Method, apparatus for configurable transmission rate over bi-directional ethernet link

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to configurable transmission rates over a bidirectional Ethernet link. An apparatus for data communication includes a sensor-transceiver and control logic. The sensor-transceiver is coupled to a sensor and connected to a processor-transceiver coupled to a processor over an Ethernet link of a communication network in a vehicle. In an upstream direction from the sensor-transceiver to the processor-transceiver, the sensor-transceiver transmits data to the processor-transceiver over the Ethernet link at an upstream data rate, and in a downstream direction from the processor-transceiver to the sensor-transceiver, the sensor-transceiver receives data from the processor-transceiver over the Ethernet link at a downstream data rate. The control logic is configured to select the upstream data rate for communication in the upstream direction to be higher than the downstream data rate for communication in the downstream direction when operating in a first mode, and to select the upstream data rate to be lower than the downstream data rate when operating in a second mode.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63 / 159,343, filed March 10, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure generally relates to network communications, and in particular to methods and systems that support configurable data transmission rates via bidirectional Ethernet links. Background Technology

[0004] Various applications, such as automotive communication systems, certain industrial communication systems, and smart home systems, require communication at high data rates over relatively short distances. Several types of protocols and communication media have been proposed for such applications. For example, Ethernet communication over twisted-pair copper wire is specified in the following: “IEEE Ethernet Standard - Amendment 5: Physical layer specifications and management parameters for 10 Mb / s operation and associated power transmission over a single balanced wire pair,” IEEE 802.3cg-2019, February 2020; “IEEE Ethernet Standard Amendment 1: Physical layer specifications and management parameters for 100 Mb / s operation over single balanced twisted-pair (100BASE-T1),” IEEE 802.3bw-2015, March 2016; “IEEE Ethernet Standard Amendment 4: Physical layer specifications and management parameters for 1 Gb / s operation over twisted-pair copper cable,” IEEE 802.3bp-2016, September 2016; and “IEEE Ethernet Standard Amendment 8: Physical layer specifications and management parameters for 2.5 Gb / s, 5 Gb / s, and 10 Gb / s automotive electrical Ethernet,” IEEE 802.3ch-2020, June 2020.

[0005] The above description is an overview of the relevant technology in this field and should not be construed as an admission that any information contained herein constitutes prior art for this patent application. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments described herein provide an apparatus for data communication, including a sensor transceiver and control logic. The sensor transceiver is configured to be coupled to a sensor and connected to a processor transceiver via a full-duplex Ethernet link of a communication network in a vehicle; the processor transceiver is coupled to a processor. In the upstream direction from the sensor transceiver to the processor transceiver, the sensor transceiver is configured to transmit data to the processor transceiver via the Ethernet link at a selectable upstream data rate, and in the downstream direction from the processor transceiver to the sensor transceiver, to receive data from the processor transceiver via the Ethernet link at a selectable downstream data rate. The control logic is configured to select an upstream data rate for communication in the upstream direction that is higher than a downstream data rate for communication in the downstream direction when operating in a first mode, and to select an upstream data rate that is lower than a downstream data rate when operating in a second mode.

[0007] In some embodiments, the upstream data rate and downstream data rate can be selected from a plurality of predefined data transfer rates. In other embodiments, the control logic is configured to modify at least one of the upstream and downstream data rates when switching between a first mode and a second mode, and to allow communication with the processor-transceiver using the modified upstream and downstream data rates after verifying that the processor-transceiver has also switched to the same first or second mode as the sensor-transceiver. In other embodiments, in the first mode, the sensor-transceiver sends sensor data to the processor via the processor-transceiver, and in the second mode, the sensor-transceiver receives updated firmware or software from the processor or a storage device coupled to the processor via the processor-transceiver.

[0008] In one embodiment, in a first mode, the control logic is configured to select the upstream data rate as the maximum data rate corresponding to the sensor data provided by the sensor. In another embodiment, the sensor transceiver is configured to be coupled to one or more additional sensors, and the control logic is configured to select the upstream data rate as the sum of the maximum data rates corresponding to the sensor data provided by the sensor and the one or more additional sensors, respectively. In yet another embodiment, the control logic is configured to communicate messages indicating the corresponding upstream and downstream data rates to the processor transceiver.

