Vehicle communication link auto detection

A vehicle controller comprising:

• communication hardware for receiving data transmissions from an automotive communication network;
• control software to control an automotive system, the control software requiring process data from at least one of a plurality of controllers linked to the automotive communication network to control the automotive system, the plurality of controllers broadcasting the process data over the automotive communication network;
• calibration software containing constants for the operation of the control software;
• communication software used in conjunction with the communication hardware for polling the automotive communication network for the required process data and identifying a source controller of the required process data;
• and
• memory in the vehicle controller for storing the device ID of the source controller, wherein upon identification of the source controller of the required process data, the communication software will read the required process data from the source controller.

An automotive communication network comprising:

• a plurality of communicating vehicle controllers, at least one of the vehicle controller being an automotive transmission controller;
• control software in the transmission controller to control an automotive transmission, the control software requiring process data from at least one of the plurality of controllers;
• calibration software in the transmission controller containing constants for the operation of the control software;
• communication software used in the transmission controller for polling the plurality of communicating vehicle controllers for the required process data and identifying a device ID for a source controller of the required process data;
• and
• memory in the vehicle controller for storing the device ID of the source controller, wherein upon identification of the source controller of the required process data, the transmission controller will read the required process data from the source controller.