Method and device for Ethernet communication with redundant hot switching capability

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of communication technology and provides a method and apparatus for Ethernet communication with redundant hot switching capability. The method comprises: uniformly monitoring the link status of multiple Ethernet links including a main link and at least one backup link through a link status monitoring unit deployed at the hardware layer; realizing physical layer data path switching between multiple Ethernet links through a physical layer switching circuit; and controlling the physical layer switching circuit based on the link status of multiple Ethernet links through an automatic switching controller deployed at the hardware layer and connected to the link status monitoring unit and the physical layer switching circuit respectively, thereby providing redundant hot switching capability for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links. In this way, hardware layer redundant switching of Ethernet communication is realized, communication interruption is avoided, the switching process is imperceptible and packet loss is eliminated, and system stability is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, specifically to the field of vehicle-mounted communication technology and automotive Ethernet technology, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for Ethernet communication with redundant hot switching capability. Background Art

[0002] In the field of communications technology, particularly in-vehicle communications, the demand for Ethernet communications is growing. With the increasing performance of core functions such as advanced driver assistance systems, autonomous driving platforms, and central gateways, higher requirements are being placed on the real-time and reliability of communications. Existing technologies rely on upper-layer intervention, such as microcontroller units (MCUs), to detect and switch when a physical Ethernet link fails. This can lead to response delays, switching interruptions, and packet loss, failing to meet the high availability requirements of critical functions.

[0003] To this end, the present application provides a method and apparatus for Ethernet communication with redundant hot switching capability, which are used to address the technical difficulties in the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a first aspect, the present application provides a method for Ethernet communication. The method comprises: uniformly monitoring the link status of multiple Ethernet links, including a primary link and at least one backup link, via a link status monitoring unit deployed at a hardware layer, wherein the multiple Ethernet links are physically isolated from each other; implementing physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links via a physical layer switching circuit; and controlling the physical layer switching circuit based on the link status of the multiple Ethernet links monitored by the link status monitoring unit, via an automatic switching controller deployed at the hardware layer and connected to the link status monitoring unit and the physical layer switching circuit, thereby providing redundant hot switching capability for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links.

[0005] Through the first aspect of this application, by realizing link status monitoring and rapid switching at the hardware layer, the high availability and real-time performance of the communication link are guaranteed; it has good integrability, scalability and adaptability, and can be widely used in the next generation of vehicle communication systems; it realizes hardware layer redundant switching of Ethernet communication to avoid communication interruption; the switching process is imperceptible and there is no packet loss, which improves system stability; reduces the dependence on the software layer to judge the link status; can be applied to high-security level systems, such as autonomous driving domain controllers, body control, braking systems, etc.; the architecture is expandable and supports multi-link redundancy and priority scheduling.

[0006] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the hardware layer is a lower layer relative to the data link layer according to the standard protocol layer specification, the protocol layer is an upper layer relative to the data link layer according to the standard protocol layer specification, and the hardware layer is a physical adaptation layer or a physical layer.

[0007] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the redundant hot switching capability ensures that the data transmission service of the physical layer data path is not interrupted during the switching of the physical layer data path between the multiple Ethernet links.

[0008] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the multiple Ethernet links correspond one-to-one to multiple Ethernet physical layer modules, the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules are physically isolated from each other, each of the multiple Ethernet links is connected to the Ethernet physical layer module corresponding to the Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules, and the link status monitoring unit, the physical layer switching circuit and the automatic switching controller are all independent of the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules.

[0009] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the multiple Ethernet links correspond one-to-one to the multiple channels, and the physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links is used to achieve seamless hot switching between the multiple channels.

[0010] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect of the present application, the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links indicates a bit error rate, a link training status, and a signal-to-noise ratio of each of the multiple Ethernet links.

[0011] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the automatic switching controller is used to determine whether a link failure has occurred in the working Ethernet link based on the link status of the working Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet links; if so, switch to another Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet links that is different from the working Ethernet link as a new working Ethernet link.

