A controller forming one node of a local interconnect network in a vehicle and implementing a function associated with the vehicle is provided along with a method for communicating within the network. The controller includes a serial communication interface configured to communicate with a single wire serial communication bus through a local interconnect network transceiver. A processor coupled to the interface is configured to implement a process for transmitting data on the bus including determining whether the bus is in use by another node, generating, when the bus is not in use, a signal on the bus indicative of a forthcoming transmission, transmitting a predetermined portion of a frame of data on the bus, determining whether a data collision exists on the bus, transmitting, when a data collision does not exist, another predetermined portion of the frame, and terminating, when a data collision does exist, further transmission of the frame.

A system for controlling bus-networked devices includes a gateway, an open field bus, a first power supply unit, an auxiliary power supply unit, a pluggable connection cable and a power module. The auxiliary power supply unit is configured to supply auxiliary power for an upstream bus subscriber. The pluggable connection cable electrically is connected to the gateway and to the plurality of bus subscribers. The power module is electrically connected between the upstream bus subscriber and a downstream bus subscriber. The power module loops through a data stream from the upstream bus subscriber to the downstream bus subscriber but does not loop through an auxiliary voltage of the auxiliary power supply unit from the upstream bus subscriber to the downstream bus subscriber.

A relay device transmits a frame received from any of a plurality of external devices that are connected via a plurality of communication lines. The external device is connected to one of the communication lines and to another one of the communication lines by searching a relay information table for specifying a relay destination of the frame. In the relay information table, information for identifying a frame type is stored in association with relay destination identifying information for identifying a communication line serving as a relay destination of a frame. The relay information table is partitioned into a plurality of sub-tables in accordance with priority based on the type identifying information or the relay destination identifying information. The relay device searches the sub-tables in descending order of priority using the type identifying information contained in the frame received from the external device as a search key specifying the relay destination.

A bus system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of electrical and/or electronic components coupled to one another in terms of signaling via at least one bus line, said components including at least one master component and at least two slave components. At least one of the slave components functions as a master for one or a plurality of the further slave components for at least one operating parameter. There is additionally disclosed a method for controlling such a bus system comprising a plurality of electrical or electronic components coupled to one another in terms of signalling via at least one bus line, wherein at least one of the slave components operates as a master for one or a plurality of the further slave components for at least one operating parameter.

Provided is an in-vehicle gateway device which is capable of performing efficient path selection control when data is transferred to a different network. In an in-vehicle gateway device that performs transfer control of data between a first network and a second network, the second network has a different network form from the first network, and a virtual IP address is allocated to the second network.

An infotainment assembly for a vehicle has a vehicle communication controller and a multimedia controller with an interchip communication bus and a serial bus connection, a message processing unit and a remote messaging interface having a one-way protocol. The multimedia controller comprises a display connection for a display device, a message receiver, and a computer readable memory with an operating system having multiple boot phases, wherein graphics drivers of the operating system for controlling the display device are loaded in a later boot phase of the operating system. A video driver retrieves video signals, generates video images and transmits the video images to a display device during an earlier boot phase of the operating system.

A method for controlling bus-networked devices is useable in a system comprising a gateway, an open field bus electrically connected to the gateway, and a pluggable connection cable electrically connecting the gateway to a plurality of bus subscribers. The gateway starts a configuration mode to control a bus subscriber and to generate a new target configuration including the bus subscriber. According to an initial target configuration, the bus subscriber is not expected by the gateway.

A controller associated with a propulsion device in a marine propulsion system stores computer-executable instructions to perform a method of automatically configuring at least one other controller associated with the propulsion device. The method includes storing a controller CAN address that identifies a propulsion device position of the propulsion device in the marine propulsion system, and then receiving an identification CAN message communicating an initial CAN address from the other controller via a dedicated CAN bus, wherein the initial CAN address contains initial propulsion device position information. The initial CAN address is compared to the controller CAN address to determine whether the initial propulsion device position information correctly identifies the propulsion device position and, if it does not, the controller sends a change CAN message via the dedicated CAN bus to change the initial CAN address of the other controller to a correct CAN address identifying the propulsion device position.

The present disclosure relates to a communication system for serial communication. The communication system may include a master communication device; and at least one slave communication device comprising a unique identifier, wherein the master communication device is connected to the at least one slave communication device via a signal line configured for communications, wherein the master communication device is configured to read at least a part of the unique identifier via the signal line, and assign an address to the at least one slave communication device based at least in part on the unique identifier, and transmit the address to the at least one slave communication device via the signal line.

A gateway device for controlling an air-conditioning device of a vehicle, a vehicle having such a gateway device and a method for starting up an air-conditioning device in a vehicle. The gateway device includes at least one plug-in contact for connecting the gateway device to an air-conditioning device and/or to a vehicle component, a reception unit for receiving configuration data for selecting a plug configuration of the gateway device, a configuration circuit associated with the plug-in contact, that is designed to take configuration data as a basis for changing between at least one first switching state of the plug-in contact, in which the plug-in contact is designed to perform a first function, and at least one second switching state of the plug-in contact, in which the plug-in contact is designed to perform a second function.