Method and apparatus for monitoring software and signal integrity in a distributed control module system for a powertrain system

Method to monitor integrity of a signal for controlling a torque actuator communicated between an originating control module and a receiving control module in a distributed control module system for a powertrain system including a plurality of torque actuators, the method comprising:

• establishing a single communications link between the originating control module and the receiving control module;
• generating a signal in the originating control module;
• verifying integrity of the signal within the originating control module including capturing primary and redundant signals based upon the signal, executing diagnostics on each of the primary and redundant signals, and comparing the primary signal with the redundant signal to validate the primary signal;
• dual storing the primary signal as the primary signal and a secondary signal;
• generating a message including the primary and secondary signals;
• transmitting the message to the receiving control module using the single communications link;
• receiving the message at the receiving control module;
• decoding the primary and secondary signals from the message within the receiving control module;
• comparing the primary and secondary signals to verify integrity of the primary signal within the receiving control module;
• and
• operating one of the torque actuators based upon the primary signal.

Method to monitor integrity of a signal communicated between an originating control module and a torque actuator control module in a distributed control module system for a powertrain system including a plurality of torque actuators, the method comprising:

• generating a signal in the originating control module;
• capturing the signal as a primary and a redundant signal;
• executing diagnostics on each of the primary and redundant signals;
• validating the primary signal based upon the redundant signal;
• verifying integrity of each of first and second memory locations in the originating control module;
• storing the primary signal in both the first and second memory locations when the primary signal is valid and the integrity of each of the first and second memory locations is verified;
• establishing a single communications link to transmit the primary signal between the originating control module and the torque actuator control module;
• generating a message including the primary signal stored in both the first and second memory locations;
• and
• transmitting the message to the torque actuator control module.