[0012] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect of the present application, the link status monitoring unit simultaneously monitors the link status of at least two Ethernet links among the multiple Ethernet links, and the at least two Ethernet links include the working Ethernet link and the another Ethernet link.

[0013] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the method further includes: obtaining statistical data of the message packets uploaded and downloaded respectively through the multiple Ethernet links through a link quality prediction module deployed at the hardware layer, thereby providing link quality prediction results for each of the multiple Ethernet links, and the automatic switching controller is used to control the physical layer switching circuit to implement a pre-switching strategy based on the link quality prediction results for each of the multiple Ethernet links.

[0014] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the statistical data of the packet includes the data length of the packet, the count of packet loss, and the count of packet retransmission.

[0015] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the pre-switching strategy is based on a comparison between the link quality prediction results of each of the multiple Ethernet links and historical status data, and the historical status data indicates the landmark link quality information when the automatic switching controller performs link switching based on link failure.

[0016] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the automatic switching controller is used to passively perform link switching based on the occurrence of a link failure, and to actively perform link switching when no link failure is detected based on the link quality prediction results of each of the multiple Ethernet links.

[0017] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect of the present application, the link status monitoring unit includes a bit error rate analyzer, a link training detector, and a signal-to-noise ratio evaluator.

[0018] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the method is applied to a redundant link management system of an automotive Ethernet, or an in-vehicle Ethernet communication system of an autonomous driving domain controller.

[0019] In a possible implementation of the first aspect of the present application, the hardware layer belongs to a centralized electronic architecture platform, and the centralized electronic architecture platform supports the upper software platform to choose whether to automatically switch back to the main link and set the link switching lag time by configuring the switching strategy.

[0020] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect of the present application, the multiple Ethernet links support data transmission in a mirroring mode, and link configuration updates of the multiple Ethernet links are independent of each other.

[0021] In a second aspect, the present application provides an apparatus for Ethernet communication. The apparatus comprises: a link status monitoring unit deployed at a hardware layer, configured to uniformly monitor the link status of a plurality of Ethernet links, including a primary link and at least one backup link, wherein the plurality of Ethernet links are physically isolated from one another; a physical layer switching circuit, configured to implement switching of physical layer data paths between the plurality of Ethernet links; and an automatic switching controller deployed at the hardware layer and connected to the link status monitoring unit and the physical layer switching circuit, configured to control the physical layer switching circuit based on the link status of the plurality of Ethernet links monitored by the link status monitoring unit, thereby providing redundant hot switching capability for the physical layer data paths associated with the plurality of Ethernet links.

[0022] Through the second aspect of this application, by realizing link status monitoring and rapid switching at the hardware layer, the high availability and real-time performance of the communication link are guaranteed; it has good integrability, scalability and adaptability, and can be widely used in the next generation of vehicle communication systems; it realizes hardware layer redundant switching of Ethernet communication to avoid communication interruption; the switching process is imperceptible and there is no packet loss, which improves system stability; reduces the dependence on the software layer to judge the link status; can be applied to high-security level systems, such as autonomous driving domain controllers, body control, braking systems, etc.; the architecture is expandable and supports multi-link redundancy and priority scheduling. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a standard protocol hierarchy;

