Smart Engineering Tools

Hardware

Smart Engineering Tools designs and manufactures highly specialized tools for the automotive industry, including the Netway tool that provides real-time emulation and analysis for multiplex automotive networks with digital, analog and PWM signals capabilities. The Netway can be connected to a PC using serial or/and USB interfaces and operates in stand-alone mode. It handles all network channels simultaneously, thereby supporting gateway functionality. The device is delivered with application software.

A special Netway script language allows users to configure the tool for variety of tasks, such as:

• gateway functionality and message conversion between different network protocols,

• real-time network emulation and analysis,

• on-board data recorder and playback functions,

• custom-controlled bus interface,

• stand-alone module to simulate "missing node” or "rest of vehicle",

• end-of-line testing for manufacturing of multiplex modules, and

• data logging and recording with dynamic filtering.

Network messages are logged based on a network configuration file, user-defined filters, and user program flow. In addition to these more complex functions, the Netway is also designed for such simple tasks as monitoring and filtering network traffic, broadcasting outbound network messages and generating output signals. The Netway is housed in a single box that supports integration of optional daughter boards supporting a number of automotive protocols: multiple CAN channels, J1850 Ford and GM/DC, K-line (ISO9141, LIN), J1708, ACP and other custom protocols. A variety of handled protocols - combined with 8 digital outputs and 8 analog/digital inputs and PWM input/output capabilities - renders Netway a powerful tool for automotive network analysis and diagnosis. 

The Netway is capable of converting information from one network or signal to another in real-time with worst-case one millisecond resolution. This feature allows users to utilize the tool in number of vehicle fleet applications where it is used as a translator from one network to another, such as from CAN to J1850. The Netway has been used by a wide range of customers – including such major automotive OEMs as GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Delphi, Visteon, Bosch, Continental-Teves and Denso - since 1997. The original Netway device is based on the PHYTEC miniMODUL-167 Single Board Computer subassembly. Due to increasing demands for microprocessor throughput, including an analysis showing that future Netway users would require at least a 40 MIPS-capable processor, a new generation of Netway devices was developed based the phyCORE-XC161.

Upgrading to a XC161-based solution allowed overall improvement throughput of the system about tenfold, while decreasing the total cost and complexity of the system mainly due to additional on-chip resources available on the XC161, such as on-chip CAN, MAC, I2C, Flash, JTAG and peripheral event controllers.

Application Software

The new generation Netway device accommodates up to 8 channels of CAN, J1850, UART based and custom protocols with full variety of physical layers in any combination. Connection to a wireless worldwide IP-addressable modem allows Netway users to monitor and control vehicle networks from any Internet-connected PC. Users can analyze network traffic using search and edit utilities. Previously recorded messages can be downloaded from the network to the Netway, with playback in real-time according to the time stamp in a messages record. A native application-level language editing utility allows users to select and choose commands and operands of the command line and triggers conditions for an event. The Netway language emulation and traffic software monitors activity.

The operation of the Netway Box is controlled by the information in an Emulation Program File (EMU). The EMU contains an emulation program, a Network Configuration File (NCF), Message Filters (FLT), User Messages (MSG), CAN Configuration (CAN), Operating Mode, Node and UART setup parameters. CAN channels are configurable for dual-wire, single wire and high-tolerance dual wire CAN. J1939 and J15765 standards are fully supported. In-field and EOL/ECU reprogramming via CAN or KWP2000 long messages is also possible. Network messages and signals can be imported from DBC and other industry standard data base files. A variety of standard libraries are available for Netway custom control: standard DLL, active X control, LabView, LabWindows, VEE and multiple device control. The Netway tool supports a variety of diagnostics schemes for different network types. Its application software features graphical measurements and other network signal representations. A special event recorder features a real-time clock and a data time stamp that can be used to produce a custom log for ECU test result documentation. Given these features, the Netway device is a powerful tool for analysis and gateway conversion of a variety of network protocols.