EP3732580A1

EP3732580A1 - Method and control unit for configuring an add-on interface of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3732580A1
Application number: EP18895238.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carl Blumenthal
Original assignee: Scania CV AB
Current assignee: Scania CV AB
Priority date: 2017-12-27
Filing date: 2018-12-11
Publication date: 2020-11-04
Also published as: WO2019132753A1; EP3732580A4; SE1751652A1

Abstract

A method and control unit for configuring an add-on interface of a vehicle are presented. The of a vehicle includes at least one vehicle internal system, at least one add-on system, the add-on system being arranged in the vehicle after the vehicle is produced by a manufacturer, and at least one internal communication unit arranged for communication with at least one vehicle external communication unit. The method includes: - receiving, by usage of the at least one internal communication unit, configuration information related to at least one signal Savaiiabie from an add-on system and/or from the add-on interface being available for an add-on interface, at least one representation to be used for at least one output signal Soutput, and at least one output port, on which the at least one output signal Soutput is to be provided. The add-on interface is configured, based on the configuration information, to provide, on the at least one output port, the at least one output signal Soutput having at least one characteristic related to the representation, such that the at least one output signal Soutput is detectable and/or usable by one or more of the at least one add-on system and the at least one vehicle internal system.

Description

METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR CONFIGURING AN ADD-ON INTERFACE OF A VEHICLE

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a method for configuring an add-on interface of a vehicle. The present invention also relates to a control unit arranged for configuring an add-on interface of a vehicle. The present invention also relates to a computer program and a computer-readable medium comprising instructions for carrying out the method according to the invention .

Background of invention

The following background information is a description of the background of the present invention, which thus not

necessarily has to be a description of prior art.

Vehicle manufacture may be conducted in a variety of ways. In for example the car industry, the manufacturer usually produces vehicles that are complete and intended for direct delivery to final customers.

The heavy vehicle industry, however, commonly also employs other kinds of production methods. Manufacturers of heavy vehicles may, as in the car industry, produce vehicles intended for delivery directly to final customers or final users of the vehicles. However, it is also common that heavy vehicles produced by the manufacturer are only partly

manufactured, i.e. are only completed to a certain extent, including vehicle internal systems, in view of being

subsequently completed by another part than the manufacturer, for example a user or a customer of the manufacturer, e.g. a third-party supplier, in such a way as to meet specific requirements of the final customers or users. It may also be that the vehicle, although substantially completed by its manufacturer, will be provided with further functionalities and/or systems, in this document denoted add on systems, e.g. by another party such as a third-party supplier, a customer, or a final user, before it is put into use. It is for example usual that commercial vehicle

manufacturers, as well as producing fully equipped vehicles, produce also vehicle versions being only partly manufactured, for example intentionally comprising only the chassis, or the chassis and the driver compartment/cab . The partially

manufactured vehicle is then intended to be subsequently completed with one or more additional systems and/or

functionalities by another party than the manufacturer, in accordance with the specific requirements of the another party, being e.g. a final customer and/or final user.

For example, chassis produced by a vehicle manufacturer may be designed to be usable in any desired way as bases for building on in order to construct mobile homes, fire vehicles,

ambulances, concrete mixer trucks, refrigerated vehicles, or any other especially adapted vehicle. Also, for example a bus chassis may be produced by the vehicle manufacturer with little or no bodywork, with the intention to complete the vehicle with subsequent building-on performed by a bus bodybuilder. Generally, a bodybuilder installs/adds one or more add-on systems, i.e. does bodywork, on a vehicle after its original manufacture.

Thus, the building-on and/or addition of one or more systems and/or functionalities carried out by another party may be very extensive, and at least some building-on is also very common in the case of heavy vehicles. For this reason, the vehicle manufacturer often also prepares the vehicle in such a way as to facilitate subsequent building-on.

For example, one or more power takeoffs are often included in the vehicle by the manufacturer, e.g. so that add-on systems may be connected for example to the vehicle's engine and/or gearbox to enable them to be provided with driving power from the vehicle. There may also be connections to make it possible to use, for example, the vehicle's electrical system,

hydraulic system and/or pneumatic system for implementation of add-on functions. A vehicle may thus be provided with a plurality of power takeoffs, and the power takeoff requirement may vary depending on the kinds of applications built onto the vehicle. Certain applications may for example require power which is constantly available when the engine of the vehicle is running, irrespective of whether the vehicle is moving or not, e.g. in the case of concrete mixer trucks, refrigeration units in refrigerated vehicles. Other applications may only need power on distinct occasions, e.g. upon activation of an additional system. The activation of a power takeoff for, and hence activation of the operation of, one or more built-on systems and/or functionalities is often not such that

continuous or unregulated power takeoff is desirable, since it is only usually required in certain situations, e.g. upon a demand from the built-on systems and/or functionalities themselves or from, for example, the vehicle's driver.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The one or more add-on systems being implemented in the vehicle are often unknown for the vehicle internal systems, i.e. for the internal systems being provided by the

manufacturer and/or for off-board systems communicating with the vehicle. Therefore, the signaling, signal detection and/or signal processing capabilities of the one or more add-on systems may also be unknown for the vehicle internal systems, for the off-board systems, and/or for the add-on interface of the vehicle. Generally, the manufacturer cannot, already when the vehicle is produced, know which add-on systems that will be added to the vehicle, and can therefore obviously also not know how to communicate with them.

Thus, it may be impossible to perform actions, functions and/or operations in the add-on systems, since the add-on systems may not be able to detect, interpret and/or process signals being provided to them. Hereby, there is a risk that important actions, functions and/or operations are not

properly performed in the vehicle and/or in the off-board systems .

It is therefore an object to solve at least some of the above- mentioned disadvantages.

The object is achieved by a method for configuring an add-on interface of a vehicle, the vehicle including:

- at least one vehicle internal system;

- at least one add-on system, the add-on system being arranged in the vehicle after the vehicle is produced by a

manufacturer; and

- at least one internal communication unit arranged for communication with at least one vehicle external communication unit .

The method includes:

- receiving, from the at least one vehicle external

communication unit and by usage of the at least one internal communication unit, configuration information related to:

- at least one signal S_avaiiabie being available for an add-on interface arranged in the vehicle as an interface between the at least one vehicle internal system and the at least one add-on system) , the at least one available signal S_available being provided by one or more of the at least one add on system and the add-on interface ;

- at least one representation to be used for at least one output signal Soutput being based on the at least one available signal Savaiiabie, respectively; and

- at least one output port of an interface control unit including the add-on interface, on which the at least one output signal Soutput is to be provided; and

- configuring, based on the configuration information, the add-on interface to provide, on the at least one output port, the at least one output signal Soutput having at least one characteristic related to the representation, respectively, such that the at least one output signal Soutput is detectable and/or usable by one or more of the at least one add-on system and the at least one vehicle internal system.

By using the present invention, an add-on interface having a number of signals available for the add-on interface, provided by an add-on system and/or the add-on interface itself, may choose one or more of these available signals S_avaiiabie and may be configured to represent the one or more chosen signals as an output signal Soutput having configured/chosen

characteristics. The one or more available signals provided by the add-on interface may in this document be processed signals Sp_roc that have been processed/adjusted/manipulated by the add on interface, e.g. by a function/operation block included in the add-on interface. Thus, the one or more available signals provided by the add-on interface are provided as being

created/defined/configured by the add-on interface.