[0025] Figure 2 A flowchart of a method for Ethernet communication provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a device for Ethernet communication according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a device for Ethernet communication according to a second embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] It should be understood that, in the description of this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for descriptive purposes and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or order.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a diagram of a standard protocol hierarchy. Figure 1 As shown, the standard protocol layer consists of protocol layer 101, data link layer 103, and physical layer 105. From top to bottom, the standard protocol layer is protocol layer 101, data link layer 103, and physical layer 105. Sometimes, the physical layer 105 also includes the physical adaptation layer. The physical layer 105 (including the physical adaptation layer) considers the electrical performance requirements and data rate matching associated with physical-layer interconnection. The data link layer 103, on the other hand, addresses communications within the upper protocol layer 101, such as the protocol content involved in specific application scenarios. Therefore, the data link layer 103 generally serves as the dividing line between software and hardware. That is, everything below the data link layer 103, starting with the physical layer 105, can be considered hardware implementation details. In the field of communications technology, particularly in-vehicle communications, the demand for Ethernet communications is growing. With the increasing performance of core functions such as advanced driver assistance systems, autonomous driving platforms, and central gateways, higher requirements are being placed on the real-time and reliability of communications. In Ethernet communication applications, physical failure of an Ethernet link—that is, a link failure—may occur. To prevent data transmission interruptions caused by a failed Ethernet link, it is necessary to promptly detect link failures and switch to a functioning link. For example, packet loss occurs when no feedback is received from the destination or intermediate node within a predetermined time after a packet is sent. Here, if Ethernet link failures and other issues rely on detection and link switching by the upper-layer protocol layer 101, this means relying on upper-layer intervention, such as a microcontroller unit (MCU), for detection and switching. However, if link status detection and link switching are implemented by relying on technical means such as parsing packets by the upper-layer protocol layer 101 and inserting special symbols or writing specific fields, this reliance on the intervention of the upper-layer protocol layer 101, such as the MCU, for link failure detection and link switching can lead to response delays, switching interruptions, and communication packet loss, failing to meet the high availability requirements of critical functions.

[0031] To this end, this application provides a method and apparatus for Ethernet communication with redundant hot-swap capabilities. By implementing link status monitoring and rapid switching at the hardware layer (e.g., physical layer 105), this method ensures high availability and real-time performance of the communication link. Furthermore, the method exhibits excellent integrability, scalability, and adaptability, enabling widespread application in next-generation in-vehicle communication systems. This will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying figures.

[0032] Figure 2 The following is a flow chart of a method for Ethernet communication provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 As shown, the method includes the following steps.

[0033] Step S201: uniformly monitoring the link status of a plurality of Ethernet links including a main link and at least one backup link through a link status monitoring unit deployed at the hardware layer, wherein the plurality of Ethernet links are physically isolated from each other.

[0034] Step S203: Implementing physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links through a physical layer switching circuit.

[0035] Step S205: By deploying an automatic switching controller at the hardware layer and connected to the link status monitoring unit and the physical layer switching circuit respectively, the physical layer switching circuit is controlled based on the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links monitored by the link status monitoring unit, thereby providing redundant hot switching capability for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links.

[0036] Figure 2The illustrated method for Ethernet communication, when applied to the field of communications technology, such as in-vehicle communications, can meet the real-time and reliability requirements of core functions such as advanced driver assistance systems, autonomous driving platforms, and central gateways. By providing multiple Ethernet links, including a primary link and at least one backup link, and utilizing a link redundancy design, combined with the hardware design and deployment of a link status monitoring unit, a physical layer switching circuit, and an automatic switching controller, link status detection and link switching in the event of a link failure are implemented. Specifically, in step S201, a link status monitoring unit deployed at the hardware layer uniformly monitors the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links, including the primary link and at least one backup link. The multiple Ethernet links are physically isolated from each other. In step S203, the physical layer switching circuit switches the physical layer data paths between the multiple Ethernet links. In step S205, an automatic switching controller, deployed at the hardware layer and connected to the link status monitoring unit and the physical layer switching circuit, controls the physical layer switching circuit based on the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links monitored by the link status monitoring unit, thereby providing redundant hot-switching capabilities for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links.

[0037] See Figure 2 For Ethernet communication units, such as the transmitter, receiver, and intermediate nodes in an Ethernet communication link, primary and backup channels are deployed in physical modules on the Ethernet communication units, each connected to an independent Ethernet link. This includes the link status of multiple Ethernet links, including the primary link and at least one backup link, and the multiple Ethernet links are physically isolated from each other. This allows for a design with multiple data channels, including primary and backup channels, using multiple Ethernet links. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a series of functional units are provided, including: a link status monitoring unit for real-time monitoring of the physical connection status and communication quality (e.g., bit error rate, signal-to-noise ratio, etc.) of each link; an automatic switching controller for determining whether the primary link is faulty based on the link status and seamlessly switching to the backup channel when necessary; and a physical layer switching circuit, which can utilize designs such as a multiplexer or a physical layer bridge layer to implement channel switching at the physical layer or machine physical address layer to ensure uninterrupted data communication. In some embodiments, a link quality prediction module can also be introduced to implement a pre-switching strategy based on historical status, further enhancing system robustness. In this way, the switching logic of the redundant structure, including redundant links, is completely completed at the hardware layer without the participation of the main control MCU, thereby improving the system response speed and reducing control overhead.

