Multiplex transmission system

Claim 2

A multiplex transmission system comprising: a plurality of multiplex nodes; a common multiplex transmission line means for interconnecting said plurality of multiplex nodes and for transmitting a frame of data among the multiplex nodes through the common multiplex transmission line; said multiplex nodes including means for sending out an acknowledge signal, when a data transmission of a frame of data is properly carried out, for indicating a proper completion of the data transmission, and for returning said acknowledge signal to an acknowledge signal area provided in the frame of data corresponding to the respective multiplex nodes; wherein the frame of data further includes a group identifier specifying more than one group of predetermined combinations of multiplex nodes from which an acknowledge signal is to be returned, and an acknowledge signal area having locations thereof assigned to said multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned, the acknowledge signal area having a length which is variable depending on the group identifier; the multiplex nodes, which belong to a specified group specified by the group identifier, each including means for returning an acknowledge signal in accordance with the group identifier in the transmitted frame of data; and wherein the multiplex nodes which do not belong to the specified group do not return the acknowledge signal.

Claim 3

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the identifier specifies on a bit-wise basis a group of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned.

Claim 4

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the identifier specifies by a binary code a group of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned.

Claim 5

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 1, wherein each of the multiplex nodes includes: memory means for storing data indicating all multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned in a table corresponding to the respective groups of predetermined combinations of the multiplex nodes, means for specifying a group of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is transmitted, and means for returning the acknowledge signal in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is received.

Claim 6

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 1, wherein each of the multiplex nodes belong to one group, or two or more groups.

Claim 7

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 1, wherein each of the groups comprise several or all of the multiplex nodes interconnected by the multiplex transmission bus.

Claim 8

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 1, wherein said multiplex transmission system is included in an automobile control system for controlling functions in the automobile, and wherein said multiplex nodes include means for controlling respective functions in the automobile.

Claim 9

A multiplex transmission system comprising: a plurality of multiplex nodes; a common multiplex transmission line means for interconnecting said plurality of multiplex nodes and for transmitting a frame of data among the multiplex nodes through the multiplex common transmission line; wherein when a data transmission of a frame of data is properly carried out, said multiplex nodes send out an acknowledge signal indicating a proper completion of the data transmission, which acknowledge signal is returned to an acknowledge signal area provided in the frame of data corresponding to the respective multiplex nodes; the frame of data further including an identifier which specifies more than one group of predetermined combinations of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned, and an acknowledge signal area having locations thereof assigned to said multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned, the acknowledge signal area having a length which is variable depending on the group identifier; and wherein the multiplex nodes which belong to a specified group return the acknowledge signal in accordance with the identifier in the transmitted frame of data; and each of said multiplex nodes including: memory means for storing data indicating all multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is returned in a table corresponding to the respective groups of predetermined combinations of the multiplex nodes, means for specifying a group of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is transmitted, and means for returning the acknowledge signal in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is received.

Claim 10

A multiplex transmission system comprising: a plurality of multiplex nodes; a common multiplex transmission line means for interconnecting said plurality of multiplex nodes and for transmitting a frame of data among the multiplex nodes through the multiplex common transmission line; wherein when a data transmission of a frame of data is properly carried out, said multiplex nodes send out an acknowledge signal indicating a proper completion of the data transmission, which acknowledge signal is returned to an acknowledge signal area provided in the frame of data corresponding to the respective multiplex nodes; the frame of data further including an identifier which specifies more than one group of predetermined combinations of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned, and an acknowledge signal area having locations thereof assigned to said multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned, the acknowledge signal area having a length which is variable depending on the group identifier; and wherein the multiplex nodes which belong to a specified group return the acknowledge signal in accordance with the identifier in the transmitted frame of data; and each of said multiplex nodes including: memory means for storing data indicating all multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is returned in a table corresponding to the respective groups of predetermined combinations of the multiplex nodes, means for specifying a group of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is transmitted, and means for returning the acknowledge signal in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is received.

Claim 11

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 8, wherein the identifier specifies on a bit-wise basis a group of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned.

Claim 12

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 8, wherein the identifier specifies by a binary code a group of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned.

Claim 13

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 8, wherein each of the multiplex nodes belong to one group, or two or more groups.

Claim 14

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 8, wherein each of the groups comprise several or all of the multiplex nodes interconnected by the multiplex transmission bus.

Claim 15

A multiplex transmission system according to claim 8, wherein said multiplex transmission system is included in an automobile control system for controlling functions in the automobile, and wherein said multiplex nodes include means for controlling respective functions in the automobile.