The one or more output signals may then be chosen to be provided to any add-on system and/or to any vehicle internal system. Thus, the representation, i.e. the at least one characteristic, of the output signal Soutput provided to the at least one add-on system and/or to the at least one vehicle internal system is defined based on configuration information received from offboard the vehicle. Hereby, the output signal Soutput representation to be provided by the add-on interface may, based on information provided e.g. by a final user and/or a customer, be adapted/configured such that it matches any signaling needs, such as signal detection capabilities or electrical characteristics, of any possible add-on system and/or vehicle internal system in the vehicle.

The add-on interface may be configured to provide the output signal Soutput on essentially any suitable form. Thus, the output signal Soutput may have an arbitrary number of

configuration/adaption parameters/levels/points, such that the output signal Soutput may be adapted to match any on the market available and coming add-on and/or vehicle internal systems. The output signal Soutput may be an at least partly physical and/or electrical signal being defined at least partly by one or more physical and/or electrical attributes, including e.g. voltages, currents, frequencies and/or phases, and/or shifts of such physical attributes. The output signal Soutput may also be a signal defined for usage on a signaling bus, such as e.g. a CAN bus. The output signal Soutput may also be a signal defined for usage on a wireless connection, such as a WiFi connection, a Bluetooth connection or the like. Essentially, the output signal Soutput may have any form or attribute

suitable for being handled/detected/used by the at least one add-on and/or vehicle internal system to which it is provided.

The output signal Soutput representation used by the add-on interface may, according to the present invention, be

adapted/adjusted/configured by the final user and/or a customer, which may have better knowledge of the added add-on systems than the manufacturer has. The

adaption/ad ustment/configuration of the add-on interface may be performed by transmitting the configuration information related to the output signal representation to the vehicle from essentially any offboard entity, by use of the at least one internal and at least one external communication units.

Since the output signal representation provided by the add-on interface is hereby easily, reliably and remotely adapted to match the features of the at least one add-on system, a flexible add-on interface is provided, which by the final user and/or customer easily may be adapted/adjusted/configured to match the at least one add-on system being implemented in the vehicle. The adaption/adjustment/configuration may completely be controlled by another part than the manufacturer, such as a final user and/or a customer, that normally has better

knowledge about some of the add-on systems than the original manufacturer has. Also, this reduces the need for add-on interface configuration related workshop visits for the vehicle, and reduces the vehicle off road time.

Each output signal Soutput may thus, when the present invention is used, be outputted in a way being customized to match the signaling capabilities of the respective add-on system to which the output signal is provided. Hereby, any initially unknown add-on system may easily be implemented in the

vehicle, in the same way as a vehicle internal system is implemented .

By way of embodiments of the present invention, the addition of an add-on system to the vehicle is facilitated.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- the configuration information related to the at least one representation includes information indicating a signaling type to be used for the at least one output signal Soutput;

whereby

- the configuring includes arranging the add-on interface to output the at least one output signal Soutput using the

signaling type

Thus, the output signal representation provided by the add-on interface may here easily, reliably and remotely be adapted to have a signaling type that is detectable and/or processable by the at least one add-on system. The

adaption/adjustment/configuration may be completely controlled by another part than the manufacturer, such as a final user and/or a customer, that normally have better knowledge about at least some of the add-on systems than the original

manufacturer has.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

the signaling type is one in the group of:

- pulse width modulation (PWM) signaling;

- direct controlled current signaling; and

- direct controlled voltage signaling.

Hereby, a suitable signaling type which is used by the

specific add-on system may be used for the output signal Soutput. For example, pulse width modulation (PWM) signals are widely used in vehicle systems. By usage of the embodiment, the signaling characteristics of the PWM signaling, such as e.g. a frequency f of the PWM output signal Soutput, a duty cycle of the PWM output signal Soutput, a period T of the PWM output signal Soutput, and/or an on-time ton of the PWM output signal Soutput may be adapted/adjusted/configured by the update/configuration of the add-on interface, such that the output signals Soutput are useful for the at least one add-on system and/or for the at least one vehicle internal system.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- the configuration information related to the at least one representation includes information indicating at least one characteristic of a signaling type to be used for the at least one output signal Soutput; whereby

signaling type having the at least one characteristic.

Various signalling types have various characteristics, such as for example a carrier frequency, an information indicating frequency, a frequency shift, a phase, a phase shift, an amplitude and/or an amplitude shift. Also, a number of

modulation methods are available for application on signals, where the modulation methods may be defined by such

characteristics. For example, if an available signal S_avaiiabie has a certain value, e.g. a voltage value in Volts (V), then this certain voltage value is, according to the embodiment, converted to at least one characteristic of the output signal S output , e.g. a phase shift of the output signal Soutput. Also, a number of modulation methods may be applied on signals, where the modulation methods may be defined by such characteristics. If, for example, the output signal Soutput is a PWM signal, the certain voltage value may be converted into a at least one PWM characteristic, such as e.g. a duty cycle percentage and/or an on time for the PWM signal.

The output signaling type characteristics to be used for the output signal Soutput provided by the add-on interface to the at least one add-on system may, by usage of this embodiment, be easily, reliably and remotely adapted to have signaling type characteristics that are detectable and/or processable by the at least one add-on and/or internal system. The

adaption/adjustment /configuration may be controlled e.g. by a final user and/or a customer, which may have knowledge about at least some of the add-on systems.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one signal S_avaiiabie is also provided by one or more of the at least one vehicle internal system.

Thus, the add-on interface may provide an output signal Soutput based on essentially any signal available in the vehicle, which makes it very flexible.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- the configuration information related to the at least one representation is related to a usage of the at least one output signal Soutput; whereby

- the configuring includes arranging the add-on interface to output the at least one output signal Soutput adapted to the usage of the at least one output signal.

Various add-on systems and/or vehicle internal systems may use the output signals Soutput provided to them by the add-on interface in various ways. According to this embodiment, the representation of the output signals Soutput provided by the add-on interface to the at least one add-on system and/or at least one internal systems is adapted to match the use of each output signal Soutput in its add-on and/or internal system. For example, if the output signal Soutput is going to be used in an instrument cluster, the signaling representation may be adapted/adjusted such that is has a form being easily

presentable by the instrument cluster. Hereby, the usage of the output signal Soutput in the at least one add-on system and/or in the at least one vehicle internal system is

facilitated .

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

the usage of the at least one output signal Soutput includes one or more of :

- providing the at least one output signal Soutput to a control system network of the vehicle;

- providing the at least one output signal Soutput to at least one control unit;

- providing the at least one output signal Soutput to at least one actuator;

- providing the at least one output signal Soutput to at least one instrument; and

- providing the at least one output signal Soutput to an

instrument cluster.