[0038] Continue reading Figure 2By deploying a series of functional units at the physical layer and providing multiple, physically isolated Ethernet links, such as a primary channel and a backup channel connected to the primary and backup Ethernet links, respectively, link status detection and switching are achieved solely through the physical layer hardware. If the primary link (or currently working link) is disconnected or its quality degrades sufficiently, link switching can be implemented at the physical layer without recourse to the upper protocol layer, or the data link layer, ensuring uninterrupted data transmission and eliminating complex protocol layer processing. Furthermore, by providing multiple, physically isolated Ethernet links, such as two physically isolated Ethernet links and two physical modules, physically isolated primary and backup channels are established. An automatic switchover controller monitors the status of the primary and backup channels in real time and can selectively switch the communication channel to either channel. This leverages hardware redundancy, achieving system stability and link status switching benefits at the expense of redundant hardware resources.

[0039] Continue reading Figure 2In some embodiments, the automatic switching controller is integrated into the physical layer hardware and obtains link status information, including bit error rate, link training status, signal-to-noise ratio, etc., from the link status monitoring unit. In other embodiments, a module with certain message statistics capabilities can also be integrated into the physical layer hardware, thereby obtaining certain message statistics in addition to the link status. During message transmission and reception, the upper protocol layer, such as the data link layer, determines the message recipient and then transmits it via the physical layer uplink or downlink. In this way, statistical data on packets traveling up and down the primary and backup links, such as packets with longer data lengths, can be monitored, allowing for early detection of changes in link load. This provides an additional function for pre-determining changes in link quality, in addition to detecting link failures. For example, if the bit error rate does not exceed a preset threshold over a period of time, this indicates that the link status is normal. However, if packet statistics indicate a decline in link quality, such as a retransmission counter in the packet, this can be combined with the link quality prediction module to detect overlapping signature information in historical data and initiate a link switch in advance. For example, if the backup link (currently idle link) is detected to have a very low load, a proactive switch can be initiated. The physical layer can integrate a link quality prediction module, which receives notifications from the upper protocol layer and promptly updates the number of packet statistics, as well as statistics on packet retransmissions, packet loss, and so on. The information obtained by the link quality prediction module can assist the link status monitoring module in making decisions and, based on the discovery of landmark information that overlaps with historical data, initiate a link switch in advance. For example, if the number of packet retransmissions reaches a mark in historical data (e.g., 100) within a period of 1000 milliseconds, a link switch can be initiated in advance.

[0040] Continue reading Figure 2, by deploying a link status monitoring unit at the hardware layer, the link status of each of multiple Ethernet links, including a primary link and at least one backup link, is uniformly monitored. In some embodiments, the link status monitoring unit monitors two or more links simultaneously. Furthermore, the link status monitoring unit can adopt two modes: active switching and passive switching. Passive switching corresponds to link failures. Active switching is to actively switch to an idle link when there is no link failure. In addition, a physical layer switching circuit is used to implement physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links; and an automatic switching controller is used to control the physical layer switching circuit, thereby providing redundant hot switching capabilities for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links. In this way, the physical layer data path switching and related control logic are designed separately, which is conducive to optimizing the related control logic. For example, a link quality prediction module can be integrated, so that on the basis of the passive switching mode corresponding to link failures, an active switching mode can also be provided when there is no link failure, further improving the robustness of the system.

