Overview
ISO 17987-1:2016 - Road vehicles - Local Interconnect Network (LIN) - Part 1 provides the general information, terminology and use case definitions for the ISO 17987 LIN standard family. This part gives an overview of the document structure and partitioning of the entire LIN suite and defines common terms used across all parts (master/slave, PID, NAD, schedule table, etc.). It establishes the use-case clusters and basic principles for LIN deployments in road vehicles, serving as the entry point for implementing LIN-based in-vehicle communication systems.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Common terminology and conventions: defines terms such as LIN master, LIN slave, protected identifier (PID), NAD (diagnostic address), checksum, frame, break/sync fields and schedule table to ensure consistent interpretation across Parts 2–7.
- Use case clusters: describes five main LIN use-case clusters - LIN master task, LIN slave task, LIN communication protocol, LIN physical layer and LIN network management - and lists mandatory and optional use cases (for example, header generation, frame processing, node configuration, error reporting).
- LIN fundamentals: summarizes LIN characteristics from the standard family: UART-based low-speed network, signal-based communication, schedule table driven deterministic frame transfer and bitrate support (1 kbit/s to 20 kbit/s).
- Layered approach: aligns LIN with the OSI model conventions (as referenced in ISO/IEC 7498-1 and ISO/IEC 10731), distinguishing services and protocols so application and transport services remain reusable across networks.
- Configuration and diagnostics: outlines use cases for node configuration (LDF-driven, NAD/PID assignment) and diagnostic transport (UDS-related services and transport of larger PDUs).
Practical applications
ISO 17987-1:2016 is intended for low-cost, low-speed automotive control applications such as:
- Door modules, window lifters and mirror control
- HVAC and climate control systems
- Sensor/actuator clusters where a deterministic, low-bandwidth bus is adequate
It helps engineers design reliable LIN clusters, plan network management (wake/sleep), and define how diagnostic and configuration services are transported.
Who should use this standard
- Automotive OEM system architects and network designers
- ECU hardware and firmware engineers implementing LIN masters or slaves
- Module and component suppliers producing LIN-compliant devices
- Test labs and integrators performing conformance and interoperability verification
Related standards
- ISO 17987 Parts 2–7 (Transport protocol, Protocol spec, Physical Layer, API, Conformance tests)
- ISO/IEC 7498-1 (OSI Basic Reference Model) and ISO/IEC 10731 (OSI service conventions)
ISO 17987-1:2016 is the foundational document for anyone implementing or integrating LIN (Local Interconnect Network) in road vehicles, providing consistent terminology and defined use cases that guide the rest of the LIN standard family.