Overall motor vehicle control

A computer system for controlling operation of a motor vehicle, said computer system comprising

• a plurality of different predetermined computer system components connected with each other to form a control structure for respective physical components of the motor vehicle corresponding to said computer system components, said control structure being independent of any particular hardware arrangement of the physical components, said computer system components including a first component corresponding to the motor vehicle as a whole and a second component corresponding to a drive system of the motor vehicle, each of said computer system components including at least one functional unit, whereby demands of the physical components of the motor vehicle that are not integral parts of said drive system are taken into consideration;
• a plurality of interfaces interposed between said computer system components and comprising means for bidirectional transmission of data between said computer system components;
• means for storing information regarding said computer system components and said interfaces, said means for storing information including at least one memory;
• means for controlling said at least one functional unit in each of said computer system components and said motor vehicle as a whole by controlling said computer system components including said first component, said means for controlling said at least one functional unit including means for generating request signals and inquiry signals for transmission of said data through said interfaces between said computer system components;
• and
• means for controlling operation of said drive system according to said data exchanged bidirectionally through said interfaces between said computer system components forming said control structure.