[0041] Continue reading Figure 2 By implementing link status monitoring and rapid switching at the hardware level, high availability and real-time performance of the communication link are ensured. Furthermore, by separating the physical layer data path switching and related control logic, this design offers excellent integration, scalability, and adaptability, enabling widespread application in next-generation in-vehicle communication systems. Furthermore, link monitoring and link switching, previously performed by the upper protocol layer, are implemented at the physical layer, or hardware. Therefore, the data link layer is unaware of the physical layer link switching. That is, when switching from the primary link to the backup link, the data link layer assumes that data transmission is still proceeding over the same physical layer link. The upper-layer software platform intervenes to configure hardware policies, such as switching strategies and switching lag times. Given the constant updates to Internet of Vehicles protocols and the fact that physical layer hardware is typically fixed after production, it is possible to consider utilizing upper-layer platform configuration changes, such as firmware upgrades, to improve the hardware's adaptability to protocol and user requirements. In some embodiments, link redundancy and a series of configurable functional units enable multiple data service transmission modes. For example, considering providing a mirroring mode based on the primary-backup mode, data transmitted through the primary link is also mirrored through the backup link. This can be achieved by modifying the hardware configuration through the software platform. For another example, if the communication protocol changes, the hardware layer configuration needs to be updated to adapt to the new protocol. At the same time, to ensure uninterrupted data services, the backup link configuration can be updated and then switched from the primary link to the backup link. In other words, link redundancy can ensure that protocol upgrades and hardware firmware upgrades do not interrupt data service transmission.

[0042] In short, Figure 2 The method for Ethernet communication shown ensures high availability and real-time performance of the communication link by implementing link status monitoring and rapid switching at the hardware layer; has good integrability, scalability, and adaptability, and can be widely used in next-generation vehicle communication systems; implements hardware-layer redundant switching of Ethernet communication to avoid communication interruption; the switching process is imperceptible and packet loss-free, improving system stability; reduces dependence on the software layer to judge the link status; can be applied to high-security systems such as autonomous driving domain controllers, body control, braking systems, etc.; the architecture is scalable and supports multi-link redundancy and priority scheduling.

[0043] See Figure 2 In one possible implementation, the hardware layer is a lower layer relative to the data link layer according to the standard protocol layer specification, the protocol layer is an upper layer relative to the data link layer according to the standard protocol layer specification, and the hardware layer is a physical adaptation layer or a physical layer. Thus, by implementing link status monitoring and link switching at the hardware layer, i.e., the physical adaptation layer or the physical layer, and utilizing redundant link resources at the hardware layer, a non-perceptual and packet loss-free switching process can be achieved without intervention from the protocol layer. This reduces dependence on the protocol layer, i.e., the software layer, and improves system stability. Furthermore, system functionality can be further expanded by enhancing multi-link redundancy and configuring priority scheduling.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the redundant hot-swap capability ensures that data transmission services on the physical layer data paths are not interrupted during the physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links. Thus, utilizing a series of functional units deployed at the hardware layer, namely, a link status monitoring unit, a physical layer switching circuit, and an automatic switching controller, redundant hot-swap capability is provided for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links. This allows for determining whether a link is faulty based on link status and controlling the switching of communication channels between primary and backup. Primary-backup switching can be completed rapidly, for example, within microseconds, without interruption or packet loss during the communication process.

