EP3726780A1 And Related Patents In Vehicle Ethernet Systems

As cars rely on more digital systems than ever before, the way those systems communicate with each other becomes critical. 

EP3726780A1, assigned to Avago Technologies, is one such patent, now referenced in an infringement case involving several Renault Group companies. While the legal process continues, our focus here is on the technology behind the patent.

This European patent introduces a smarter way to connect a car’s electronic devices using Ethernet, the same kind of network found in homes and offices. It uses a system called Audio Video Bridging (AVB) to make sure important data, like music, navigation, and safety alerts, travels without delays. It also adds security features and backup connections in case one path fails.

To find similar inventions, we use the Global Patent Search (GPS) platform. GPS helps match specific features of a patent with those in earlier technologies, revealing close similarities and technical overlaps.

Whether you are working on in-car networks, reviewing innovation trends, or protecting intellectual property, this GPS-based analysis offers a clear look into the design of EP3726780A1.

Understanding Patent EP3726780A1

Vehicles today rely on a growing number of interconnected electronic systems, including cameras, sensors, media players, and control units. EP3726780A1 addresses the challenge of managing these systems through a unified network. By leveraging Ethernet and AVB, the patent proposes a scalable architecture that simplifies communication across multiple devices while ensuring data integrity, security, and responsiveness.

Source: Google Patents

Its Four Key Features Are

#1. Ethernet-based connectivity: Devices in the vehicle are linked via Ethernet cables (copper or optical), forming a centralized electronics system.

#2. Audio Video Bridging (AVB): AVB manages traffic by reserving network resources for time-sensitive data like audio, video, and diagnostics.

#3. Secure communication with MACsec: The system encrypts data using MACsec to ensure secure transmission between vehicle components.

#4. Redundancy and load sharing: Devices can communicate through parallel physical channels or redundant links, providing failover support and balancing bandwidth.

The invention offers a practical blueprint for integrating both high-bandwidth media and mission-critical data on a single in-vehicle network. It sets the groundwork for next-generation automotive architectures that demand both speed and reliability.

Similar Patents As EP3726780A1

To explore the innovation landscape surrounding EP3726780A1, we ran the patent through the Global Patent Search tool. This surfaced related patents that share technical similarities in vehicle network architecture, redundancy, and secure communication over Ethernet-style links.

Below, we highlight five of these references that reflect comparable ideas in creating reliable, high-speed, and fail-safe vehicular data networks.

#1. JP2005518112A

This Japanese patent, JP2005518112A, published in 2005, introduces a vehicle network system that enables multiple communication paths between in-vehicle devices. It focuses on peer-to-peer and redundant communication across various control units, allowing real-time data sharing for functions like braking, steering, and infotainment. 

The system also includes timing synchronization, fault-tolerant routing, and encryption techniques to enhance the reliability and security of data transmission in dynamic automotive environments.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. Redundant communication paths – Defines multiple dynamic routes between vehicle devices for simultaneous and failover communication.
   
2. Spanning tree timing protocols – Uses a root node to propagate synchronized timing data for coordinated system behavior.
   
3. Fault-tolerant data delivery – Introduces multi-stream packet duplication to maintain reliability in case of transmission errors.
   
4. Decentralized switching network – Includes switch-based routing structures for multi-path, peer-to-peer communications across vehicle devices.
   
5. Encryption across links – Supports data integrity through cryptographic methods applied before or after packetization.
   

How It Connects To EP3726780A1

• Both patents aim to modernize vehicular networks by replacing traditional bus systems with resilient, Ethernet-style architectures.
  
• EP3726780A1 emphasizes AVB for deterministic delivery and MACsec for security, while JP2005518112A implements spanning tree logic and encryption for similar purposes.
  
• Each also addresses the critical need for redundant links to improve reliability and maintain consistent communication between essential vehicle systems.
  

Why This Matters

JP2005518112A illustrates an early attempt to embed active, fault-tolerant networking within vehicles. Its approach to redundancy and data stream replication provides historical context for the robust network resilience that EP3726780A1 aims to enhance using modern Ethernet protocols and standards, such as AVB.

#2. JP2002261790A

This Japanese patent, JP2002261790A, published in 2002, describes a modular onboard network system designed to integrate various in-vehicle LANs through a centralized gateway. The system is based on standardized communication protocols, such as IEEE 1394, and supports distributed processing across a range of vehicle modules. 