[0009] In some embodiments, in addition to the first and second modes, the sensor-transceiver is also configured to selectively operate in a high data rate mode, in which both the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate are selected to be higher than a predefined data transmission rate. In other embodiments, in addition to the first and second modes, the sensor-transceiver is also configured to selectively operate in a low data rate mode, wherein both the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate are selected to be lower than a predefined data transmission rate. In yet another embodiment, the Ethernet link supports a maximum bidirectional rate, and the sensor-transceiver is configured to select the upstream data rate such that the sum of the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate corresponds to the maximum bidirectional rate.

[0010] According to one embodiment described herein, a method for data communication is also provided, comprising: in a sensor-transceiver coupled to a sensor and connected to a processor-transceiver via a full-duplex Ethernet link through a communication network in a vehicle; transmitting data to the processor-transceiver via the Ethernet link at a selectable upstream data rate in an upstream direction from the sensor-transceiver to the processor-transceiver; and receiving data from the processor-transceiver via the Ethernet link at a selectable downstream data rate in a downstream direction from the processor-transceiver to the sensor-transceiver. When operating in a first mode, the upstream data rate for upstream communication is selected to be higher than the downstream data rate for downstream communication. When operating in a second mode, the upstream data rate is selected to be lower than the downstream data rate.

[0011] The present invention can be more fully understood through the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle communication system with configurable upstream and downstream data rates according to embodiments described herein;

[0013] Figure 2 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating a pair of Ethernet physical layer (PHY) transceivers communicating via a full-duplex bidirectional link, according to embodiments described herein; and

[0014] Figure 3 This is a flowchart that schematically illustrates a method for communicating between a pair of Ethernet PHY transceivers via a bidirectional link using selectable upstream and downstream data rates, according to embodiments described herein. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The embodiments described herein provide improved Ethernet physical layer (PHY) transceivers and associated methods for communication over full-duplex bidirectional channels. These may be, for example, twisted-pair copper links in automotive Ethernet networks, or other suitable wired links with multiple twisted pairs in other suitable networks. The embodiments described herein primarily refer to asymmetric links, where the data transmission rate differs between the two directions of the bidirectional link. Furthermore, the data rates used in the respective upstream and downstream directions are configurable, for example, depending on the operating mode of the PHY transceiver.

[0016] The asymmetric PHY transceivers described herein are highly useful in automotive applications, such as systems that collect data from sensors within a vehicle and control and configure those sensors. For example, high-resolution sensors can be used in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) systems. However, the disclosed techniques are generally applicable to a wide range of other applications involving asymmetric links, such as in industrial and / or smart home networks, and in video distribution systems. Certain aspects of bidirectional asymmetric Ethernet communication in such environments are set forth in the following documents: U.S. Patent Application 16 / 419,643, entitled “Asymmetric Energy Efficient Ethernet”; and U.S. Patent Application 16 / 815,299, entitled “Managing Bidirectional Communication in Constrained Environments,” assigned to the assignee of this patent application, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, aspects related to crosstalk in asymmetric link configurations are described in U.S. Patent Application 17 / 497,744, entitled “Network using Asymmetric Uplink and Downlink Baud Rates to Reduce Crosstalk,” assigned to the assignee of this patent application, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0017] Consider a pair of Ethernet PHY transceivers that communicate with each other in full-duplex mode via a single twisted-pair cable link. In an automotive communication network, one PHY transceiver, called a "sensor-transceiver," is coupled to one or more sensors in the vehicle, while the other PHY transceiver, called a "processor-transceiver," is coupled to a processor in the vehicle, such as a central controller.

[0018] In the "upstream direction" from the sensor-transceiver to the processor-transceiver, the sensor-transceiver is configured to transmit data to the processor-transceiver via an Ethernet link at a selectable "upstream data rate," and in the "downstream direction" from the processor-transceiver to the sensor-transceiver, the sensor-transceiver is configured to receive data from the processor-transceiver via an Ethernet link at a selectable "downstream data rate." In the context and in the claims, the term "data rate" refers to the amount of information (measured in bits) transmitted through a communication channel in a unit of time.

[0019] It should be noted that communication at a specified data rate refers to communication at a data rate not exceeding the specified data rate.

