Computer system for use in vehicles

A computer system in a vehicle, comprising:

• a first processing unit in the vehicle, configured to perform critical driving-related functions, wherein the first processing unit is substantially closed from end-user modifications;
• a second processing unit in the vehicle, configured to perform an auxiliary set of functions, wherein the second processing unit is configurable by the end-user;
• and
• a data transfer connection between the first and second processing units;
• wherein the system is configured to distribute critical driving-related functions to the first processing unit and the second processing unit, based at least in part on an availability of the respective processing units and on how processing-intensive the functions are,
• wherein the first processing unit gives processing-intensive tasks to the second processing unit and the first processing unit executes the processing-intensive tasks if the second processing unit is not available, and
• wherein the system is configured to distribute the auxiliary set of functions exclusively to the second processing unit.

A computer system in a vehicle, comprising:

• a graphics processor;
• and
• at least two computers that perform different tasks, a distribution of the tasks among the at least two computers being performed in accordance with a significance of functions for guidance of the vehicle,
• wherein:
• a first one of the computers includes functions related to driving,
• a second one of the computers includes functions not related to driving,
• the computers are connected to the graphics processor,
• the computers communicate with each other via one predefined interface,
• a function related to driving primarily performed by the first one of the computers is temporarily distributed to the second one of the computers for execution, and
• the first one of the computers gives computing-intensive tasks to the second one of the computers, and the first one of the computers executes the computing-intensive tasks if the second one of the computers is not available.

A computer system in a vehicle, comprising:

• a graphics processor;
• and
• at least two computers that perform different tasks, a distribution of the tasks among the at least two computers being performed in accordance with a significance of functions for guidance of the vehicle,
• wherein:
• a first one of the computers includes functions related to driving, wherein a second one of the computers includes functions not related to driving,
• the computers are connected to the graphics processor, wherein the computers communicate with each other via one predefined interface,
• a critical function related to driving is routed to the second one of the computers via the one predefined interface, the first one of the computers routes computing-intensive tasks to the second one of the computers, and the first one of the computers executes the computing-intensive tasks if the second one of the computers is not available, and
• the first one of the computers is a closed system, the second one of the computers is an open system, and the open system permits a user to make changes to software or to a configuration.

A computer system in a vehicle, comprising:

• at least two computers that perform different tasks, a distribution of the tasks among the at least two computers being performed in accordance with a significance of functions for guidance of the vehicle;
• a first graphics processor;
• and
• a second graphics processor;
• wherein:
• a first one of the at least two computers includes functions related to driving,
• a second one of the at least two computers includes functions not related to driving,
• the at least two computers communicate with each other via one predefined interface,
• the first one of the computers gives computing-intensive tasks to the second one of the computers, and the first one of the computers executes the computing-intensive tasks if the second one of the computers is not available,
• the first one of the at least two computers is connected to the first graphics processor,
• the second one of the at least two computers is connected to the second graphics processor,
• the graphics processors communicate with each other via the one predefined interface, and
• the first one of the at least two computers is a closed system, the second one of the at least two computers is an open system, and the open system permits a user to make changes to a software program or to a configuration.