Thus, the signalling representation may be

adapted/adjusted/configured to match a large number different uses of the output signal Soutput in the at least one add-on system and/or at least one vehicle internal system, whereby a very flexible add-on interface is provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration information is received from one or more of:

- a final user of the vehicle;

- at least one other part than the manufacturer, the at least one other part having knowledge of, e.g. as providing, the at least one add-on system; and

- the manufacturer.

Thus, the add-on interface may be flexibly updated/configured based on configuration information provided by a number of sources. Essentially anyone with knowledge of the add-on systems and its related signalling reception and/or processing capabilities may be able to update the add-on interface, wherefore the vehicle does not have to go to the workshop for the update/configuration. The vehicle off road time and the update costs are hereby greatly reduced.

The object is also achieved by the above-mentioned control unit arranged for configuring an add-on interface of a

vehicle, the vehicle including:

- at least one vehicle internal system;

manufacturer; and

The control unit is arranged for:

- receiving, by usage of the at least one internal

communication unit, configuration information related to:

- at least one signal S_avaiiabie being available for an add-on interface arranged in the vehicle as an interface between the at least one vehicle internal system and the at least one add-on system) , the at least one available signal Savaiiabie being provided by one or more of the at least one add on system and the add-on interface;

The control unit has advantages corresponding to the ones mentioned above for the method.

The object is also achieved by the above-mentioned computer program and computer-readable medium.

Detailed exemplary embodiments and advantages of the method, control system, computer program and computer-readable medium according to the invention will below be described with reference to the appended drawings illustrating some preferred embodiments .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to attached drawings illustrating examples of embodi ments of the invention in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a non-limiting example of a vehicle in which the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented,

Figure 2 shows a flow chart diagram for some embodiments of the present invention,

Figure 3 schematically illustrates an interface control unit,

Figure 4 schematically illustrates a non-limiting example of a system, in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented, and Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a control unit

according to some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a power train in a vehicle 100, in which the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. The illustrated vehicle 100 has only one axle 104, 105 with tractive/drive wheels 110, 111, but the

invention is also applicable to vehicles which have more than one axle provided with tractive wheels. The power train comprises a combustion engine 101 which in a conventional way, via an output shaft 102 of the engine, usually via a flywheel, is connected to a gearbox 103 via a clutch 106 and an input shaft 109 connected to the gearbox 103.

The engine may be controlled by the vehicle's control system via a control unit 115. The clutch 106, which may for example take the form of an automatically controlled clutch, and/or the gearbox 103, which may for example be a conventional automatic gearbox, may also be controlled by means of one or more suitable control units, generally depicted as the control unit 115 in figure 1. Thus, the function of the control unit 115 may be provided by two or more control units, as is mentioned more in detail below.

The vehicle 100 may further include at least one internal communication unit 116, being associated/connected to one or more control units 115 of the vehicle. For example, the at least one internal communication unit 116 may be included in a control system network of the vehicle 100. The control system network may, as is described below, essentially include any suitable communication interface facilitating communication between control units/devices/entities in the vehicle 100. For example, the communication interface connects the one or more vehicle internal systems 120 with each other, including connecting the at least one internal communication unit 116 with the control unit 115 and other internal systems 120 of the vehicle 100. Such a communication interface many for example, include a controller area network (CAN), an Ethernet connection, a Flexray bus, a local interconnect network (LIN) bus and/or a WiFi connection.

The at least one internal communication unit 116 is arranged for communication with at least one vehicle external

communication unit 161, i.e. arranged for transmitting

information to and/or receiving information from the at least one vehicle external communication unit 161. The at least one vehicle external communication unit 161 is arranged outside of the vehicle 100, and may be included in and/or

associated/connected to essentially any suitable external device/node/apparatus/entity 162, such as e.g. at least one web and/or internet related unit, at least one internet cloud

160 related unit, at least one infrastructure unit, at least one external communication entity included in at least one other vehicle, at least one server and/or at least one

database. The at least one vehicle external communication unit

161 may also be included in and/or associated/connected to essentially one or more of the units/devices/entities 411,

412, 413, 414, 420, 430, 440 of an add-on/bodybuilder network 410, as is described more in detail below.

The communication between the at least one internal 116 and at least one external 161 communication units may be performed by usage of a wireless connection 117, e.g. a connection working according to essentially any suitable wireless standard, specification and/or protocol, such as according to the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) standard, the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) standard, the Bluetooth standard, any suitable wireless local area networking (WiFi) standard, any suitable generation of a broadband cellular technology (3G, LTE, 4G, 5G) standard, and/or any other suitable wireless standard. Alternatively, the connection 117 may also be a wired connection, including usage of at least one cable or other wiring equipment.

As illustrated in figure 1, an output shaft 107 from the gearbox 103 drives the tractive wheels 110, ill via a final gear 108, e.g. a conventional differential, and driveshafts 104, 105 which are connected to the final gear. The vehicle may be provided with at least one sensor 131, which, for example, may be provided in the at least one add-on system 130 or in the at least one vehicle internal system 120.

The engine 101, the clutch 106 and the gearbox 103 may be examples of vehicle internal systems 120. As is understood by a skilled person, the vehicle may include a large number of such vehicle internal systems 120, i.e. systems arranged in the vehicle 100 when it was produced by the manufacturer.

In this document, parts, systems and/or functionalities being included/arranged in the vehicle already at vehicle

manufacture/production by the manufacturer is commonly denoted vehicle internal system 120. Correspondingly, parts, systems and/or functionalities being included/arranged in the vehicle after the manufacture/production by the manufacturer is commonly denoted add-on systems 130 in this document. The manufacturer is in this document defined as a producer of the original/initial vehicle, being partly completed with at least one vehicle internal system 120 but lacking the later added at least one add-on system 130. The manufacturer of the partly completed vehicle may also be denoted as original equipment manufacturer (OEM) . The one or more add-on systems 130 may be provided by another party, which in this document means a party which may be another and/or independent of the vehicle manufacturer, and to which a vehicle produced by the vehicle manufacturer is directly or indirectly delivered after being manufactured/produced. Thus, the other party may be a customer or a final user, but may also be a third-party supplier, which carries out building-on, i.e. addition of one or more add-on systems 130, before delivery to a final customer.

It should be noted that the vehicle depicted in figure 1 is merely one example of how the vehicle might be configured, as the embodiments of the invention are applicable to all types of vehicles, e.g. those with hybrid power trains, electric vehicles and/or other kinds of axle configurations, other types of gearboxes with or without clutches etc.

The one or more add-on systems 130 illustrated in figure 1 may be provided with power from one or more takeoffs 150, which may be situated at various locations in the vehicle 100.

The one or more add-on systems 130 may be of various kinds, e.g. one might comprise activation of a crane function via a power takeoff, whereas another might comprise illumination of a certain warning lamp at the vehicle driver's location. Thus, the one or more add-on systems 130 may be of a simple kind, i.e. have a low complexity, but may also have substantially any desired functionality, and thus also any complexity.

The one or more add-on systems 130 may need, i.e. may have a demand for, power to be provided to the add-on systems 130.

