System and method for data management of embedded systems

A computer-program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine readable medium to perform a method for managing embedded component information for a product design in a product lifecycle management (PLM) environment, comprising instructions operable to cause a computer to:

• display at least one message object associated with a first embedded component, wherein the first embedded component is embedded within a product built in accordance with the product design;
• associate said at least one message object with a signal object using a compatibility list that defines component relationships in the product design;
• and
• send the signal object to a second embedded component associated with the signal object and embedded within the product using a bus that provides a connection between the first embedded component and the second embedded component,
• wherein the first and second embedded components are different engine controller units and wherein sending the signal object causes the second embedded component to perform an action associated with the message object,
• wherein selection of the first embedded component to be included in the product design is made without knowledge of messages requirements in the product design, and
• wherein the first and second embedded components are developed by different entities.

A data processing system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• an accessible memory, the data processing system particularly configured to:
• display at least one message object associated with a first embedded component, wherein the first embedded component is embedded within a product built in accordance with the product design;
• associate said at least one message object with a signal object using a compatibility list that defines component relationships in the product design;
• and
• send the signal object to a second embedded component associated with the signal object and embedded within the product using a bus that provides a connection between the first embedded component and the second embedded component,
• wherein the first and second embedded components are different engine controller units and wherein sending the signal object causes the second embedded component to perform an action associated with the message object,
• wherein selection of the first embedded component to be included in the product design is made without knowledge of messages requirements in the product design, and
• wherein the first and second embedded components are developed by different entities.