Nxp B.v.

St-ericsson Sa

Joern Ungermann

Andries Van Wageningen

Peter Fuhrmann

Markus Baumeister

Manfred Bruno Zinke

Bernd Elend

Armand Michelmarie Lelkens

The invention relates to a cluster coupler in a time triggered network for connecting clusters operating on the same protocol. Further, it relates to a triggered network having a plurality of clusters, which are coupled via the cluster coupler. It also relates to a method for communicating between different clusters. To provide a cluster coupling means, a network and a method for communicating between clusters which are able to couple a plurality of clusters operating on the same time triggered protocol to achieve a selectively forwarding of data without message buffering or frame delay a cluster cluster () in a network is proposed operating on a time triggered protocol using time slots, wherein the cluster coupler () is coupled to at least two clusters (A, B, X), a cluster includes at least one node (), wherein the same protocol is used within the clusters, the cluster coupler () comprises: a protocol engine (), a switch () and a switch control unit (), wherein the switch control unit () includes an interconnection schedule indicating which input port of the switch () is connected to which output port of the switch () at a predetermined time slot.

Cluster coupler in a time triggered network

The invention relates to a time triggered network used in particular in an automotive network having a plurality of clusters. Each cluster (A-X) includes a plurality of nodes (). For saving time during startup a cluster coupler unit () in a time triggered network is proposed, wherein the network comprises a plurality of communication clusters (A-X) each having a plurality of nodes (), the communication clusters (A-X) are compatible to each another in cycle length, slot length and frame length, wherein a cluster coupler unit () being connected to at least two communication clusters (A-X), the cluster coupler unit () includes as many protocol engines () as communication clusters are connected, each protocol engine () having at least one receiving input (RXD) and one transmitting output (TXD), wherein a synchronization logic () is connected to at least one of the receiving inputs (RXD) and/or the transmitting outputs (TXD) of the protocol engines (), wherein the synchronization logic () distributes information from incoming/outgoing signals, which is used for synchronizing the connected communication clusters (A-X) during startup.

Cluster coupler unit and method for synchronizing a plurality of clusters in a time-triggered network

The invention relates to a method of synchronizing the clock of different clusters including a first cluster () and a second cluster () which are connected by means of a connecting element () wherein the timing of the second cluster () is at least almost aligned to the timing of the first cluster (), wherein the timing of the second cluster is determined by a node () of the second cluster which is connected to a reference node of the first cluster and wherein the node of the second cluster synchronizes itself with the reference node's timing and transfers an offset correction to the second cluster.

Method of correction of network synchronisation

A star network () having a star coupler () and at least a first and second network branch (), wherein each network branch () comprises at least one network node () and a bus driver () connected between the star coupler () and the at least one network node (). A first bus driver () of the first network branch () is adapted to detect a symbol pattern comprising at least two predetermined equal control symbols, which are transmitted from the first network node () to the second network node (), wherein a control symbol is part of a control pattern. The control pattern is used to force at least the second network node () to switch into a predetermined state. The first bus driver () is disabling the first network branch () from the star network () based on whether the transmitted symbol pattern is detected. By using the protection mechanism a reliable detection of babbling idiots is provided. Moreover, in case of detecting such babbling idiots the remaining network nodes are separated and the network can operate without being influenced by the faulty network node.

Star network and method for preventing a repeated transmission of a control symbol in such a star network

An embodiment of the invention includes a method and network for clock synchronization within a time triggered network using time slots, having at least two clusters. The clusters are connected to a coupling unit that includes a clock alignment control logic. The clock alignment control logic includes a coupling unit clock source which is more accurate than the node clock source. The accuracy of the coupling unit clock source is due to the coupling unit clock source including an oscillator crystal with smaller guaranteed deviations than the guaranteed deviations of the node clock source and/or the coupling unit clock source receiving a clock signal from an external clock device or from a GPS device. The method includes using a rate correction for offset correction.

Network and method for clock synchronization of clusters in a time triggered network

The invention relates to a method and a packet switch for synchronising port controllers () with cross-connection means (). By switching cross-connection means from loopback configurations () to no-transmission configurations, consecutively an offset counter () in a port controller () may be altered until transmission of cells is synchronised, so as cells are switched within said cross-connection means () within transmission periods.

Growing community of inventors

Aachen, Germany

Joern Ungermann