The one or more add-on systems 130 may also need, i.e. may have a demand for, being able to communicate with an internal control system of the vehicle, in order to be provided with one or more signals, parameters and/or control signals

available in the internal control system, and/or to be able to provide one or more signals, parameters and/or control signals to the one or more vehicle internal systems 120 via the vehicle internal control system. The one or more add-on systems 130 may also need, i.e. may have a demand for, being able to communicate with one or more

nodes/devices/entities/equipment external from the vehicle.

Power needed by the one or more add-on systems 130 may e.g. be provided by the above mentioned one or more power takeoffs 150 and/or may be provided by an add-on interface 140 arranged for providing communication between the one or more vehicle internal systems 120 and the one or more add-on systems 130. The communication between the one or more vehicle internal systems 120 and the one or more add-on systems 130 is

facilitated by the add-on interface 140. Thus, the add-on interface communicates one or more signals, parameters and/or control signals between the one or more vehicle internal systems 120 and the one or more add-on systems 130. Thus, the add-on interface 140 is provided as a general interface between the at least one vehicle internal system 120 and the at least one add-on system 130. The add-on interface includes one or more inputs/outputs or one or more input/output ports, for example input/output terminals or input/output pins, to which systems, such as e.g. add-on systems, may be connected. Thus, each input port may be called an input terminal, and each output port may be called an output terminal. Via these input/output ports, signals are received/transmitted to the systems connected to the add-on interface 140. For example, the one or more add-on systems may be connected to one or more inputs of the add-on interface, and may provide signals of any suitable signaling format, which is often related to the specific add-on system providing the signal, to the one or more inputs. Essentially, any signaling format mentioned in this document may be received at the one or more inputs.

Correspondingly, signals may also be output on the one or more output ports of the add-on interface 140, on a suitable signaling format, such as any signaling format mentioned in this document.

As mentioned above, the at least one internal communication unit 116, and also the vehicle internal system 120, may be included in a control system network of the vehicle 100, which may include the above-mentioned communication interface connecting the one or more vehicle internal systems 120 with each other. Such a communication interface may for example, include a controller area network (CAN), an Ethernet

connection, a Flexray bus, a local interconnect network (LIN) bus and/or a WiFi connection. Such a communication interface may be generally used for connecting

units/devices/entities/interfaces in the vehicle 100, such as connecting the add-on systems 130 to the add-on interface 140. The at least one add-on system 130 may be connected to an external control system network input, e.g. an external controller area network (CAN) input 149, of an

interface/control unit 148 including the add-on interface 140. Hereby, a connection between the one or more add-on systems 130 and the communication interface, such as e.g. the

controller area network (CAN), is provided, which is used for connecting the one or more add-on systems 130 to the one or more vehicle internal systems 120, via the communication interface, e.g. via the controller area network (CAN) .

Thus, the one or more add-on systems 130 may need various information to be provided to them, from within the vehicle and/or from outside of the vehicle, and may therefore have a demand for communication abilities. The one or more add-on systems 130 may also demand resources from the vehicle, such as e.g. status signals from the vehicle, i.e. the signal state of appropriate output ports of the interface/control unit 148 including/implementing the add-on interface 140. The resources which the one or more add-on systems demand for their

functions may for example take the form of a demand for mechanical power, electric power, hydraulic power and/or pneumatic power, and/or may take the form of a demand for at least one signal and/or at least one function of the control system of the vehicle. Normally, a demanded power, requiring activation of a power takeoff 150 has to be demanded from the internal control system of the vehicle 100. Where resources are demanded, they are often not constantly demanded, and are also often not constantly available.

Vehicle manufacturers are reluctant for some other party, e.g. a third-party supplier, to effect changes directly in the internal control system of the vehicle, since this may affect the performance of the vehicle in ways which are both

undesirable and difficult to predict. This is also why the vehicle manufacturer provides the add-on interface 140, i.e. a signaling interface which can be used for an add-on system for communication with the internal control system of the vehicle.

The add-on interface 140 may be of various kinds, and may include a number of input ports and output ports, which each may have a certain function assigned to it. One output port might for example represent activation of a vehicle internal system 120, e.g. a parking brake activation, and when the parking brake is applied this output port might for example be set to a high level, in order to thereby communicate the activation of the internal system, e.g. the parking brake, to the one or more add-on systems 130. As is understood by a skilled person, a large number of other examples of functions, whose status may be signaled in a similar way, may be provided by the add-on interface 140. These signals may then be used by the one or more add-on systems 130, but subject for example to various conditions, which usually have to be fulfilled for a certain function to be activated.

Thus, by the add-on interface 140, the vehicle manufacturer may provide a building-on interface to enable communication between the internal systems 120 and the add-on system 130.

The add-on interface 140 may for example comprise one or more terminal blocks having a number of input/output ports, such that high/low/numerical signals on an output port may for example represent a status of a certain function, and this information may be used as a control signal for conditional control of add-on system functions. There may also be inputs, e.g. for conveying from the add-on systems 130 signaling, e.g. such that inputting a high signal level on a certain input indicates a demand for activation of a function having a defined meaning.

As a given chassis configuration may be used for add-on systems within a large number of areas of application, it is often not possible at vehicle manufacturing stage to know the specific intended use of a specific chassis, still less the characteristics of specific add-on systems 130. Thus, the add on systems may communicate their status, e.g. whether the function is active or inactive, by applying e.g. a voltage to an input on the add-on interface 140, which will be

communicated further to the internal control system and/or vehicle internal systems 120 by the add-on interface 140. The internal communication system and/or the vehicle internal systems 120 will thus also be aware that add-on systems 130 exist and their status.

Control systems in modern vehicles usually comprise a

communication bus system comprising of one or more

communication buses arranged for connecting together a number of electronic control units (ECUs), e.g. the control units, or controllers, and various systems/components/devices on board the vehicle. Such a control system may comprise a large number of control units and the responsibility for a specific

function may be spread over more than one of them.

For sake of simplicity, figure 1 shows only some such control units 115, 140. However, parts of the present invention may be implemented in any suitable control unit, e.g. the control units 115, 140, or wholly or partly in one or more other control units on board the vehicle 100. Control units of the kind depicted are normally adapted to receiving sensor signals from various parts and/or control units of the vehicle.

Control units are also usually adapted for delivering control signals to various parts and components of the vehicle, e.g. the control units 115, 140 may deliver signals to suitable actuators for activation of power takeoffs and/or for

activation of other vehicle internal systems 120.

The control unit 115 is in figure 1 schematically illustrated as receiving signals and/or providing control signals from and/or to the engine 101, the clutch 106 and/or the gearbox 103. The control unit 115 may, also receive and/or provide control signals to and/or from other internal systems/devices 120 in the vehicle 100.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, as described in this document, the interface control unit 148 including/implementing the add-on interface 140 may comprise reception means 141 arranged for receiving configuration information, e.g. a reception unit 141, and configuration means 142 arranged for configuring the add-on interface, e.g. a configuration unit 142. These control means/units/devices 141, 142 are described more in detail below, and may be divided physically into more entities than the herein described interface control unit 148, or may be arranged in less entities than herein described.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart diagram for a method 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, i.e. a method for configuring an add-on interface of a vehicle. The method steps of figure 2 may be performed in another order than illustrated in figure 2, as long as the information needed for performing a method step is available when the step is to be performed.