Claim 16

A multiplex transmission system comprising: a plurality of multiplex nodes; a common multiplex transmission line means for interconnecting said plurality of multiplex nodes and for transmitting a frame of data among the multiplex nodes through the common multiplex transmission line; said multiplex nodes including means for sending out an acknowledge signal, when a data transmission of a frame of data is properly carried out, for indicating a proper completion of the data transmission, said acknowledge signal being returned to an acknowledge signal area provided in the frame of data corresponding to the respective multiplex nodes, and wherein: the frame of data further includes an identifier specifying more than one group of predetermined combinations of multiplex nodes from which an acknowledge signal is to be returned, and an acknowledge signal area having locations thereof assigned to said multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned, the acknowledge signal area having a length which is variable depending on the group identifier; the multiplex nodes, which belong to a specified group specified by the identifier, each including means for returning an acknowledge signal in accordance with the identifier in the transmitted frame of data; the multiplex nodes which do not belong to the specified group do not return the acknowledge signal; and wherein each of the multiplex nodes includes: memory means for storing data indicating all multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is returned in a table corresponding to the respective groups of predetermined combinations of the multiplex nodes, means for specifying a group of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is transmitted, and means for returning the acknowledge signal in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is received.

Claim 17

A multiplex transmission system comprising: a plurality of multiplex nodes; a common multiplex transmission line means for interconnecting said plurality of multiplex nodes and for transmitting a frame of data among the multiplex nodes through the common multiplex transmission line; said multiplex nodes including means for sending out an acknowledge signal, when a data transmission of a frame of data is properly carried out, for indicating a proper completion of the data transmission, said acknowledge signal being returned to an acknowledge signal area provided in the frame of data corresponding to the respective multiplex nodes, and wherein: the frame of data further includes an identifier specifying more than one group of predetermined combinations of multiplex nodes from which an acknowledge signal is to be returned, and an acknowledge signal area having locations thereof assigned to said multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned, the acknowledge signal area having a length which is variable depending on the group identifier; the multiplex nodes, which belong to a specified group specified by the identifier, each including means for returning an acknowledge signal in accordance with the identifier in the transmitted frame of data; the multiplex nodes which do not belong to the specified group do not return the acknowledge signal; and wherein each of the multiplex nodes includes: memory means for storing data indicating all multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is returned in a table corresponding to the respective groups of predetermined combinations of the multiplex nodes, means for specifying a group of multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is transmitted, and means for returning the acknowledge signal in accordance with the data stored in the table when a frame of data is received.

Claim 18

A multiplex transmission system included in an automobile control system for controlling functions in the automobile, comprising: a plurality of multiplex nodes, said multiplex nodes including means for controlling respective functions in the automobile; a common multiplex transmission line means for interconnecting said plurality of multiplex nodes and for transmitting a frame of data among the multiplex nodes through a common multiplex transmission line; said multiplex nodes including means for sending out an acknowledge signal, when a data transmission of a frame of data is properly carried out, for indicating a proper completion of the data transmission, said acknowledge signal being returned to an acknowledge signal area provided in the frame of data corresponding to the respective multiplex nodes; wherein the frame of data further includes an identifier specifying more than one group of predetermined combinations of multiplex nodes from which an acknowledge signal is to be returned, and an acknowledge signal area having locations thereof assigned to said multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned, the acknowledge signal area having a length which is variable depending on the group identifier; the multiplex nodes, which belong to a specified group specified by the identifier, each including means for returning an acknowledge signal in accordance with the identifier in the transmitted frame of data; and wherein the multiplex nodes which do not belong to the specified group do not return the acknowledge signal.

Claim 19

A multiplex transmission system included in an automobile control system for controlling functions in the automobile, comprising: a plurality of multiplex nodes, said multiplex nodes including means for controlling respective functions in the automobile; a common multiplex transmission line means for interconnecting said plurality of multiplex nodes and for transmitting a frame of data among the multiplex nodes through a common multiplex transmission line; said multiplex nodes including means for sending out an acknowledge signal, when a data transmission of a frame of data is properly carried out, for indicating a proper completion of the data transmission, said acknowledge signal being returned to an acknowledge signal area provided in the frame of data corresponding to the respective multiplex nodes; wherein the frame of data further includes an identifier specifying more than one group of predetermined combinations of multiplex nodes from which an acknowledge signal is to be returned, and an acknowledge signal area having locations thereof assigned to said multiplex nodes from which the acknowledge signal is to be returned, the acknowledge signal area having a length which is variable depending on the group identifier; the multiplex nodes, which belong to a specified group specified by the identifier, each including means for returning an acknowledge signal in accordance with the identifier in the transmitted frame of data; and wherein the multiplex nodes which do not belong to the specified group do not return the acknowledge signal.