Time aspects of centralized execution management of vehicle connected services

Abstract

The present invention relates to the management of services performed by elements loaded in a land vehicle (VEH) with engine, based on the generation of a synthetic message (MU) sent at a predetermined frequency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention claims priority to French application 2007398, filed on July 15, 2020, the contents of which (text, drawings and claims) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This invention relates to the field of electronic devices installed in land vehicles with engines. In particular, this invention relates to the management of vehicles via connected services. Background Technology

[0003] "Land vehicles with engines" can be understood as any type of vehicle, such as motor vehicles, motor bicycles, motorcycles, storage robots in warehouses, etc.

[0004] "Services implemented by the vehicle" is understood to be any type of service arranged to any component of the vehicle by any method performed by at least one electronic component. Examples of services implemented by the vehicle include vehicle computer updates, executing autonomous driving software using environmental data transmitted to the vehicle via radio frequency communication, playing audio or video content by the infotainment system, and remote unlocking of the vehicle.

[0005] For proper execution, many of the vehicle's services require implementation under very specific conditions. Some services (such as downloading high-definition maps for autonomous driving or playing video content) require high traffic on the downlink connection from the server to the vehicle, when traffic requirements are less stringent but the vehicle needs to move (to collect data to feed a remote database, such as a weather database), or when the vehicle's specific internal network is available.

[0006] Currently, each service operates independently. This in particular means that services that need to be executed but for which some conditions are not met will undergo a predetermined number of retry attempts until they give up (time out).

[0007] These attempts have a detrimental effect on the operation of the electronic components installed in the vehicle. In particular, the components responsible for connectivity, the Telematic Control Unit (TCU), may quickly become saturated with data exchange requests from remote entities used to request and perform retry services. These retry attempts can also clog the vehicle's internal networks (CAN, Ethernet).

[0008] Furthermore, the proposed launch plan may be incompatible with the situation of the vehicle, the required remote resources, or the execution of other services that require the same resources. Therefore, the service is more likely to be abandoned.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need for the rational management of the execution of services provided by vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present invention improves upon the aforementioned situation.

[0011] Therefore, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for managing the implementation of a first service and a second service on a vehicle by a remote server, the method being implemented by the remote server and comprising the following steps:

[0012] - Receive a comprehensive message, the comprehensive message including information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle, the comprehensive message being received at a predetermined frequency;

[0013] - For each receipt of the composite message, the possibility of implementing the first service and the second service on the vehicle is identified based on the composite message and a pre-determined correspondence reference between the service and the state of the vehicle;

[0014] - If the possibility of implementing the first service is identified, an execution request for requesting the first service to be performed in a first implementation window is transmitted to the vehicle, the first implementation window corresponding to a first multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency;

[0015] - If the possibility of implementing the second service is identified, an execution request for requesting the second service to be performed in a second implementation window is transmitted to the vehicle, the second implementation window corresponding to a second multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency.

[0016] Therefore, in this invention, the execution time management of the service is rationalized.

[0017] A centralized decision-making agenda for the retry process has been set. Each service that conforms to this agenda includes an implementation window, and repetitive retry processes are eliminated.

[0018] In particular, by constraining the implementation of the service in a window (which corresponds to a multiple of the sending cycle for sending the composite message), the number of messages related to the retry can be limited over time, and the operating parameters can be checked for compatibility with the execution of the service by receiving multiple composite messages at the same time.

[0019] "Window corresponding to a multiple of the period" is understood to mean that the duration of the window corresponds to a multiple of the period.

[0020] In this embodiment, the first multiple and the second multiple are equal to one.

[0021] In an embodiment, the method further includes the following steps:

[0022] - A loss of connection with the vehicle is detected when no integrated message is received during a period that is a multiple of the third period corresponding to the predetermined frequency;

[0023] - In the event of a detected loss of the connection, a blocking message is generated to block the first service and / or the second service.

[0024] Therefore, when the loss of the connection is detected, there is no attempt to disrupt the different networks required to implement the service.