In a first step 210 of the method according to the present invention, configuration information related to at least one signal S_avaiiabie being available for the add-on interface 140, at least one representation to be used for at least one output signal Soutput being based on the at least one available signal Savaiiabie, respectively, and at least one output port of an interface control unit including the add-on interface, on which the at least one output signal Soutput is to be provided, is received from the at least one vehicle external

communication unit 161 by usage of the at least one internal communication unit 116. The at least one available signal Savaiiabie may here be provided by one or more of the at least one add-on system 130 and the add-on interface 140. Thus, essentially any signal from any add-on system 130 may be made available to the add-on interface 140, i.e. by being

connected/provided to its input. The add-on interface may also provide signals, such as for example processed signals S_proc that have been processed/treated/manipulated by the add-on interface, e.g. in one or more function blocks of the add-on interface. Any such signals provided by the add-on interface 140 may also be included in the at least one available signal S_avaiiabie. The first step may be performed e.g. by use of a below described reception unit/means 141. In a second step 220 of the method according to the present invention, the add-on interface is configured to provide, on the at least one output port, the at least one output signal S output , being based on the at least one available signal

S_available and having at least one characteristic related to the representation, respectively, such that the at least one output signal Soutput is detectable and/or usable by one or more of the at least one add-on system and the at least one vehicle internal system. The configuration is according to the

invention based on the received configuration information. As mentioned above, the add-on interface 140 is arranged in the vehicle 100 as an interface between the at least one vehicle internal system 120 and the at least one add-on system 130.

The second step 220 may be performed e.g. by use of a below described configuration unit/means 142.

By usage of the present invention, the representation of the output signal provided to the at least one add-on system 130 and/or to the at least one internal system 120 is defined based on configuration information received from offboard the vehicle, whereby the output signal Soutput representation to be provided by the add-on interface may be made to match

essentially any signaling needs of any possible add-on system and/or internal system being implemented in the vehicle. The add-on interface may thus, when the present invention is used, provide each output signal Soutput on a specific output port 147 such that it is customized to match the signaling capabilities of the respective add-on system and/or internal system to which the output signal is provided. For example, an initially unknown add-on system may then easily be implemented in the vehicle. Essentially any signal from any add-on system 130 and/or from the add-on interface 140 itself may be made available S_avaiiabie to the add-on interface 140 to be used as a basis for the at least one output signal Soutput, which makes it possible for the add-on interface 140 to flexibly provide the at least one output signal S output .

Generally, the configuration information related to at least one representation, and to the at least one output port 147 of at least one output signal Soutput, and related to the at least one available signal S_avaiiabie may be received from, i.e. may be provided/inputted by, essentially anyone, e.g. by usage of an add-on interface configuration tool 414. For example, the output signal representation related information, may be provided by a final user of the vehicle 100, or by at least one other part than the manufacturer, such as e.g. a customer, wherein the at least one other part has knowledge of, e.g. has provided, manufactured, installed and/or adapted the at least one add-on system 130. Of course, the configuration

information related to at least one representation of at least one output signal may also be provided by the manufacturer of the vehicle. Hereby, a very flexible add-on interface is provided, and a flexible and easy implementation of add-on systems to the vehicle is provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the add on interface is arranged to output at least one output signal Soutput on a specific signaling type. The received 210

configuration information related to the at least one

representation here includes information indicating a

signaling type to be used for the at least one output signal Soutput. The configuration 220 of the add-on interface 140 arranges the add-on interface 140 to output the at least one output signal Soutput on the signaling type. Hereby, the output signal representation provided by the add-on interface is easily, reliably and remotely adapted to match a signaling type that is detectable and/or processable by the at least one add-on system and/or by the at least one internal system 120.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the signaling type used for the output signal Soutput includes any suitable signalling type used by the specific add-on system and/or vehicle internal system, e.g. a pulse width modulation (PWM) signaling type, a direct controlled current signaling type and/or a direct controlled voltage signaling type.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the add on interface 140 is configured 220 to output the at least one output signal Soutput on a signaling type having at least one specific characteristic. Then, the received 210 configuration information related to the at least one representation

includes information indicating at least one characteristic of a signaling type to be used for the at least one output signal Soutput. The information indicating the at least one

characteristic is the used as a basis for the configuration 220 of the add-on interface 140. Such signaling type

characteristics may e.g. include a carrier frequency, an information indicating frequency, a frequency shift, a phase, a phase shift, an amplitude and/or an amplitude shift. Also, a number of modulation methods are available for application on signals, where the modulation methods may be defined by such characteristics. The adaption/adjustment/configuration of the add-on interface regarding these signaling characteristics may be controlled e.g. by a final user and/or a customer, having knowledge about at least some of the add-on and/or vehicle internal systems, such that e.g. the signaling type for the output signal Soutput is matched to the needs and/or

capabilities of the at least one add-on system 130. According to an embodiment of the present invention,

the signaling type includes pulse width modulation (PWM) .

Pulse width modulation (PWM) signals are widely used in vehicle systems, also in add-on systems, wherefore a PWM output signal Soutput is directly usable in many systems. For PWM signals, there are some characteristics that may be adjusted/adapted/defined by the configuration, such as e.g. a PWM signal frequency f, a PWM signal duty cycle, a PWM signal period T, and/or a PWM signal on-time ton. By

adapting/adjusting/configuring one or more of these

characteristics, the add-on interface will be able to provide PWM output signals Soutput matching the needs and/or

capabilities of the at least one add-on system.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the add on interface 140 is arranged to output the at least one output signal Soutput adapted to a usage of the at least one output signal Soutput, e.g. in the at least one add-on system. The received 210 configuration information is then related to a usage of the at least one output signal Soutput, and the

configuration 220 of the add-on interface 140 includes

arranging the add-on interface 140 to output the at least one output signal Soutput adapted to the usage of the at least one output signal. The usage of the at least one output signal Soutput may include providing the at least one output signal to a control system network of the vehicle, e.g. on a CAN

connection/buss. The usage of the at least one output signal Soutput may also include providing the at least one output signal Soutput to at least one control unit, e.g. of an add-on system 130. The usage of the at least one output signal Soutput may also include providing the at least one output signal Soutput to at least one actuator, to at least one instrument 310 and/or to an instrument cluster 310. Thus, with knowledge of the upcoming usage of the output signal Soutput e.g. in the at least one add-on system, the add-on interface may by its configuration be arranged to provide an output signal Soutput being well suited for the specific use of the signal. Hereby, a reliable and easy usage of the output signal in the at least one add-on system is facilitated. Also, since the signaling representation may be adapted/adjusted/configured to match a large number of different uses of the output signal in the at least one add-on system, a very flexible add-on interface is provided .

Figure 3 schematically illustrates a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the present invention comprising an interface control unit 148 implementing/including the add-on interface 140. In figure 3, a non-limiting example of a function block 145 including essentially any function/operation used for processing an available input signal S_avaiiabie received from the add-on interface 140 itself and/or from at least one add-on system 130 to an input, e.g. via an external CAN input pin 149 used as an input for one or more add-on systems 130. The at least one signal being provided by the add-on interface 140 itself may e.g. be a processed signal S_proc provided by the add on interface 140, e.g. provided by a function block 144 of the add-on interface 140 based on any suitable input/parameters .

