GF82.85-P-0003TJ Cockpit Management and Data System (COMAND), Function

GF82.85-P-0003TJ Cockpit Management And Data System (COMAND), Function
- with CODE (529) HIGH Class Japan

Component Identification:

Function
The COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3) is the most important control and operating element for the user. The user is notified about all communication and entertainment system functions via a color liquid crystal display (LCD) that is integrated in the COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3). The user can also operate the system using main control panels to the left and right of and beneath the screen. The driver information system functions can be influenced in this way. Most of the communication between the COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3) and the components that constitute the system takes place via the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST).

The driver can also intervene in the driver information system via the left multifunction steering wheel button group (S110) and the right multifunction steering wheel button group (S111) and obtain information via the multifunction display (A1p13) in the instrument cluster (A1).
The controls for the COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3) are:
^ Buttons with fixed functions
^ Numeric keypad
^ 5 variable buttons to the left and right of the screen for which the key functions are displayed on the screen next to the relevant button
^ Direction entry element with OK button (joystick) for selecting subfunctions on the screen
^ Mute button

Some of the controls have fixed functions and always trigger the same response, irrespective of the screen that is currently being displayed. Some functions can be activated using the left multifunction steering wheel button group (S110) and the right multifunction steering wheel button group (S111). However, these button operations are initially processed by the instrument cluster (A1).
The instrument cluster (A1) links the incoming button actuations from the multifunction steering wheel (MFL) with the current menu setting on the multifunction display (A1p13). If necessary, it transmits a corresponding Controller Area Network (data bus/CAN bus) (CAN) message via the audio gateway control unit (N93/1) to the COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3).

The following functions can be operated centrally:
^ Radio mode
^ CD audio mode
^ CD changer (A2/6)
^ MD (Mini Disc)
^ TV-DVD mode
^ Telephone
^ Internet and i-mode browser
^ Navigation mode
^ E-call
^ Internal Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS)
^ External VICS (dealer option)
^ Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), ETC (dealer option)
^ Voice control system (VCS [SBS])
^ Services (special equipment)
^ FM multiplexer for multi-channel reception
^ External equipment (e.g. MP3 player) via AUX jack

Participating system components of the COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3) with full equipment:
^ Audio gateway control unit (N93/1)
^ E-call control unit (N112) (telephone and traffic services)
^ Hands-free system control unit (A35/1)
^ CD changer (A2/6)
^ Left multifunction steering wheel button group (S110)
^ Right multifunction steering wheel button group (S111)
^ Instrument cluster (A1)
^ Telephone antenna (A2/49a1)
^ GPS antenna (A2/49a2)
^ Amplifier module 1, window antenna (A2/71)
^ Amplifier module 2, window antenna (A2/72)
^ TV antenna selector (A2/79)
^ UPCI Portable CTEL holder (Universal Portable CTEL Interface) (A34/15)
^ COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3)
^ Hands-free system microphone group (A67b1)
^ VCS [SBS] switch (S93/2)
^ Steering column module (N80)

Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) data bus system
The digital components of the COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3) are networked with each other by the MOST (Media Oriented System Transport). The databus system is used to transmit data (control commands and useful information) between the various system components. In the process both control data and the actual audio signals (music from CD changer (A2/6), voice when making a telephone call) are transmitted. Because some of the individual components work with different data formats or require different data transfer rates and security levels, different data bus systems have been installed.
Data bus systems:
^ Media Oriented System Transport (MOST)
^ Controller area network bus class B (interior compartment) (CAN B)
^ Controller Area Network bus, class C (engine compartment) (CAN C)

Data and signals between the audio gateway control unit (N93/1), the COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3), the CD changer (A2/6), the E-call control unit (N112) and the hands-free system control unit (A35/1) are exchanged via the MOST (Media Oriented System Transport).
In the process both control data and the actual audio signals (music from CD changer (A2/6), voice when making a telephone call) are transmitted. The COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3) communicates with the audio gateway control unit (N93/1) and the other system components via the integrated Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) interface.

Interfaces
The data exchange with the instrument cluster (A1) takes place via the Controller Area Network bus class B (interior) (CAN-B). This is how the instrument cluster (A1) receives the audio, telephone, and navigation data for the multifunction display (A1p13) in the instrument cluster (A1) and the time from the COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3) via the audio gateway control unit (N93/1).

The portable CTEL (A34/6) is not on the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST), but is directly connected to the COMAND operating, display and controller unit (A40/3).