[0025] In an embodiment, the first multiple, the second multiple, and the third multiple are equal to one.

[0026] In this embodiment, the state of the vehicle's first operating parameter is:

[0027] ■ The connection status between the vehicle's remote information control unit and the vehicle's external network;

[0028] ■The vehicle's motion state or stationary state; or

[0029] ■ The operational or inactive state of the vehicle's internal network.

[0030] In this embodiment, the state of the vehicle's second operating parameter is:

[0031] ■ The connection status between the vehicle's remote information control unit and the vehicle's external network;

[0032] ■The vehicle's motion state or stationary state; or

[0033] ■ The operational or inactive state of the vehicle's internal network.

[0034] A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for managing the implementation of a first service and a second service on a vehicle, the method being implemented by means of devices included on the vehicle and comprising the following steps:

[0035] - Obtain information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle;

[0036] - Generate a comprehensive message, the comprehensive message including information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle;

[0037] - Transmit the integrated message to a remote server at a predetermined frequency;

[0038] - Receive an execution request for performing the first service in a first implementation window, the first implementation window corresponding to a first multiple of a period corresponding to the predetermined frequency, and / or receive an execution request for performing the second service in a second implementation window, the second implementation window corresponding to a second multiple of a period corresponding to the predetermined frequency;

[0039] - Execute the execution request.

[0040] A third aspect of the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to the first or second aspect of the invention when executed by a processor.

[0041] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus included on a remote server for managing the implementation of a first service and a second service on a vehicle, the apparatus including at least one processor and memory configured to perform the following operations:

[0042] - Receive a comprehensive message, the comprehensive message including information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle, the comprehensive message being received at a predetermined frequency;

[0043] - For each receipt of the composite message, the possibility of implementing the first service and the second service on the vehicle is identified based on the composite message and a pre-determined correspondence reference between the service and the state of the vehicle;

[0044] - If the possibility of implementing the first service is identified, the first service is implemented by the vehicle, and an execution request for requesting the first service to be performed in an implementation window is transmitted to the vehicle, the implementation window corresponding to a first multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency;

[0045] - If the possibility of implementing the second service is identified, an execution request for requesting the second service to be performed in a second implementation window is transmitted to the vehicle, the second implementation window corresponding to a second multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency.

[0046] A fifth aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus for managing the implementation of a first service and a second service on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and a memory configured to perform the following operations:

[0047] - Obtain information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle;

[0048] - Generate a comprehensive message, the comprehensive message including information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle;

[0049] - Transmit the integrated message to a remote server at a predetermined frequency;

[0050] - Receive an execution request for performing the first service in a first implementation window, the first implementation window corresponding to a first multiple of a period corresponding to the predetermined frequency, and / or receive an execution request for performing the second service in a second implementation window, the second implementation window corresponding to a second multiple of a period corresponding to the predetermined frequency;

[0051] - Execute the execution request.

[0052] The sixth aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle configured to include means according to the fifth aspect of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0053] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0054] - Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the background of the invention according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] - Figure 2 This is a process diagram illustrating the steps of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] - Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing a reference used in embodiments of the present invention;

[0057] - Figure 4 This is a time-related process diagram illustrating the method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] - Figure 5 The structure of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0059] The invention is described below in a non-limiting application in the case of a motor vehicle comprising seven electronic components. Other applications of the invention are naturally contemplated. For example, the method according to the invention can be implemented in a motorcycle comprising twelve electronic components or in an electric scooter comprising two electronic components.

[0060] Figure 1 The application background of the present invention according to an embodiment is illustrated.

[0061] The Vehicle Energy Management (VEH) system comprises seven electronic components. These seven components include six computers (ECU1, ECU2, ECU3, ECU4, ECU5, ECU6) and a Telematic Control Unit (TCU).

[0062] The TCU is the component responsible for connectivity and thus for exchanging data with non-loaded entities. This enables communication with a network CLD, which includes, for example, user equipment (CL) (e.g., a mobile phone) and a remote server SRVR.