In addition to the one or more available signals from the add on systems 130 and/or from the add-on interface itself, also one or more signals provided by the at least one vehicle internal system 120 may also be included in the at least one available signal Savaiiabie. An output signal Soutput is then given at least one characteristic according to the signal

representation being suitable to be provided to a specified output port 147 of the interface control unit 148, such that the output signal Soutput may be utilized in e.g. an instrument 310 of an add-on system 130 and/or of a vehicle internal system 120, e.g. may be displayed by the instrument 310. The output signal Soutput may be processed to have the at least one characteristic in the function block 145 and/or in an output signal block 146, from which the output signal Soutput is provided to the configured output port 147.

The add-on interface 140 may be configured to provide the output signal Soutput on essentially any suitable form. Thus, the output signal Soutput may have an arbitrary number of configuration/adaption parameters/levels/points, such that the output signal Soutput may be adapted to match any on the market available and coming add-on and/or vehicle internal systems.

According to various herein described embodiments of the present invention, the at least one characteristic given by the add-on interface 140 to the output signal Soutput may be related to a signaling type to be used for the output signal Soutput, may be related to at least one characteristic of a signaling type to be used for the output signal Soutput and/or may be related to an upcoming usage of the output signal Soutput in an add-on system 130 and/or a vehicle internal system 120.

The configuration of the add-on interface 140

handling/processing of the output signal Soutput, may be based on configuration information provided remotely from an

offboard entity, e.g. provided by a final user and/or a customer. The configuration information may possibly be input/provided by use of e.g. an add-on interface

configuration tool 414 communicating with the interface control unit 148 via at least one external communication unit 161 and at least one internal communication unit 116. The add on interface may be adapted/configured such that its output signals Soutput match any possible add-on system 130 being implemented in the vehicle.

Figure 4 schematically illustrates a system facilitating a general platform for handling vehicles including one or more add-on systems 130. As is understood by a skilled person, figure 4 for pedagogical reasons only shows some of the units/devices/entities/nodes in such a system. Essentially, only the units/devices/entities/nodes useful for explaining the concept are schematically illustrated in figure 4.

A vehicle 100, as the one described in this document, includes one or more vehicle internal systems 120, including at least one internal communication unit 116 and an interface/control unit 148 including an add-on interface 140. The vehicle 100 further includes one or more add-on systems 130, connected to the one or more vehicle internal systems 120 via the add-on interface 140, as described above. The at least one internal communication unit 116 may communicate with at least one external communication unit 161, which may be located

essentially anywhere outside of the vehicle, e.g. in another vehicle and/or in one or more nodes 411, 412, 413, 414, 420, 430, 440 of an add-on/bodybuilder network 410. The one or more nodes 411, 412, 413, 414, 420, 430, 440 of the add

on/bodybuilder network 410 may be located e.g. in a

web/internet/cloud related unit, in an infrastructure unit, in a server and/or in a database, as mentioned above. Generally, the add-on/bodybuilder network 410 may be implemented as an internet cloud 160 related solution. Generally, the one or more nodes 411, 412, 413, 414, 420, 430, 440 of an add

on/bodybuilder network 410 are in figure 4 for pedagogic reasons illustrated as separate nodes. However, these nodes may be implemented less nodes than illustrated in figure 4. The add-on interface 140 utilized for the embodiments of the present invention may be an advanced and flexible interface provided with advanced logical functionality and possibilities for flexible definition of interface input and/or output ports. According to an embodiment, the logical functionality providable by the add-on interface 140 includes essentially any useful logical, numerical and/or mathematical operations, that may be operated on one or more signals input to the add on interface 140. The input signals may here, according to various embodiments, include essentially any kind of signal, such as digital and/or analog signals, comprising well defined signal value levels and/or numerical signal values. Thus, the add-on interface 140 used by the embodiments of the present invention may be considerably more advanced than conventional add-on interfaces are, including e.g. processing of numerical signals, representation of physical values as numerical values, and/or performing numerical operations on the

numerical values/signals.

The add-on interface 140 may also easily be configured such that it is able to interpret the signals/information being input to it from the one or more add-on systems 130, e.g. via an external control system network input, such as an external controller area network (CAN) input, of the interface/control unit 148 including the add-on interface 140. The add-on interface 140 may also easily be configured to output

signals/information to the one or more add-on systems 130, via the external controller area network (CAN), such that the signals/information may be interpreted/used by the add-on systems 130. The add-on interface 140 may be arranged for converting signaling/information formats being used by the one or more add-on systems 130 to signaling/information formats being used by the one or more vehicle internal systems 120, and vice versa. Hereby, the one or more add-on systems 130 may communicate with the one or more vehicle internal systems 120, and possibly also with other systems, such as systems related to, or being included in the add-on/bodybuilder network 410.

Further, the add-on interface 140 may also be easily

configured for interpreting sensor signals being provided by the one or more add-on systems 130, such that a flexibility regarding addition of sensors is achieved for the vehicle. Essentially, any type of sensor, providing any type of sensor signal having essentially any feature, e.g. indicating any type of physical quantity unit, may be implemented in the one or more add-on systems 130, whereby the add-on interface 140 is configured to process the provided sensor signal

accordingly. The add-on interface 140 may also be easily configured to output a processed sensor signal having suitable features to the one or more add-on and/or vehicle internal systems 120, such as e.g. to the instrument cluster of the driving compartment, and possibly also to other systems, such as systems/nodes related to, or being included in the add on/bodybuilder network 410. The add-on interface 140 may for example be configured for outputting sensor signals adapted for being displayed in any suitable vehicle instrument.

The add-on network 410 may include an add-on interface

configuration tool 414, which may include an external

communication unit 161 arranged for communicating with the at least one internal communication unit 116 included in the vehicle. By use of the add-on interface configuration tool 414, the add-on interface 140 may easily be configured and/or defined, as is described in this document. Information related to how the add-on interface 140 is to be configured/defined may be provided based on input to a manufacturer interface entity 420 and/or a client/user interface entity 430 by a manufacturer and/or a client/user. One or more of the

manufacturer interface entity 420 and the client/user

interface entity 430 may be implemented as an application (APP) program, as an interface portal, as an interface

program, or as any suitable equipment arranged for presenting information and/or for receiving input of information.

An add-on/bodybuilder network 410 may be arranged, e.g. in an internet cloud 160 configuration, for communication and/or configuration of the one or more add-on systems 130, and/or for communication with the manufacturer interface entity 420 and/or the client/user interface entity 430. The add-on network 410 may include a communication node 411, which may include an external communication unit 161 arranged for communicating with the at least one internal communication unit 116 included in the vehicle.

Information transmitted to and/or from the vehicle 100 may have one or more features related to one or more configured functions of the add-on interface 140 and/or related to a configured signaling format used for the connection between the at least one internal communication unit 116 and the at least one external communication unit 161. According to some embodiments, an immutable and unique identifier ID may be created based on, and assigned to, the specific configuration of the add-on interface functions and/or of the used

signaling .