[0020] In the vehicle network example, sensors can include various sensor types, such as, for example, cameras, radar sensors, lidar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, etc. When the vehicle is operated for driving, sensors typically send high-speed data (such as sensor data) to a processor in the upstream direction and receive low-speed data (such as control and configuration data) from a processor in the downstream direction. In this setup, to efficiently utilize link bandwidth, the PHY transceiver is configured to communicate using an upstream data rate higher than the downstream data rate.

[0021] Sensors in a vehicle typically include firmware and / or software that are updated periodically. Such updates are usually performed when the vehicle is not being operated for driving (e.g., in a garage). To update the sensor's firmware / software, a processor downloads the updated firmware or software to the sensor via a wired Ethernet link. The processor can use technologies such as State Over-the-Air (SOTA) and / or Firmware Over-the-Air to obtain the updated firmware / software. Alternatively, the updated firmware or software can be provided to the processor via a suitable dedicated data connection, for example, when the vehicle is parked for servicing.

[0022] In principle, PHY transceivers can support bandwidth allocation, where the upstream data rate is higher than the downstream data rate, for example, when a vehicle is operated for driving. However, with this bandwidth allocation, link utilization is inefficient during firmware / software updates because the amount of data sent from the processor to the sensors (at a lower downstream data rate) is typically much larger than the amount of data sent from the sensors to the processor (at a higher upstream data rate). Therefore, downloading updated firmware / software takes a long time, resulting in performance degradation during production and maintenance.

[0023] In the disclosed embodiments, the PHY transceiver supports flexible bandwidth allocation in both upstream and downstream directions, which in some embodiments is selectable depending on the operating mode. By flexibly allocating bandwidth between upstream and downstream directions, the link can be effectively utilized in a variety of use cases.

[0024] In some embodiments, within an automotive environment, each PHY transceiver includes control logic that configures the PHY transceiver to operate in either a first mode (e.g., field mode) or a second mode (e.g., diagnostic mode). When operating in the first mode, the control logic selects an upstream data rate higher than the downstream data rate. When operating in the second mode, the control logic selects an upstream data rate lower than the downstream data rate.

[0025] In one embodiment, the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate can be selected from a plurality of predefined data transfer rates.

[0026] In some embodiments, the control logic of the sensor-transceiver modifies at least one of the upstream and downstream data rates when switching between a first mode and a second mode. After verifying that the processor-transceiver has also switched to the same first or second mode as the sensor-transceiver, the control logic allows the sensor-transceiver to communicate with the processor-transceiver using the modified upstream and downstream data rates. For example, as follows... Figure 3 The method describes a phase in which both PHYs are configured to a common operating mode before the data rate update is applied.

[0027] In the first mode, the sensor transceiver sends sensor data to the processor via the processor transceiver. In the second mode, the sensor transceiver receives updated firmware or software from the processor or a storage device coupled to the processor via the processor transceiver.

[0028] In the first mode, the control logic selects the upstream data rate to correspond to the maximum data rate of the sensor data provided by the sensor. In one embodiment, this correspondence would cause the upstream data rate to be selected to be the same as the maximum data rate of the sensor data. In some embodiments, the sensor transceiver receives sensor data from multiple sensors having corresponding (potentially different) maximum sensor data rates. Figure 1 In the example, PHY2 connected to switch 13 can simultaneously receive sensor data from two sensors 12. In one embodiment, when the sensor transceiver receives sensor data from multiple sensors simultaneously, the control logic selects the upstream data rate as the sum of the maximum data rates corresponding to the sensor data provided by the multiple sensors respectively.

[0029] In some embodiments, in order to select the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate, the sensor transceiver communicates a message with the processor transceiver indicating the corresponding upstream data rate and downstream data rate.

[0030] In some embodiments, the PHY transceiver supports more than two operating modes. For example, in addition to the first and second modes, the sensor-transceiver is also configured to selectively operate in a high data rate mode, wherein both the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate are selected to be higher than a predefined data transmission rate. Optionally or additionally, in addition to the first and second modes, the sensor-transceiver is also configured to selectively operate in a low data rate mode, wherein both the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate are selected to be lower than a predefined data transmission rate.

[0031] In one embodiment, the Ethernet link supports a maximum bidirectional rate, and the sensor transceiver is configured to select the upstream data rate such that the sum of the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate does not exceed the maximum bidirectional rate.