It enables the seamless sharing of sensor data, including engine speed, braking, and environmental inputs, while allowing for dynamic control of multimedia output based on in-vehicle conditions, such as speed and noise levels.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. Centralized in-vehicle gateway – Integrates multiple LANs within the car to support communication across diverse subsystems.
   
2. Modular node design – Uses vehicle modules (M1 to Mn) for distributed data collection and processing.
   
3. IEEE1394-based communication – Relies on a high-speed, standardized interface to connect modules and relay information.
   
4. Sensor-driven control logic – Captures and processes data from sensors, such as gyroscopes, cameras, and noise detectors, to enable adaptive system behavior.
   
5. Real-time multimedia adjustment – Adjusts car audio volume dynamically based on speed and ambient noise using onboard sensor fusion.
   

How It Connects To EP3726780A1

• Both patents promote modular, distributed systems to manage complex in-vehicle electronics across multimedia and control functions.
  
• EP3726780A1 uses Ethernet and AVB for real-time data delivery; JP2002261790A applies IEEE1394 for similar high-speed communication.
  
• Each system integrates a centralized network element (gateway or switch) that coordinates processing and data routing among connected modules.
  

Why This Matters

JP2002261790A represents an early architecture for harmonizing multimedia and control systems using a modular, sensor-aware network. Its use of standardized protocols and real-time data handling parallels the goals of EP3726780A1, which builds upon these ideas with enhanced bandwidth management and encryption. This approach aligns with early vehicle camera innovations that laid the foundation for modern visual sensing in connected cars.

#3. US2007061414A1

This U.S. patent, US2007061414A1, published in 2007, presents a system for achieving seamless Ethernet-based communication between various audio, video, and control devices. It enables interoperability across disparate hardware types through adapters that convert analog or digital signals into Ethernet packets. 

The design supports both wired and wireless Ethernet networks, allowing source devices to distribute information to any compatible destination device, with conversion handled either internally or through external modules.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. Universal device interconnectivity – Allows audio, video, and control devices to share data across Ethernet regardless of their format or type.
   
2. Signal conversion adapters – Uses embedded or external adapters to transform analog or digital signals into Ethernet packets.
   
3. Multi-format compatibility – Supports a range of inputs and outputs, including HDMI, VGA, NTSC, DVI, USB, and audio.
   
4. Bit-for-bit data transmission – Maintains full signal fidelity from source to destination with optional compression for bandwidth efficiency.
   
5. Multi-device distribution – Enables one source device to send data to multiple destinations simultaneously over Ethernet.
   

How It Connects To EP3726780A1

• Both patents utilize Ethernet to unify communication between multimedia and control devices in a connected system.
  
• EP3726780A1 focuses on AVB and MACsec for time-sensitive and secure in-vehicle data exchange; US2007061414A1 emphasizes flexible, adapter-based Ethernet transmission.
  
• Each solution highlights signal interoperability and efficient delivery across complex hardware environments.
  

Why This Matters

US2007061414A1 demonstrates how Ethernet networks can bridge heterogeneous devices through standardized packetization and conversion. This early framework for flexible signal integration parallels the foundational concepts in EP3726780A1, which adapts similar ideas for automotive-grade multimedia and control systems with enhanced security and timing guarantees.

#4. KR101008506B1

This Korean patent, KR101008506B1, published in 2011, describes a method and system for centralized vehicle electronics using Ethernet with Audio Video Bridging (AVB). It focuses on connecting in-vehicle devices, such as media players, sensors, and control modules, via Ethernet links. 

The system reserves bandwidth for time-sensitive data, secures communications with MACsec, and supports plug-and-play functionality with scalable redundancy and synchronization features.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. AVB-based Ethernet communication – Connects vehicle electronics using Ethernet protocols with bandwidth reservation for multimedia and control data.
   
2. MACsec-enabled security – Encrypts inter-device communication using MACsec and related protocols to protect sensitive automotive signals.
   
3. Parallel and redundant links – Allows multiple Ethernet channels between devices to ensure consistent throughput and failover support.
   
4. Multimedia synchronization – Enables real-time audio and video coordination across devices using AVB time-stamping and QoS.
   
