Method and Apparatus for Accessing Data Traffic in a Controller Area Network

An apparatus for managing data traffic in a controller area network of a vehicle, the controller area network having a plurality of functional modules, the apparatus comprising:

• a CAN interface configured to passively receive data messages transmitted across the controller area network on the vehicle, the data messages being formatted in one of a plurality of proprietary protocols;
• a protocol selector configured to determine the protocol of the data messages transmitted across the controller area network;
• a first translation module operatively coupled with the protocol selector, the first translation module being configured to translate the received data messages from a first proprietary protocol to a common given protocol;
• a second translation module operatively coupled with the protocol selector, the second translation module being configured to translate the received data messages from a second proprietary protocol to the common given protocol,
• the first proprietary protocol being different from the second proprietary protocol,
• the CAN interface being configured to transmit the data messages, in the common given protocol, onto the controller area network for use by at least one of the functional modules on the controller area network.

A computer program product for use on a computer system for managing data traffic in a controller area network of a vehicle, the controller area network having a plurality of functional modules, the computer program product comprising a tangible, non-transient computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:

• program code for passively receiving data messages transmitted across the controller area network of the vehicle, the data messages being formatted in one of a plurality of proprietary protocols;
• program code for determining the protocol of the data messages transmitted across the controller area network, the determined protocol being one of the plurality of proprietary protocols;
• program code for translating the data messages transmitted across the controller area network from the determined protocol to a given protocol, the program code for translating being configured to translate the data messages from any of the plurality of proprietary protocols into the given protocol;
• program code for transmitting the data messages, in the given protocol, onto the controller area network for use by at least one of the functional modules on the controller area network.