Hardware support for CAN fault-tolerant communication

Fault-tolerant distributed applications based on field-buses may take advantage from the availability of highly-dependable communication systems. In this paper, we address this problem in the context of CAN, the Controller Area Network, to conclude that CAN native mechanisms alone are unable to fulfil all the attributes of fault-tolerant communication protocols. The paper discusses how existing CAN controllers can be complemented with some simple machinery and low-level protocol modules, handling the problem effectively. The result is an enhanced CAN infra-structure able to provide extremely reliable communication.