be incorporated into a closed network fabric, such as a vehicular network. The bridge routing module includes an interface circuit to be coupled to other elements of the closed network fabric, for example other bridge routing modules or switch modules. The bridge routing module includes memory to store information associating packet content types with packet routing parameters, among other things. A processing module included in the bridge routing module analyzes packets to identify the type of content carried by the packets, and determines packet routing parameters based on the packet's content type. Ingress and egress of the packet are controlled in accordance with the packet routing parameters determined by the processing module.

Abstract: A network management module includes a network interface module, memory, and a processing module. The network interface module is operable for coupling the network management module to a vehicle communication network. The processing module is operable to manage a global vehicle network communication protocol that includes instituting a content-based network packet processing protocol and managing the vehicle communication network to support the network packet processing protocol. The content-based network packet processing protocol includes determining content type of a packet, determining a processing requirement of the packet, and prioritizing execution of the processing requirement based on the content type.

Abstract: A vehicle network node module includes device buffers, a network buffer, a switch circuit, and a processing module. The device buffers temporarily store outgoing device packets from, and temporarily store incoming device packets for, vehicle devices in accordance with a locally managed prioritization scheme. The network buffer receives incoming network packets from, and outputs the outgoing network packets to, a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network protocol. The network buffer also temporarily stores the incoming network packets and the outgoing network packets in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme. The switching circuit selectively couples the network buffer to individual ones of the device buffers in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme.

Abstract: A network management module includes a network interface module, memory, and a processing module. The network interface module is operable for coupling the network management module to a vehicle communication network. The processing module is operable to manage a global vehicle network communication protocol that includes instituting a content-based network packet processing protocol and managing the vehicle communication network to support the network packet processing protocol. The content-based network packet processing protocol includes determining content type of a packet, determining a processing requirement of the packet, and prioritizing execution of the processing requirement based on the content type.

Abstract: A switching module can route packets between a network fabric and a local network, both of which form a closed network such as a vehicular network. The switching module provides local network management functions, and handles packet transfers between the local network and the network fabric. The switching module uses network information, which can include information about packet content type and network topology, to determine a packet's priority, and an appropriate switching protocol to use for processing and routing packets.

Abstract: A wired and wireless vehicle communication network includes network node modules, switch modules, bridge-routing modules, and a network manager. The network manager is operable to determine a wired packet communication mode and/or a wireless packet communication mode. When the network is in the wireless packet communication mode, the network manager coordinates wireless communication of packets among the network node modules, the switch modules, and the bridge-routing modules based on individual content of the packets and wireless channel mapping. When the network is in the wired packet communication mode, the network manager coordinates wired communication of packets among the network node modules, the switch modules, and the bridge-routing modules based on the individual content of the packets and in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.

Abstract: A vehicle control module includes a vehicle device and a vehicle network interface. The vehicle device is operable to perform a vehicle function. The vehicle network interface facilitates communication regarding the vehicle function between the vehicle device and a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.