[0045] In one possible embodiment, the multiple Ethernet links correspond one-to-one to multiple Ethernet physical layer modules, the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules are physically isolated from each other, and each of the multiple Ethernet links is connected to the Ethernet physical layer module corresponding to the Ethernet link in the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules. The link status monitoring unit, the physical layer switching circuit, and the automatic switching controller are all independent of the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules. In some embodiments, the primary (physical layer) PHY module is connected to the first Ethernet link, and the backup (physical layer) PHY module is connected to the second Ethernet link. The link status monitoring unit is used to collect the status of the primary and backup PHY links in real time. The automatic switching controller determines whether there is a fault based on the link status and controls the communication channel to switch between the primary and backup. In addition, a multiplexer or physical layer switching circuit is used to implement data path switching at the physical or MAC layer. In this way, the multiple Ethernet links that are physically isolated from each other are respectively connected to the corresponding Ethernet physical layer modules in the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules that are physically isolated from each other, which means that multiple physically isolated channels are constructed. In addition, by making the link status monitoring unit, the physical layer switching circuit and the automatic switching controller independent of the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules, functional modules can be reused to meet the scalable architecture design. For example, a unified link monitoring module can be used to detect the link status of all redundant links. This design concept realizes the separate design of physical layer data path switching and related control logic, which helps to improve redundancy capabilities and overall system reliability.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the multiple Ethernet links correspond one-to-one to the multiple channels, and physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links is used to achieve seamless hot switching between the multiple channels. This enables seamless hot switching between the multiple channels without protocol layer intervention, reducing dependency on the protocol layer and improving system stability.

[0047] In one possible embodiment, the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links indicates the bit error rate, link training status, and signal-to-noise ratio of each of the multiple Ethernet links. In this way, by obtaining information such as the bit error rate, link training status, and signal-to-noise ratio, the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links can be determined, and then it can be determined whether a link failure, such as a physical failure, has occurred in a specific Ethernet link. For example, if the bit error rate is detected to exceed a preset threshold over a period of time, this indicates that the link status may be a link failure. For another example, the link training status shows that the link has not been trained for the new communication protocol configuration, which also means that a link that has not been fully trained is likely to experience a link failure due to mismatching the new communication protocol configuration. In this way, passive switching corresponding to link failure is achieved. That is, when the link status monitoring unit detects a link failure by monitoring the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links, it can switch to a normally operating link, thereby avoiding service interruption and packet loss. The switching process is imperceptible and packet loss-free, which helps to improve system stability.

[0048] In some embodiments, the automatic switching controller is configured to determine, based on the link status of a working Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet links, whether a link failure has occurred in the working Ethernet link, and if so, switch to another Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet links that is different from the working Ethernet link as a new working Ethernet link. In this manner, the link status monitoring unit controls the physical layer switching circuit by monitoring the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links, thereby providing redundant hot switching capabilities for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links, thereby achieving passive switching in response to link failures. When the link status monitoring unit detects a link failure by monitoring the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links, physical layer data path switching can be executed, thereby avoiding service interruption and packet loss. Furthermore, the switching process is imperceptible and packet loss-free, which helps improve system stability.

[0049] In some embodiments, the link status monitoring unit simultaneously monitors the link status of at least two of the multiple Ethernet links, where the at least two Ethernet links include the working Ethernet link and the other Ethernet link. Thus, utilizing a series of functional units deployed at the hardware layer, namely the link status monitoring unit, the physical layer switching circuit, and the automatic switching controller, functional modules can be reused to improve overall operational efficiency and facilitate architecture scalability. For example, the link status monitoring unit can be configured to simultaneously monitor the link status of three or more Ethernet links, thereby achieving link redundancy while also increasing resource reuse.