Generally, the add-on interface configuration tool 414, the manufacturer interface entity 420 and/or the client/user interface entity 430 is normally unaware of the features of the one or more add-on systems 130 and/or of the configuration of the add-on interface 140. Therefore, the add-on interface configuration tool 414, the manufacturer interface entity 420 and/or the client/user interface entity 430 are often also unaware of how to interpret information provided by the one or more add-on systems 130 to them. The immutable and unique identifier ID may therefore be added, e.g. as included in a packet header, to information sent from the one or more add-on systems 130. The information may then be decoded, in a codec 413 connected to the communication node 411, by usage of this immutable and unique identifier ID. The immutable and unique identifier ID may, after having been previously provided by the add-on interface 140 and/or by the add-on interface configuration tool 414, be stored in a register 412 of the add-on network 410. The codec 413 is arranged for encoding and/or decoding information transmitted from and/or to the vehicle 100, e.g. by usage of the immutable and unique

identifier ID, which is then provided to the codec 413 by the register 412.

Thus, the codec 413 may detect the immutable and unique identifier ID in a packet header of information transmitted from the vehicle 100, and may therefore be able to determine the specific configuration of the add-on interface 140 and how to detect the information in the packets. Correspondingly, the immutable and unique identifier ID may also be added, e.g. in a packet header, to information transmitted to the vehicle 100. The add-on interface 140 may then, based on the immutable and unique identifier ID, easily identify to which one or more add-on systems 130 and/or one or more vehicle internal systems 120 the information is intended to be transferred.

One or more diagnosis equipment 440 may be arranged in the add-on network 410 to process diagnosis related information. Such one or more diagnosis equipment may for example be included in the manufacturer interface entity 420 and/or in the client/user interface entity 430, or may be implemented in a separate diagnosis equipment 440. The one or more diagnosis equipment 440 is normally unaware of the features of the possibly unknown one or more add-on systems 130 and/or of the configuration of the add-on interface 140. Therefore, in order to provide a generic diagnosis system, diagnostic identifiers are created based on, and assigned to, the specific

configuration of the add-on interface 140 and/or the one or more add-on systems 130. Hereby, the diagnosis equipment 440 may be able to provide a reliable diagnosis also for all add on systems 130, also for the ones being unknown for the diagnosis equipment.

The person skilled in the art will appreciate that a method for configuring an add-on interface 140 of a vehicle 100 according to the present invention may also be implemented in a computer program, which, when it is executed in a computer, instructs the computer to execute the method. The computer may be included in the herein described system and/or may be coupled/connected to the herein described system. The computer program is usually constituted by a computer program product 503 stored on a non-transitory/non-volatile digital storage medium, in which the computer program is incorporated in the computer-readable medium of the computer program product . The computer-readable medium comprises a suitable memory, such as, for example: ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read- Only Memory) , EPROM (Erasable PROM) , Flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), a hard disk unit, etc.

Figure 5 shows in schematic representation a control

unit/system/means 500/115/148. As mentioned above, the vehicle 100 may include one or more control units 115. Also, the add on interface 140 may be implemented as a control unit 148. The control unit/system/means 500/115/148 comprises a computing unit 501, which may be constituted by essentially any suitable type of processor or microcomputer, for example a circuit for digital signal processing (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), or a circuit having a predetermined specific function

(Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC) . The computing unit 501 is connected to a memory unit 502 arranged in the control unit/system/means 500/115/148, which memory unit provides the computing unit 501 with, for example, the stored program code and/or the stored data which the computing unit 501 requires to be able to perform computations. The computing unit 501 is also arranged to store partial or final results of computations in the memory unit 502.

In addition, the control unit/system/means 500/115/148 is provided with devices 511, 512, 513, 514 for receiving and transmitting input and output signals. These input and output signals may comprise waveforms, impulses, or other attributes which, by the devices 511, 513 for the reception of input signals, can be detected as information and can be converted into signals which can be processed by the computing unit 501. These signals are then made available to the computing unit 501. The devices 512, 514 for the transmission of output signals are arranged to convert signals received from the computing unit 501 in order to create output signals by, for example, modulating the signals, which can be transmitted to other parts of and/or systems within or outside the vehicle 100.

Each of the connections to the devices for receiving and transmitting input and output signals can be comprise one or more of a cable; a data bus, such as a CAN bus

(Controller Area Network bus), a MOST bus (Media Orientated Systems Transport bus), or some other bus configuration; or by a wireless connection. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the above-stated computer can be constituted by the computing unit 501 and that the above- stated memory may be constituted by the memory unit 502.

Control systems in modern vehicles commonly comprise

communication bus systems including one or more

communication buses for linking a number of electronic control units (ECU's), or controllers, and various components located on the vehicle. Such a control system may comprise a large number of control units/means and the responsibility for a specific function can be divided amongst more than one control unit/means. Vehicles of the shown type thus often comprise significantly more control units/means than are shown in figures 1 and 5, which is well known to the person skilled in the art within this technical field.

In the shown embodiment, the present invention is implemented in the control unit / system/means 500/115/148. The invention can also, however, be implemented wholly or partially in one or more other control units/systems/means already present in the vehicle, or in some control unit / system/means dedicated to the present invention.

According to an aspect of the invention, a control unit 148 is arranged for configuring an add-on interface 140 of a vehicle 100.

The control unit 140 includes a reception unit/means 141, arranged for receiving 210 from the at least one vehicle external communication unit 161, by usage of the at least one internal communication unit 116, configuration information related to at least one signal S_avaiiabie being available for the add-on interface 140, at least one representation to be used for at least one output signal Soutput being based on the at least one available signal Savaiiabie, respectively, and at least one output port 147 of the interface control unit 148 including the add-on interface 140, on which the at least one output signal Soutput is to be provided, as described above. The at least one available signal S_avaiiabie may be provided by one or more of the at least one add-on system 130 and the add-on interface 140.

The control system further includes a configuration unit/means 142, arranged for configuring 220, based on the received configuration information, the add-on interface 140 to

provide, on the specified at least one output port 147, the at least one output signal Soutput having at least one

characteristic related to the received representation,

respectively, as described above. Hereby, the at least one output signal Soutput is detectable and/or usable by one or more of the at least one add-on system 130 and the at least one vehicle internal system 120. The add-on interface is, as mentioned above, arranged in the vehicle 100 as an interface between the at least one vehicle internal system 120 and the at least one add-on system 130.

By activation of the above described reception unit/means 141, and configuration unit/means 142, a configuration of the add on interface is achieved, which has the above-mentioned advantages .

Here and in this document, units/means are often described as being arranged for performing steps of the method according to the invention. This also includes that the units/means are designed to and/or configured to perform these method steps.