[0032] In the disclosed technology, PHY transceivers communicating via bidirectional Ethernet links support flexible bandwidth allocation between transmission directions based on operating modes, thereby achieving efficient link utilization in various use cases. For example, in an automotive environment, the disclosed embodiments enable the transmission of updated firmware / software to sensors at downstream data rates higher than upstream data rates.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic block diagram of an automotive communication system 10 with configurable upstream transmission rates and downstream data rates according to an embodiment described herein. The automotive communication system 10 is installed in a vehicle 11 and includes multiple sensors 12, an Ethernet switch 13, multiple microcontrollers (μCs) 14, a central controller (CC) 15 coupled to a storage device 16, multiple Ethernet physical layer (PHY) transceivers 20 of a first type (denoted as PHY1), and multiple Ethernet PHY transceivers 24 of a second type (denoted as PHY2).

[0034] In various embodiments, sensor 12 may include any suitable type of sensor. Several non-limiting examples of sensors include: cameras, speed sensors, accelerometers, audio sensors, infrared sensors, radar sensors, lidar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, rangefinders, or other proximity sensors. Although only two sensors are shown for simplicity and clarity, a typical vehicle will include multiple sensors 12.

[0035] In this example, each sensor 12 is connected to a corresponding microcontroller 14, which in turn is connected to a corresponding PHY transceiver 24 (PHY2). The PHY transceiver 24 of each sensor 12 is connected via link 28 to a peer PHY transceiver 20 (PHY1), which is coupled to a port of the Ethernet switch 13. On the sensor side of a given link, the microcontroller 14 functions, for example, as a Media Access Control (MAC) controller. On the switch side of a given link, the MAC function is performed by appropriate circuitry integrated with the Ethernet switch 13.

[0036] The automotive communication system 10 is an example use case for asymmetric Ethernet communication. Typically, sensor 12 generates a large amount of data, which is sent to a central computer (CC) 15 for analysis and / or display. In the opposite direction, the data typically includes low-rate control and configuration data from CC 15 to sensor 12. In this case, asymmetric communication can better utilize Ethernet link 28.

[0037] exist Figure 1 In this embodiment, the direction from sensor 12 to central controller 15 (i.e. from PHY2 to PHY1) is called the upstream direction (denoted as US), while the direction from central controller 15 to sensor 12 (i.e. from PHY1 to PHY2) is called the downstream direction (denoted as DS).

[0038] In communication system 10, for a given pair of PHY transceivers including PHY1 and PHY2 coupled by link 28, the PHY transceiver coupled closer to the sensor in the network path between the sensor and the processor is also referred to herein as the "sensor-transceiver". In a given pair of PHY transceivers, the PHY transceiver coupled closer to the central controller in the network path is also referred to herein as the "processor-transceiver". Figure 1 In this embodiment, PHY1 is used as a processor-transceiver, and PHY2 is used as a sensor-transceiver.

[0039] exist Figure 1 In this embodiment, PHY transceiver 20 (PHY1) transmits at a data rate referred to as the "downstream data rate" and receives at a data rate referred to as the "upstream data rate." PHY transceiver 24 (PHY2) transmits at the upstream data rate and receives at the downstream data rate. The paired PHY transceivers 20 and 24 communicate with each other via a twisted-pair copper link 28, which serves as a full-duplex channel. As shown, in one embodiment, the paired PHY transceivers 20 and 24 are arranged to perform transmission from sensor 12 to CC 15 in the upstream direction at the upstream data rate and transmission from CC 15 to sensor 12 in the downstream direction at the downstream data rate.

[0040] In one embodiment, the upstream data rate is 10 Gbps according to IEEE 802.3ch, while the downstream data rate is 100 Mbps according to IEEE 802.3bw. In another embodiment, the upstream data rate is 10 Gbps according to IEEE 802.3ch, and the downstream data rate is 10 Mbps according to IEEE 802.3cg (10Base-T1s). In alternative embodiments, the downstream and upstream data rates can be selected as any other suitable bit rates. The link between PHY transceivers 20 and 24 may include any other bidirectional medium suitable for full-duplex communication.

[0041] Figure 1 The lower half depicts a pair of PHY transceivers, PHY1 (20) and PHY2 (24), communicating with each other via link 28. In the selected pair, PHY1 is directly coupled to CC15, and PHY2 is indirectly coupled to each sensor in sensor 12 via a network path including Ethernet switch 13, another pair of PHY1 and PHY2, and microcontroller 14.

