A computer implemented translation system provides a programming interface between
a client and remote devices connected to a vehicle data network. The translation
system presents programmers with a uniform abstraction of vehicle networks that
permits programming and diagnostic procedures to be carried out without reference
by the programmer to nuances of the particular network class used on the motor
vehicle. Three major interfaces are defined to implement the invention. A network
interface incorporates a plurality of functions representing a model of a physical
network. A data link interface responsive to client requests for acquiring a network
instance corresponding to a physical network from the network interface. The establishment
of a network instance may involve reference to a database to obtain appropriate
drivers for the underlying physical network represented by the network instance.
A remote device interface incorporates a plurality of functions representing the
physical devices callable through the network interface and handles messaging between
the client and a physical device attached to the underlying physical network.