5. Standards-based integration – Supports tunneling of HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB over Ethernet to reduce wiring complexity and improve interoperability.
   

How It Connects To EP3726780A1

• Both patents describe virtually identical architectures for centralized vehicular systems using Ethernet with AVB.
  
• KR101008506B1 emphasizes real-time media and control handling with MACsec and redundancy, core components also outlined in EP3726780A1.
  
• Each outlines standardized physical interfaces, modular expansion, and dynamic data prioritization within vehicle networks.
  

Why This Matters

KR101008506B1 shows a clear parallel to EP3726780A1 in both function and structure, highlighting the broader push toward Ethernet-based automotive electronics. Its focus is on multimedia streaming, device modularity, and secure communication. This aligns closely with the direction of modern in-vehicle network design, where stress-tested vehicle data systems are becoming the benchmark for reliable automotive communication.

#5. JP2000151643A

This Japanese patent, JP2000151643A, published in 2000, introduces a communication device designed for isochronous data transmission within vehicles. It is specifically designed for synchronized audio and video communication between systems, such as the dashboard and trunk.

It highlights a low-latency, bandwidth-reserved approach using routing tables to allocate communication channels while eliminating retransmission to support continuous AV playback in automotive environments.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. Isochronous AV transmission – Supports real-time audio and video transfer without retransmission to maintain seamless playback.
   
2. Reference clock synchronization – Coordinates communication across devices using an audio-based timing reference.
   
3. Dynamic bandwidth allocation – Utilizes routing tables to pre-assign communication channels based on sender and receiver addresses.
   
4. Lightweight error correction – Minimizes retransmission dependency while maintaining acceptable AV data integrity.
   
5. Internal device communication architecture – Optimized for high-throughput signal exchange between in-vehicle components like dashboards and trunk modules.
   

How It Connects To EP3726780A1

• Both patents aim to improve real-time multimedia communication within vehicles.
  
• EP3726780A1 relies on AVB to reserve bandwidth and synchronize AV streams, while JP2000151643A achieves similar goals with fixed routing and clock synchronization.
  
• Each supports uninterrupted AV flow across devices without reliance on data retransmission mechanisms.
  

Why This Matters

JP2000151643A provides early insight into vehicle-ready communication architectures focused on continuous media delivery. Its method of bandwidth reservation and time alignment prefigures the more scalable and standardized AVB system featured in EP3726780A1.

How to Find Related Patents Using Global Patent Search

Understanding the broader patent landscape is essential when exploring centralized vehicular networks, AVB-based communication, or secure multimedia transmission in cars. The Global Patent Search tool makes this easier by surfacing inventions that tackle similar challenges in automotive connectivity, real-time data routing, and in-vehicle system integration.

1. Enter the patent number into GPS: Start by entering a patent number like EP3726780A1 into the GPS tool. The platform transforms it into a targeted query, which can be refined with terms like “AVB,” “MACsec,” or “in-vehicle Ethernet.”

Source: GPS

2. Explore conceptual snippets: Instead of comparing features claim-by-claim, GPS now presents curated text snippets. These highlight how other inventions manage AV streaming, prioritize control data, or integrate secure routing protocols.

3. Identify related inventions: The tool reveals patents addressing real-time synchronization, multimedia delivery, and network redundancy, offering insight into how similar engineering problems have been tackled in automotive systems.

4. Compare systems, not legal claims: Rather than focusing strictly on legal claim language, GPS emphasizes conceptual approaches. This helps users recognize overlaps in strategies for Ethernet-based communication and modular vehicular design.

5. Accelerate cross-domain insights: Whether working in infotainment systems, automotive security, or EV architecture, GPS lets researchers uncover related approaches across sectors that might otherwise remain siloed, such as avionics, industrial control, or consumer electronics.

With Global Patent Search, you are not just searching; you are strategically connecting the dots across complex vehicle technologies. From Ethernet-based networking to secure multimedia routing, GPS brings hidden patterns to light. Use it to uncover design overlaps, inspire new system architectures, or strengthen your competitive edge in IP development. Start your search with GPS and drive innovation forward with confidence.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The related patent references mentioned are preliminary results from the Global Patent Search tool and do not guarantee legal significance. For a comprehensive related patent analysis, we recommend conducting a detailed search using GPS or consulting a patent attorney.