[0042] The PHY transceivers 20 and 24 in the communication system 10 include firmware and / or software 34 that handle various tasks of the PHY transceivers. The firmware and / or software may require occasional updates, for example, for upgrades, bug fixes, or to perform other maintenance tasks.

[0043] In the disclosed embodiments, to achieve high bandwidth utilization under various usage conditions, PHY transceivers 20 and 24 support flexible data rate configurations in both the upstream and downstream directions. In some embodiments, the data rate configuration depends on the operating mode 36 of the PHY transceiver.

[0044] In the communication system 10, PHY transceivers 20 and 24 can be configured to operate in a “field mode” in which the vehicle is operable for driving; or to operate in a “diagnostic mode” in which the vehicle undergoes diagnostic procedures, such as during production or maintenance, as described herein.

[0045] In field mode, sensor 12 sends high-speed data to CC 15 and receives low-speed data from CC 15, as described above. To effectively utilize link bandwidth, PHY1 and PHY2 allocate high bandwidth upstream and low bandwidth downstream.

[0046] In one embodiment, in diagnostic mode, the vehicle is inoperable for driving, and CC 15 downloads updated firmware or software (34) to sensor 12. To minimize download time, and because the sensor does not send data to CC (or sends very little data) during firmware / software download, PHY1 and PHY2 efficiently utilize link bandwidth by allocating high bandwidth downstream and low bandwidth upstream.

[0047] Table 38 in the figure summarizes the asymmetric data rate (or bandwidth) allocation in the field mode and diagnostic mode of the embodiments. As shown in the table, in field mode, the upstream data rate is higher than the downstream data rate, and in diagnostic mode, the upstream data rate is lower than the downstream data rate.

[0048] PHY transceivers 20 and 24 can allocate link bandwidth in various ways. In some embodiments, PHY1 and PHY2 allocate corresponding shares of link bandwidth in the upstream and downstream directions by allocating appropriate corresponding time slots for upstream and downstream transmissions. For example, in field mode, PHY1 and PHY2 allocate shorter time slots in the downstream direction than in the upstream direction. For example, a method of bandwidth allocation using time slots is described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application 16 / 815,299 entitled “Managing Bidirectional Communication in Constrained Environments” cited above.

[0049] Figure 2 The above is a block diagram of a pair of Ethernet physical layer (PHY) transceivers 40 and 44 communicating via a full-duplex bidirectional link 28, according to an embodiment described herein. Figure 2 PHY3 can be used to implement Figure 1 PHY2, Figure 2 PHY4 can be used to implement Figure 1 PHY1.

[0050] In some embodiments, PHY transceivers 40, 44 communicate with each other using asymmetric bandwidth allocation. The term "asymmetric" in this context means that the data transmission rates are different in the two directions of a bidirectional link. In this example, PHY transceiver 44, denoted as PHY3, transmits at the upstream data rate and receives at the downstream data rate. PHY transceiver 40, denoted as PHY4, transmits at the downstream data rate and receives at the upstream data rate.

[0051] Each of PHY3 and PHY4 includes a data path module 50 and control logic 54. The data path module 50 handles the transmission and reception of data to / from link 28. The control logic 54 performs control and configuration tasks for the PHY transceiver, such as configuring the PHY transceiver according to operating mode 60, selecting the upstream (US) and downstream (DS) data rates based on the operating mode, and handling power-on and sleep / wake-up processes.

[0052] Data path module 50 includes a transmitter 64, a receiver 68, and an analog front-end (FE) 72. The analog FE is typically connected to link 28 using a suitable interface (not shown), such as a physical layer media-dependent interface (MDI). The analog FE 72 receives digital signals from transmitter 64, converts the digital signals into analog Ethernet signals, and transmits the analog Ethernet signals to another PHY transceiver via the link. The analog FE also receives analog Ethernet signals carrying data transmitted by another PHY transceiver via the link, converts the analog Ethernet signals into digital signals, and provides the digital signals to receiver 68 to recover the data.

[0053] Upstream, PHY3 transmits upstream data to PHY4 via a link; downstream, PHY4 transmits downstream data to PHY3 via a link. The control logic module 54 in PHY3 and PHY4 selects the upstream and downstream data rates according to operating mode 60. PHY3 configures its local transmitter to transmit at the upstream data rate and its local receiver to receive at the downstream data rate. PHY4 configures its local transmitter to transmit at the downstream data rate and its local receiver to receive at the upstream data rate.

