Vehicle control system and apparatus therefor

A storing device for automatic storing of configuration file data of a plurality of electronic modules for the automatic control of vehicle operation, the electronic modules each comprising a memory, the electronic modules and the storing device being coupled in a network, the storing device comprising:

• collecting means for automatically collecting values via the network of a parameter retrieved from the memories of the electronic modules;
• a decision taking means for deciding which of the collected values should be maintained as a correct values;
• and
• a distribution and/or storing means for sending and/or storing the correct value to electronic modules which do not have that value for said parameter.

A method for automatically storing configuration file data for each of at least three electronic modules interconnected via a network for controlling operation of a vehicle, the electronic modules each including a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

• communicating a request for an unknown value for a parameter from one or more of the at least three electronic modules to the remaining at least three electronic modules;
• identifying a decision module from among the at least three electronic modules;
• collecting a response for a value of the parameter at the decision module from each of the at least three electronic modules of the network;
• and
• identifying what a correct value of the parameter should be from the collected responses for the values of the parameter from each of the at least three electronic modules.

A control network for a vehicle, comprising:

• at least three electronic modules for the automatic control of vehicle operation, the electronic modules each comprising a memory for storing a parameter for operation of the vehicle;
• and
• a bus interconnecting the at least three electronic modules,
• wherein each of the three electronic modules is configured to identify itself as a new module, communicate a request an unknown value for a parameter to the other of the at least three electronic modules, and
• wherein one of the at least three electronic modules is configured to act as a decision module that communicates a request for a value of the parameter from each of the at least three electronic modules, collects responses for a value for the parameter from the at least three electronic modules, and determines a correct value for the parameter from the responses based on a majority decision of the collected responses from the at least three electronic modules.