Multi-frame and frame streaming in a controller area network (CAN) with flexible data-rate (FD)

A Controller Area Network (CAN) node, the CAN node comprising:

• message processing circuitry;
• and
• a memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, configure the message processing circuitry to:
• receive a first data frame in a CAN Flexible Data-Rate (FD) network as part of a flashing operation, wherein the first data frame comprises a field configured to indicate:
• (a) a length of a data payload portion of the first data frame, and (b) a streaming operation, wherein an identification of the first data frame is usable by the message processing circuitry as identification of additional data frames as part of the streaming operation without intervening arbitration;
• and
• receive a second data frame following the first data frame in the absence of an arbitration process between the first and second data frames, the second data frame comprising a frame index portion indicating an index of the second data frame in the streaming transmission.

A memory device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by message processing circuitry of a Controller Area Network (CAN) node, causes the CAN node to:

• receive a data frame in a CAN Flexible Data-Rate (FD) network as part of a flashing operation, wherein the data frame comprises a Data Length Code (DLC) field configured to indicate:
• (a) a length of a data payload portion of the data frame, and (b) the streaming operation, wherein an identification of the data frame is usable by the message processing circuitry as identification of additional data frames as part of the streaming operation without intervening arbitration;
• and
• receive another data frame following the data frame in the absence of an arbitration process between the data frames, wherein the other data frame includes a frame index portion indicating an index of the other data frame in the streaming operation.