[0054] Operating mode 60 indicates the required upstream and downstream data rates. For example, in a vehicle environment, operating mode 60 is configured to indicate that the upstream data rate is higher than the downstream data rate when operating in field mode, and lower than the downstream data rate when operating in diagnostic mode.

[0055] In some embodiments, operating mode 60 is capable of switching between multiple predefined operating modes. In one embodiment, in response to receiving a mode modification request specifying one of the predefined operating modes, the PHY transceiver switches to the requested operating mode. The control logic 54 in each of PHYs 3 and 4 verifies that the other PHY transceiver has also switched to the same operating mode before applying the upstream and downstream data rates to its local transmitter and receiver.

[0056] When switching to a given operating mode, control logic 54 can select the upstream and downstream data rates in various ways. In one embodiment, the control logic modules 54 of PHY3 and PHY4 negotiate the corresponding upstream and downstream data rates with each other. In another embodiment, at least one of the PHYs in PH3 and PHY4 receives the data from an external processor (e.g., Figure 1 CC 15) receives a message indicating the upstream data rate and / or downstream data rate. In some embodiments, the upstream data rate and downstream data rate can be selected from a predefined range of continuous data rates. Alternatively, the upstream data rate and downstream data rate can be selected from a plurality of predefined data rates.

[0057] In one embodiment, PHY3 and PHY4 support only two predefined data rates, denoted as DR1 and DR2, where DR1 is higher than DR2. In this embodiment, the PHY assigns DR1 to the US direction and DR2 to the DS direction in a first mode (e.g., field mode), and the PHY assigns DR1 to the DS direction and DR2 to the US direction in a second mode (e.g., diagnostic mode).

[0058] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating, according to an embodiment described herein, a method for communicating between a pair of Ethernet PHY transceivers via a bidirectional link using optional upstream and downstream data rates.

[0059] The method is described as being by Figure 2 The PHY transceivers PHY3 and PHY4 are executed, but the same applies to PHY transceivers. Figure 1 The PHY1 and PHY2 pairs. In describing this method, it is assumed that the upstream direction is from PHY3 to PHY4, and the downstream direction is from PHY4 to PHY3.

[0060] The method begins with PHY3 and PHY4 communicating with each other via bidirectional Ethernet link 28 at communication operation 100. In operation 100, PHY3 and PHY4 operate in the previously selected current mode and communicate with each other via the link at upstream and downstream data rates according to the current mode.

[0061] In mode modification request operation 104, each of PHYs in PHY3 and PHY4 independently checks whether it has received a request to modify its operating mode to the requested mode, and if not, loops back to operation 100 to communicate in the current mode.

[0062] When PHY3 (or PHY4) is requested to modify its mode in operation 104, PHY3 (or PHY4) selects the upstream and downstream data rates according to the requested mode at data rate selection operation 108. At verification operation 112, PHY3 (or PHY4) checks, for example, by exchanging messages with another PHY transceiver to see if it has also switched to the requested mode. This verification is necessary so that switching to communication using the modified upstream and / or downstream data rates is a safe approach. At data rate application operation 116, each of the PHYs in PHY3 and PHY4 configures its local transmitter and receiver to transmit / receive using the upstream and downstream data rates selected in operation 108, and cycles back to operation 100 to communicate using the modified upstream and downstream data rates.

[0063] In operation 108 above, PHY3 and PHY4 can select the upstream and downstream data rates according to multiple predefined operating modes. For example, in automotive Ethernet networks, the PHY transceivers support the above reference... Figure 1 The aforementioned field mode and diagnostic mode.

[0064] exist Figure 3 In the example, PHY3 and PHY4 support four predefined operating modes, denoted as Mode 1, ..., Mode 4, as shown in Table 1. In this example, Mode 1 and Mode 2 are similar to those in the reference above. Figure 1 The description includes the field mode and diagnostic mode. Mode 3 is a high data rate mode, where both the upstream and downstream data rates are higher than the predefined data rate. Mode 4 is a low data rate mode, where both the upstream and downstream data rates are lower than the predefined data rate.

