Abstract: A vehicle network link module includes network fabric ports, a port, a switching circuit, and a link manager. The network fabric ports are operable for coupling to corresponding network fabric ports of another vehicle network fabric link module. The port is operable for coupling to a port of a vehicle network module. The switching circuit is operable to connect an active network fabric port to the port. The link manager determines whether vehicle network packet conveyance via the active network fabric port has degenerated below a threshold. When the vehicle network packet conveyance has degenerated below a threshold, the link manager determines use mode of the active network fabric port. The link manager processing module then selects a new active network fabric port based on the use mode. The link manager then activates the new active network fabric port for coupling via the switching circuit to the port.

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 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 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 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 data bridge controls the transfer of packets between different priority network fabrics of a closed network, e.g. high and low priority network fabrics a vehicular network. Processing circuitry determines first priority routing of a first packet from the first network fabric to the second network fabric based on packet content type of the first packet and priority conditions of the second network fabric. A determination is also made regarding whether a second packet is to be delivered from the second network fabric to the first network fabric. If the second packet is to be delivered, second priority routing of the second packet is made based on packet content type of the second packet and priority conditions of the first network fabric.

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 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 vehicular network is a closed network with known sources, destinations, and network connections that can be mapped in advance, and used to identify network resources needed to transmit a packet from a source to a destination. A network module can determine the source destination, and a priority of a packet based on the packet's content. Using the source and destination information, along with a network topology data, the network module can determine if two packets need the same network resources to be delivered to their destination. When the two packets do not use the same resources, there is no conflict, and the packets can be transmitted concurrently regardless of whether one of the packets has a higher priority than another packet. If there is a conflict, the network module transmits the packets based on the packets' priorities.

Abstract: A network node module includes a processing module and memory. The processing module is operable to generate a header section of a frame for transmission within a unified vehicle communication network. The header section includes a preamble, routing information, and a vehicle network field, which includes information that identifies a type of the frame. The processing module is further operable to generate a payload section of the frame. The payload section includes data payload and an integrity check field. The processing module is further operable to transmit the frame to the unified vehicle communication network in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.

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 data bridge controls packet transfers between network fabrics forming a closed network, such as a vehicular 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 power distribution system within a vehicle operates to provide power over Ethernet to a plurality of network node modules coupled to a vehicular communication network of the vehicle.

Abstract: While transmitting a first Ethernet frame from the first buffer onto an Ethernet link, a first Ethernet device may stop transmitting the first frame prior to completing transmission of the frame. The first Ethernet device may then transmit a second frame from a second buffer onto the Ethernet link. The first Ethernet device may resume transmission of the first frame from the first buffer onto the Ethernet link. A second Ethernet device may receive, via the Ethernet link, a first portion of a first Ethernet frame and store the first portion of the first Ethernet frame in a first buffer. The second Ethernet device may then receive, via the Ethernet link, a second Ethernet frame and store the second Ethernet frame in a second buffer. The second Ethernet device may then receive, via the Ethernet link, a second portion of the first Ethernet frame and append it to the contents of the first buffer.

Abstract: A network device comprising an asymmetric, multi-rate, Ethernet, optical MAC and an asymmetric, multi-rate, Ethernet, optical PHY, communicates optical signals via a network utilizing NV bridging services. Higher bandwidth NV optical signals are communicated and lower bandwidth optical signals are received and/or vice versa. Optical signals may be communicated based on a plurality of different single mode Ethernet optical protocols and/or different multimode Ethernet optical protocols. Optical signals may be communicated at 10 Gbps in one direction and at a lower rate in a reverse direction. Extended range mode may be utilized. PDUs comprise time stamps, traffic class designations and/or destination addresses. Data rate requests, resource reservation messages and/or registration for delivery of PDUs may be communicated. Time stamps enable end to end transport within a specified latency target. Video signals may be compressed, uncompressed, encrypted, unencrypted and/or formatted for a video display interface.

Abstract: A first network device may select a plurality of network paths for establishing a plurality of network connections to a second network device. The selection may be based on support of IEEE Audio Video Bridging (AVB) protocols. The first network device may establish at least one of the plurality of connections over each of the selected network paths. The first network device may concurrently transmit and/or receive a plurality of data streams via the established plurality of network connections. At least a second one of the plurality of data streams may comprise data that is redundant to a first one of the plurality of data streams. One of the plurality of network connections may be selected for conveying a primary data stream based on determined path costs of the plurality of network paths, where non-AVB links may be assigned higher path costs than AVB link.

Abstract: A gateway network device may establish secure connections to a plurality of remote network devices using tunneling protocols to distribute to the remote network devices multimedia content received from one or more content providers. The consumption of the multimedia content may originally be restricted to local network associated with the gateway network device. The secure connections may be set up using L2TP protocol, and the L2TP tunneling connections may be secured using IPSec protocol. Use of multimedia content may be restricted based on DRM policies of the content provider. DRM policies may be implemented using DTCP protocol, which may restrict use of the multimedia content based on roundtrip times and/or IP subnetting. Each content provider may use one or more VLAN identifiers during communication of the multimedia content to the gateway network device, and the gateway network device may associate an additional VLAN identifier with each secure connection.

Abstract: In various embodiments of a method and system for utilizing native Ethernet as a virtual memory interconnect, a first networking device may be operable to transcode a memory read command and/or a memory write command to memory access information and encapsulate the memory access information within in one or more fields of an Ethernet frame. The memory access information may be communicated over an Ethernet link to a second networking device where it may be utilized to access memory that is associated with the memory read command and/or the memory write command. For example, the memory access information may indicate an address of the memory to be accessed, whether a read operation and/or a write operation is to be performed, whether the frame comprises data to be written to the memory, and/or whether a locally administered address space is utilized.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for network resource allocation based on a usage pattern may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. The management entity may be operable to receive a usage pattern associated with each of the one or more endpoint devices. The management entity may be operable to determine resource allocation information for each of the one or more endpoint devices based on the received usage pattern associated with each of the one or more endpoint devices.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for predictive leasing of network services and applications based on a usage pattern may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. A user profile associated with the one or more endpoint devices may be received by the management entity, wherein the management entity may utilize the user profile associated with the one or more endpoint devices and a usage pattern associated with the one or more endpoint devices to determine leasing information for the one or more endpoint devices. The management entity may be operable to communicate the determined leasing information to the one or more endpoint devices. The leasing information may comprise leasing services and/or applications to the one or more endpoint devices.