Consistent application programming interface for communicating with disparate vehicle network classes

A computer implemented translation system between a client and remote devices connected to a vehicle data network, the system comprising:

• a plurality of software objects including:
• a network interface incorporating a plurality of functions representing a model of a plurality of physical networks;
• a data link interface responsive to client requests for acquiring a network instance corresponding to a physical network from the network interface;
• and
• a remote device interface incorporating a plurality of functions representing a plurality model for physical devices installable on a vehicle which is callable through the network interface for handling messages moving between the client and a physical device.

An application programming interface for a plurality of vehicle network types, comprising:

• a client;
• a data link interface responsive to the client for acquiring and identifying a physical vehicle network;
• a network interface responsive to a request from the data link interface for initiating a communication link between the physical vehicle network and the client which includes identfication of the devices connected to the physical network;
• a remote device interface responsive to requests from the network interface for translating data values to and from formats usuable by the client and the physical network;
• and
• a data traffic management facility monitoring the network interface, the remote device interface and the physical network to provide indication of message traffic, message identification and transmission.

An application programming interface comprising:

• a host computer on which the application programming interface is installed;
• a hardware interface allowing attachment of the host computer to a motor vehicle network;
• a software module for determining the motor vehicle network claim;
• a software module for registering the host computer as a client on the motor vehicle network;
• a hardcast module for detecting all active devices attached to the motor vehicle network;
• and
• a software database including parameters for the detected devices accessible to the host computer.

An application programming interface, for execution on a temporary client of one of a plurality of vehicle networks of diverse types, the application programming interface comprising:

• a plurality of high level interfaces representing a common abstraction of vehicle networks with diverse types;
• a software database accessible through the high level interfaces specifying meaning for values transmitted to and obtained from physical devices attached to a network;
• and
• a plurality of COM functions completed by reference to the database.