[0063] As referenced below Figure 2 In particular, in steps 20 and 22, the TCU generates a comprehensive message MU based on information related to the operating parameter status of the vehicle. This information is itself collected based on data transmitted by electronic components ECU1, ECU2, ECU3, ECU4, ECU5, ECU6 and the TCU.

[0064] The server SRVR includes a pre-determined correspondence reference REF between the service and the state of the vehicle. For example... Figure 2 Step 30 is detailed, referring to the REF configuration used to identify services that can be implemented based on the status of the vehicle's operating parameters.

[0065] Figure 2 A method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0066] Implemented in the vehicle VEH or by components of the network CLD (e.g., server SRVR). Figure 2 The steps are shown.

[0067] In step 20, information ST1(A) related to the state A of the first operating parameter ST1 of the vehicle VEH and information ST2(B) related to the state B of the second operating parameter ST2 of the vehicle are obtained. For the sake of brevity and readability, only two operating parameters are referred to here, but other parameters may also be considered, such as... Figure 3 As shown, step 30 will be described in detail below.

[0068] In particular, in the embodiments, the information ST1(A) and ST2(B) are obtained by the TCU based on data received from at least one of the computers ECU1, ECU2, ECU3, ECU4, ECU5, ECU6, and by the TCU itself.

[0069] For example, the operating parameters shown could be the availability of the vehicle’s internal network (e.g., a specific network specific to the infotainment system), with information related to the availability obtained by, for example, components ECU3 and ECU4 responsible for managing such a network.

[0070] In another example, the operating parameter could be the vehicle's speed, which could thus take the following states: moving or stopped. In this example, the state information could be obtained by the TCU based on data transmitted by the wheel sensor ECU5 or the satellite positioning system ECU6. Hereinafter, ST2 is considered to correspond to this example of the operating parameter: the vehicle's speed, and state B corresponds to a stopped vehicle.

[0071] In another example, the operating parameter could be the availability of connectivity with the network CLD or any other network. The state adopted could be: disconnected, connected, or poorly connected. This information is thus directly available at the TCU location. In the following, ST1 is considered to correspond to this example of operating parameter: the availability of TCU connectivity, and state A corresponds to the connected state.

[0072] In step 22, the TCU generates a comprehensive message MU, which includes information ST1(A) related to the state of the first operating parameter of the vehicle and information ST2(B) related to the state of the second operating parameter of the vehicle.

[0073] Therefore, the function of the TCU here is to centralize the status information it collects and aggregates into a single integrated message.

[0074] In step 24, MU is sent from TCU to network CLD.

[0075] In this embodiment, the MU is generated and transmitted periodically at a predetermined frequency. The predetermined period is, for example, one millisecond, one second, ten seconds, thirty seconds, one minute, five minutes, or one hour. Figure 4 The period is shown as T1 on the time axis Tme, and the integrated message MU is therefore sent every T1.

[0076] In step 26, the MU is received by the network CLD.

[0077] In step 30, the possibility of implementing the first service S1 and the second service S2 on the vehicle VEH is identified based on the integrated message MU and the pre-determined correspondence reference REF between the service and the state of the vehicle.

[0078] S1 and S2 correspond to any type of service arranged to any component of the vehicle by any method performed by at least one electronic component (e.g., ECU1, ECU2, ECU3, ECU4, ECU5, ECU6, or TCU). Examples of services implemented by the vehicle include vehicle computer updates, executing autonomous driving software using environmental data transmitted to the vehicle via radio frequency communication, playing audio or video content by the infotainment system, and remote vehicle unlocking.

[0079] According to an embodiment of the invention, reference REF shows... Figure 3 superior.

[0080] exist Figure 3 The REF is shown in tabular form (which may be encoded according to any other format, such as instructions that are easily understood in a particular computer language), where columns correspond to the status (A, B, or C) of the vehicle's operating parameters (ST1, ST2, or ST3), and rows correspond to services S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, and S7.