[0065] Mode-1 US data rate > DS data rate Mode-2 US data rate <DS data rate Mode-3 Both US data rate and DS data rate > predetermined data rate Mode-4 Both US data rate and DS data rate < predetermined data rate

[0066] Table 1: US and DS data rates depend on the mode

[0067] As an example use case where both Mode 1 and Mode 2 can be used, consider a healthcare setup where X-ray machine data (or data generated by other medical measurements) in the US direction is transmitted to storage via an Ethernet link, and data in the DS direction retrieved from the storage device is transmitted in the opposite direction via the same Ethernet link to a radiologist or physician. In Mode 1, medical data is transmitted in the US direction at a data rate higher than the data rate in the DS direction, while in Mode 2, data retrieved from storage is transmitted in the DS direction at a data rate higher than the data rate in the US direction.

[0068] As another example, consider a home or office setup where streaming media in the US direction is sent to the consumer from a network cloud (streaming provider) via an Ethernet link, and in the DS direction, the user uploads media such as video clips to the network cloud via the same Ethernet link. In Mode 1, media is streamed at a higher US data rate and uploaded to the cloud at a lower data rate. To support faster uploads, the PHY transceiver can switch to Mode 2, at least temporarily.

[0069] Mode 3 can be applied, for example, when two or more computing platforms or communication hubs require maximum bandwidth in both directions to exchange large amounts of data with each other. This requirement may be relevant when the vehicle is in motion and the ADAS platform needs to exchange high-speed data with other computing platforms in both directions.

[0070] Mode 4 can be applied, for example, to situations where two or more computing platforms or computing centers are triggered to enter a low-power state for energy conservation. In the low-power state, the operating frequency of the CPUs within the computing platform and the bandwidth allocated for communication between the computing platforms are reduced.

[0071] The configuration of PHY transceivers 20, 24, 40, and 44 and their components, such as data path 50 and control logic 54, as follows: Figure 1 and 2 The example configuration shown is for clarity only. In alternative embodiments, any other suitable configuration may be used.

[0072] The various elements and components of PHY transceivers 20, 24, 40, and 44 can be implemented using dedicated hardware or firmware, such as hard-wired or programmable logic, for example, in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Alternatively or optionally, some functions of PHY transceivers 20, 24, 40, and 44, such as the functions of control logic 54, transmitter 64, receiver 68, and analog FE 72, can be implemented using software and / or a combination of hardware and software elements. For clarity, elements that are not essential for understanding the disclosed techniques are omitted from the figures. For example, in some implementations, each PHY transceiver typically includes a media-dependent interface (MDI) for coupling the transmitter and receiver to link 28.

[0073] Storage device 16 may include any suitable type of storage device, such as volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM), non-volatile storage device such as flash memory, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile storage devices.

[0074] In some embodiments, some functions of the PHY transceivers 20, 24, 40, and 44, such as the functions of control logic 54 and data path 50, may be implemented in one or more programmable processors that are software-programmed to implement the functions described herein. For example, the software may be downloaded electronically to any processor via a network, or alternatively or additionally, the software may be provided and / or stored on a non-transitory tangible medium, such as magnetic, optical, or electronic memory.

[0075] While the embodiments described herein primarily address configurable upstream and downstream data rates when communicating with sensors in a vehicle network, the methods and systems described herein can also be used in other applications, such as communication between two or more computing platforms or communication hubs.

[0076] Note that the embodiments described above are cited by way of example, and the invention is not limited to what has been specifically shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the invention includes combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described above, as well as variations and modifications thereof that would occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not disclosed in the prior art. Documents incorporated herein by reference should be considered part of this application, except where the definition of any term in these incorporated documents conflicts with the definition express or implied in this specification, only the definition in this specification should be considered.