The at least one control unit/system/means 148 is in figure 1 illustrated as including separately illustrated units/means 141, 142. Also, the control system/means 148 may include or be coupled to e.g. other device/means 115. These

means/units/devices 141, 142, 148, 115 may, however, be at least to some extent logically separated but implemented in the same physical unit/device. These means/units/devices 141,

142, 148, 115 may also be part of a single logic unit which is implemented in at least two different physical units/devices. These means/units/devices 141, 142, 148, 115 may also be at least to some extent logically separated and implemented in at least two different physical means/units/devices. Further, these means/units/devices 141, 142, 148, 115 may be both logically and physically arranged together, i.e. be part of a single logic unit which is implemented in a single physical means/unit/device . These means/units/devices 141, 142, 148,

115 may for example correspond to groups of instructions, which can be in the form of programming code, that are input into, and are utilized by at least one processor when the units/means are active and/or are utilized for performing its method step, respectively. It should be noted that the control unit/system/means 148 may be implemented at least partly within the vehicle 100 and/or at least partly outside of the vehicle 100, e.g. in a server, computer, processor or the like located separately from the vehicle 100.

As mentioned above, the units 141, 142 described above

correspond to the claimed means 141, 142 arranged for

performing the embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention as such.

The control system according to the present invention can be arranged for performing all of the above, in the claims, and in the herein described embodiments method steps. The system is hereby provided with the above described advantages for each respective embodiment.

A skilled person also realizes that the above described system may be modified according to the different embodiments of the method of the present invention. The present invention is also related to a vehicle 100, such as a truck, a bus or a car, including the herein described control unit 148 arranged for configuring an add-on interface such that the at least one output signal Soutput has at least one specific characteristic useful in at least one add-on and/or vehicle internal system.

The inventive method, and embodiments thereof, as described above, may at least in part be performed with/using/by at least one device. The inventive method, and embodiments thereof, as described above, may be performed at least in part with/using/by at least one device that is suitable and/or adapted for performing at least parts of the inventive method and/or embodiments thereof. A device that is suitable and/or adapted for performing at least parts of the inventive method and/or embodiments thereof may be one, or several, of a control unit, an electronic control unit (ECU), an electronic circuit, a computer, a computing unit and/or a processing unit .

With reference to the above, the inventive method, and

embodiments thereof, as described above, may be referred to as an, at least in part, computerized method. The method being, at least in part, computerized meaning that it is performed at least in part with/using/by the at least one device that is suitable and/or adapted for performing at least parts of the inventive method and/or embodiments thereof.

With reference to the above, the inventive method, and

embodiments thereof, as described above, may be referred to as an, at least in part, automated method. The method being, at least in part, automated meaning that it is performed

with/using/by the at least one device that is suitable and/or adapted for performing at least parts of the inventive method and/or embodiments thereof.

The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. Instead, the present invention relates to, and encompasses all different embodiments being included within the scope of the independent claims.

Claims

1. A method (200) for configuring an add-on interface

(140) of a vehicle (100), said vehicle (100) including:

- at least one vehicle internal system (120);

- at least one add-on system (130), said add-on system being arranged in said vehicle (100) after said vehicle is produced by a manufacturer; and

- at least one internal communication unit (116) arranged for communication with at least one vehicle external communication unit (161);

wherein the method (200) comprises:

- receiving (210), from the at least one vehicle external communication unit (161) and by usage of said at least one internal communication unit (116), configuration information related to:

- at least one signal S_avaiiabie being available for an add-on interface (140) arranged in said vehicle (100) as an interface between said at least one vehicle internal system (120) and said at least one add-on system (130), the at least one available signal S_avaiiabie being provided by one or more of said at least one add-on system (130) and said add-on

interface (140);

- at least one output port (147) of an interface control unit (148) including said add-on interface (140), on which said at least one output signal Soutput is to be provided; and

- configuring (220), based on said configuration information, said add-on interface (140) to provide, on said at least one output port (147), said at least one output signal S_output having at least one characteristic related to said representation, respectively, such that said at least one output signal Soutput is detectable and/or usable by one or more of said at least one add-on system (130) and said at least one vehicle internal system (120) .

2. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

- said configuration information related to said at least one representation includes information indicating a signaling type to be used for said at least one output signal Soutput; whereby

- said configuring (220) includes arranging said add-on interface (140) to output said at least one output signal Soutput using said signaling type.

3. The method (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said signaling type is one in the group of:

- pulse width modulation (PWM) signaling;

- direct controlled current signaling; and

- direct controlled voltage signaling.

4. The method (200) as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein :

- said configuration information related to said at least one representation includes information indicating at least one characteristic of a signaling type to be used for said at least one output signal Soutput ; whereby

- said configuring (220) includes arranging said add-on interface (140) to output said at least one output signal Soutput on said signaling type having said at least one

characteristic .

5. The method (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one signal Savaiiabie is also provided by said at least one vehicle internal system (120)

6. The method (200) as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein :

- said configuration information related to said at least one representation is related to a usage of said at least one output signal Soutput ; whereby

- said configuring (220) includes arranging said add-on interface (140) to output said at least one output signal Soutput adapted to said usage of said at least one output signal .

7. The method (200) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said usage of said at least one output signal Soutput includes one or more of :

- providing said at least one output signal Soutput to a control system network of said vehicle;

- providing said at least one output signal Soutput to at least one control unit (115) ;

- providing said at least one output signal Soutput to at least one actuator;

- providing said at least one output signal Soutput to at least one instrument (310) ; and

- providing said at least one output signal Soutput to an instrument cluster ( 310) .

8. The method (200) as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, wherein said at least one vehicle external communication unit () is included in and/or is associated with one or more of:

- at least one web and/or internet related unit;

- at least one internet cloud related unit;

- at least one infrastructure unit;

- at least one external communication unit (161) included in at least one other vehicle;

- at least one server; - at least one database;

- at least one processor; and

- at least one computer.

9. The method (200) as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, wherein said at least one internal communication unit (116) is included in a control system network of said vehicle (100) .

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one add-on system (130) is connected to an external control system network input (149) of an interface control unit (148) including said add-on interface (140) .

11. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, wherein said at least one add-on system (130) is a system provided by at least one other part than said manufacturer of said vehicle (100) .

12. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1-11, wherein said configuration information is received from one or more of :

- a final user of said vehicle (100);

- at least one other part than said manufacturer, said at least one other part having knowledge of said at least one add-on system (130); and

- said manufacturer.

13. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1-12.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when the instructions are executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1-12.

15. A control /unit (148) arranged for configuring an add-on interface (140) of a vehicle (100), said vehicle (100) including :

- at least one vehicle internal system (120);

said control unit 148 being arranged for:

- receiving (210), by usage of said at least one internal communication unit (116), configuration information related to :

- at least one signal S_avaiiabie being available for an add-on interface (140) arranged in said vehicle (100) as an interface between said at least one vehicle internal system (120) and said at least one add-on system (130) ), the at least one available signal S_avaiiabie being provided by one or more of said at least one add-on system (130) and said add-on interface (140);

at least one representation to be used for at least one output signal Soutput being based on the at least one available signal Savaiiabie, respectively; and

at least one output port (147) of an interface control unit (148) including said add-on interface (140), on which said at least one output signal Soutput is to be provided; and

- configuring (220), based on said configuration information, said add-on interface (140) to provide, on said at least one output port (147), said at least one output signal Soutput having at 1east one characteristic related to said

representation, respectively, such that said at least one output signal Soutput is detectable and/or usable by one or more of said at least one add-on system (130) and said at least one vehicle internal system (120) .