[0081] For each possible state of each running parameter, an equal number of cells are assigned as possible to each possible service. Within each of these cells, the following may be mentioned:

[0082] -OK: The service is possible for this state;

[0083] -NOK: The service is not possible in this state;

[0084] -N / A: The service is not affected by this state;

[0085] -MED: The service may be degraded for this state.

[0086] In this example, the MU notifies the CLD of the connection between the TCU (ST1(A)) and the stationary vehicle (ST2(B)). The REF then indicates that service S1 is feasible because ST1(A) and ST2(B) are compatible with S1 (OK). Similarly, the REF indicates that S2 can be degraded because ST1(A) may be S2, but ST2(B) is only degraded (MED). In the following text, only these services S1 and S2 are described in detail.

[0087] In a particular embodiment, identification step 30 includes the following sub-steps:

[0088] ○ Extract information related to the state of the first and second parameters based on the integrated message MU;

[0089] ○ In sub-step 28, a predetermined reference is extracted based on the database connected to the remote server;

[0090] ○ The state of the information is compared with the state of the reference to identify services that can be implemented with the state of the information.

[0091] In a particular sub-implementation, the comparison step is implemented in the same process of the same computer program used for the first service and the second service.

[0092] In step 32, if the possibility of implementing the first service is identified (a possible service in this example), an execution request for executing the first service in a first implementation window for implementing the first service is transmitted to the vehicle, and then executed by the vehicle in step 36. The first implementation window corresponds to a first multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency.

[0093] Therefore, it may involve, for example, updating the physical or software components that perform the TCU.

[0094] In step 34, if the possibility of implementing the second service is identified (in this example, a degraded possible service), an execution request for performing the second service in a second implementation window for implementing the second service is transmitted to the vehicle, and then executed by the vehicle in step 38. This could, for example, involve performing calibration for the positioning system.

[0095] The second implementation window corresponds to a second multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency.

[0096] In a simplified embodiment, the first multiple, the second multiple, and the third multiple are equal to one. Thus, at each cycle, it is checked whether (one or more) services can be further implemented.

[0097] In other embodiments, the selection of the multiple is adapted to the service in question. Longer service periods can thus be implemented over two, three, five, ten, fifteen, or one hundred cycles.

[0098] In an embodiment, the selection of the multiplier is dynamically determined based on previous reception of the composite message and the reception history of the composite message (at least, the vehicle's location history may also be used).

[0099] In an embodiment, the method further includes the following steps:

[0100] - A loss of connection with the vehicle is detected when no integrated message is received during a period that is a multiple of the third period corresponding to the predetermined frequency;

[0101] - In the event of a detected loss of the connection, a blocking message is generated to block the first service and / or the second service.

[0102] For example, in Figure 4 When a communication interruption with the TCU is detected (TCU DISCONCT), the implementation of the service can be prevented even if the service is still in its own implementation window.

[0103] In an embodiment, the implementation window for implementing the first and second services corresponds to a single predefined window. This single predefined window typically corresponds to a multiple (e.g., three or four times) of the period used to send the integrated message MU. The single predefined window may also correspond to one millisecond, one second, ten seconds, thirty seconds, one minute, five minutes, or one hour.

[0104] In another embodiment, the implementation windows for implementing the first service and the second service are different and specific to the services involved.

[0105] Figure 5 An example of device D included in the vehicle VEH, either in the network CLD or in the server SRVR, is shown. Device D can be used as a reference to the above. Figure 2 A centralized device for at least some steps of the described method. In one embodiment, this device corresponds, for example, to a TCU. In another embodiment, this device corresponds to a sub-device included in a server SRVR.

[0106] The device D can take the form of a housing including printed circuits, any type of computer, or a smartphone.

[0107] The apparatus D includes a random access memory 1 for storing instructions for a processor 2 to perform at least one step of the method described above. The apparatus also includes a mass storage memory 3 for storing data to be retained after the method has been performed.

[0108] The device D may also include a digital signal processor (DSP) 4. The DSP 4 receives data and shapes, demodulates, and amplifies the data in a manner known per se.