Claims

1. An apparatus for data communication, comprising: A sensor transceiver is configured to be coupled to a sensor and to be connected to a processor transceiver via a full-duplex Ethernet link of a communication network in the vehicle, the processor transceiver being coupled to a processor, wherein, in the upstream direction from the sensor transceiver to the processor transceiver, the sensor transceiver is configured to transmit data to the processor transceiver via the Ethernet link at a selectable upstream data rate, and in the downstream direction from the processor transceiver to the sensor transceiver, the sensor transceiver is configured to receive data from the processor transceiver via the Ethernet link at a selectable downstream data rate; as well as The control logic is configured to, when operating in a first mode, select an upstream data rate for communication in the upstream direction that is higher than a downstream data rate for communication in the downstream direction, and the control logic is configured to, when operating in a second mode, select an upstream data rate that is lower than a downstream data rate. In the first mode, the sensor-transceiver sends sensor data to the processor via the processor-transceiver; and In the second mode, the vehicle is not available for driving operations and is undergoing diagnostic processing, and the sensor-transceiver receives updated firmware or software from the processor or from a storage device coupled to the processor via the processor-transceiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate are selectable from a plurality of predefined data transmission rates.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control logic is configured to: modify at least one of the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate when switching between the first mode and the second mode, and the control logic is configured to: allow communication with the processor-transceiver using the modified upstream data rate and the downstream data rate after verifying that the processor-transceiver has also switched to the same first mode or second mode as the sensor-transceiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the first mode, the control logic is configured to select the upstream data rate as the maximum data rate corresponding to the sensor data provided by the sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor-transceiver is configured to be coupled to one or more additional sensors, and wherein the control logic is configured to select the upstream data rate as the sum of the maximum data rates corresponding to the sensor data provided by the sensor and the one or more additional sensors, respectively.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control logic is configured to communicate with the processor-transceiver messages indicating the corresponding upstream data rate and the downstream data rate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in addition to the first mode and the second mode, the sensor-transceiver is further configured to selectively operate in a high data rate mode, wherein both the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate are selected to be higher than a predefined data transmission rate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in addition to the first mode and the second mode, the sensor-transceiver is further configured to selectively operate in a low data rate mode, wherein both the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate are selected to be below a predefined data transmission rate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Ethernet link supports a maximum bidirectional rate, and wherein the sensor-transceiver is configured to select the upstream data rate such that the sum of the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate corresponds to the maximum bidirectional rate.

10. A method for data communication, comprising: In the processor-transceiver-sensor transceiver, which is coupled to the sensor and connected to the processor via a full-duplex Ethernet link through the vehicle's communication network,... In the upstream direction from the sensor-transceiver to the processor-transceiver, data is sent to the processor-transceiver via the Ethernet link at a selectable upstream data rate, and in the downstream direction from the processor-transceiver to the sensor-transceiver, data is received from the processor-transceiver via the Ethernet link at a selectable downstream data rate. as well as When operating in the first mode, the upstream data rate for communication in the upstream direction is selected to be higher than the downstream data rate for communication in the downstream direction, and when operating in the second mode, the upstream data rate is selected to be lower than the downstream data rate. In the first mode, the sensor-transceiver sends sensor data to the processor via the processor-transceiver; and In the second mode, the vehicle is not available for driving operations and is undergoing diagnostic processing, and the sensor-transceiver receives updated firmware or software from the processor or from a storage device coupled to the processor via the processor-transceiver.

11. The method for data communication according to claim 10, wherein the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate can be selected from a plurality of predefined data transmission rates.

12. The method for data communication according to claim 10, comprising modifying at least one of the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate when switching between the first mode and the second mode, and allowing communication with the processor-transceiver using the modified upstream data rate and the downstream data rate after verifying that the processor-transceiver has also switched to the same first mode or second mode as the sensor-transceiver.

13. The method for data communication according to claim 10, wherein in the first mode, selecting the upstream data rate includes selecting the upstream data rate as the maximum data rate corresponding to the sensor data provided by the sensor.

14. The method for data communication according to claim 10, wherein the sensor-transceiver is coupled to one or more additional sensors, and wherein selecting the upstream data rate includes selecting the upstream data rate as the sum of the maximum data rates corresponding to sensor data provided by the sensor and the one or more additional sensors, respectively.

15. The method for data communication according to claim 10, comprising communicating a message with the processor-transceiver indicating the corresponding upstream data rate and the downstream data rate.

16. The method for data communication according to claim 10, in addition to the first mode and the second mode, further comprising selectively operating in a high data rate mode, wherein both the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate are selected to be higher than a predefined data transmission rate.

17. The method for data communication according to claim 10, in addition to the first mode and the second mode, further comprising selectively operating in a low data rate mode, wherein both the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate are selected to be lower than a predefined data transmission rate.

18. The method for data communication according to claim 10, wherein the Ethernet link supports a maximum bidirectional rate, and wherein selecting the upstream data rate includes selecting the upstream data rate such that the sum of the upstream data rate and the downstream data rate corresponds to the maximum bidirectional rate.

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