[0109] The device further includes an input interface 5 and an output interface 6, the input interface being used to receive data implemented by the method according to the invention, and the output interface being used to transmit data implemented by the method.

[0110] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as examples; the invention extends to other variations.

[0111] Thus, an embodiment corresponding to an exemplary electronic architecture (seven electronic components, etc.) for a motor vehicle is described. The invention is also applicable to other electronic architectures (different numbers of components and / or software, etc.).

Claims

1. A method for managing the implementation of a first service and a second service on a vehicle by a remote server, the method being implemented by the remote server and comprising the following steps: - Receive a comprehensive message, the comprehensive message including information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle, the comprehensive message being received at a predetermined frequency; - For each receipt of the composite message, the possibility of implementing the first service and the second service on the vehicle is identified based on the composite message and a pre-determined correspondence reference between the service and the state of the vehicle; - If the possibility of implementing the first service is identified, an execution request for requesting the first service to be performed in a first implementation window is transmitted to the vehicle, the first implementation window corresponding to a first multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency; - If the possibility of implementing the second service is identified, an execution request for requesting the second service to be performed in a second implementation window is transmitted to the vehicle, the second implementation window corresponding to a second multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps: - A loss of connection with the vehicle is detected when no integrated message is received during a period that is a third multiple of the cycle corresponding to the predetermined frequency; - If the loss of the connection is detected, a blocking message is generated to block the first service and / or the second service.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The state of the vehicle's first operating parameter is: ■ The connection status between the vehicle's remote information control unit and the vehicle's external network; ■ The vehicle's motion state or stationary state; or ■ The operational or inactive state of the vehicle's internal network.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The state of the vehicle's second operating parameter is: ■ The connection status between the vehicle's remote information control unit and the vehicle's external network; ■ The vehicle's motion state or stationary state; or ■ The operational or inactive state of the vehicle's internal network.

5. A method for managing the implementation of a first service and a second service on a vehicle, the method being implemented by means of devices included on the vehicle and comprising the following steps: - Obtain information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle; - Generate a comprehensive message, the comprehensive message including information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle; - Transmit the integrated message to a remote server at a predetermined frequency; - Receive an execution request for performing the first service in a first implementation window, the first implementation window corresponding to a first multiple of a period corresponding to the predetermined frequency, and / or receive an execution request for performing the second service in a second implementation window, the second implementation window corresponding to a second multiple of a period corresponding to the predetermined frequency; - Execute the execution request.

6. A computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims when executed by a processor (2).

7. A means (D) included on a remote server for managing the implementation of a first service and a second service on a vehicle, the means including at least one processor and memory configured to perform the following operations: - Receive a comprehensive message, the comprehensive message including information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle, the comprehensive message being received at a predetermined frequency; - For each receipt of the composite message, the possibility of implementing the first service and the second service on the vehicle is identified based on the composite message and a pre-determined correspondence reference between the service and the state of the vehicle; - If the possibility of implementing the first service is identified, the first service is implemented by the vehicle, and an execution request for requesting the first service to be performed in an implementation window is transmitted to the vehicle, the implementation window corresponding to a first multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency; - If the possibility of implementing the second service is identified, an execution request for requesting the second service to be performed in a second implementation window is transmitted to the vehicle, the second implementation window corresponding to a second multiple of the period corresponding to the predetermined frequency.

8. An apparatus (D) for managing the implementation of a first service and a second service on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and a memory configured to perform the following operations: - Obtain information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle; - Generate a comprehensive message, the comprehensive message including information related to the state of a first operating parameter of the vehicle and information related to the state of a second operating parameter of the vehicle; - Transmit the integrated message to a remote server at a predetermined frequency; - Receive an execution request for performing the first service in a first implementation window, the first implementation window corresponding to a first multiple of a period corresponding to the predetermined frequency, and / or receive an execution request for performing the second service in a second implementation window, the second implementation window corresponding to a second multiple of a period corresponding to the predetermined frequency; - Execute the execution request.

9. A remotely operated vehicle configured to include the device according to claim 8.

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