[0050] In some embodiments, the method further includes: obtaining statistical data on packets uploaded and downloaded through each of the multiple Ethernet links, using a link quality prediction module deployed at the hardware layer, thereby providing link quality prediction results for each of the multiple Ethernet links; and the automatic switching controller is configured to control the physical layer switching circuit based on the link quality prediction results for each of the multiple Ethernet links to implement a pre-switching strategy. As mentioned above, the link status monitoring unit monitors the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links to detect a link failure and can perform physical layer data path switching, thereby implementing passive switching in response to a link failure. In contrast to passive switching in response to a link failure, an additional link quality prediction module can be provided to obtain statistical data on packets uploaded and downloaded through each of the multiple Ethernet links, thereby providing link quality prediction results for each of the multiple Ethernet links, thereby implementing active switching. Specifically, statistical data on packets uploaded and downloaded through the primary and backup links, such as packets with longer data lengths, can be monitored to enable early detection of changes in link load. This provides an additional function for pre-determining changes in link quality, in addition to being able to detect link failures. For example, if the bit error rate (BER) does not exceed a preset threshold over a period of time, indicating that the link status is normal, but packet statistics indicate a decline in link quality, such as a retransmission counter in the packet. This can be combined with a link quality prediction module to proactively initiate a link switch based on the presence of overlapping indicators in historical data. For example, if the backup link (the currently idle link) is detected to have very low link load, proactive switching can also be initiated. The physical layer can integrate a link quality prediction module that receives notifications from upper protocol layers and promptly updates packet statistics, as well as statistics on packet retransmissions, retransmissions, and packet loss. The information obtained by the link quality prediction module can assist the link status monitoring module in making decisions. Preemptive link switching can be initiated based on overlapping indicators in historical data. For example, if the number of packet retransmissions within a period of 1000 milliseconds reaches a threshold (e.g., 100) in historical data, proactive link switching can be initiated. In this manner, the link status monitoring unit can employ both proactive and reactive switching modes. Reactive switching corresponds to a link failure. Active handover involves switching to an idle link when no link failures are present. By integrating a link quality prediction module, the system can provide an active handover mode in addition to the passive handover mode for link failures, further enhancing system robustness.

[0051] In some embodiments, the statistical data of the message packets include the data length of the message packets, the count of message packet loss, and the count of message packet retransmission. In this way, the statistical data of the message packets going up and down through the primary link and the backup link, such as the data length of the message packets, the count of message packet loss, and the count of message packet retransmission, can be monitored to determine changes in link load in advance. That is, on the basis of being able to detect link failures, an additional function of pre-determining changes in link quality is provided. In combination with the link quality prediction module, link switching can be performed in advance based on the discovery of landmark information that is repeated in historical data, which helps to improve system robustness.

[0052] In some embodiments, the pre-switching strategy is based on a comparison between the link quality prediction results of each of the multiple Ethernet links and historical status data, wherein the historical status data indicates the characteristic link quality information when the automatic switching controller performs link switching based on a link failure. In this way, by comparing the link quality prediction results of each of the multiple Ethernet links with the historical status data, the link quality prediction module can be combined to perform link switching in advance based on the discovery of repeated characteristic link quality information in the historical status data. For example, it is detected that the bit error rate does not exceed a preset threshold over a period of time, indicating that the link status is still normal, but through the statistical data of the message packets, it is detected that the link quality is declining, for example, the characteristic link quality information when the automatic switching controller performs link switching based on a link failure, such as the count of message packet retransmissions, indicated by the historical status data, is repeated. In this way, active switching can be performed, and active switching to an idle link can be performed when there is no link failure. This can predictively avoid potential link failure problems and help improve system robustness.

[0053] In some embodiments, the automatic switching controller is configured to passively switch links based on the occurrence of a link failure, and to actively switch links when no link failure is detected, based on the link quality prediction results of each of the multiple Ethernet links. Thus, the link status monitoring unit can employ both active and passive switching modes, providing the additional capability of pre-determining link quality changes in addition to detecting link failures. Combined with the link quality prediction module, link switching can be performed in advance, helping to improve system robustness.

[0054] In one possible implementation, the link status monitoring unit includes a bit error rate analyzer, a link training detector, and a signal-to-noise ratio estimator. This allows the link status monitoring unit to monitor the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links and, upon detecting a link failure, switch to a functioning link, thereby avoiding service interruption and packet loss. The switching process is also seamless and packet loss-free, helping to improve system stability.

[0055] In one possible implementation, the method is applied to a redundant link management system of automotive Ethernet, or an in-vehicle Ethernet communication system of an autonomous driving domain controller. In this way, it can be applied to the field of in-vehicle Ethernet communications. For example, in an in-vehicle Ethernet communication system of an autonomous driving domain controller, two physically isolated Ethernet links are deployed, connected to the main PHY and backup PHY modules respectively. The two PHY modules monitor their respective link health through a set of link status detectors, including parameters such as link training status, bit error rate, and signal-to-noise ratio. The automatic switching controller obtains the status data of the two PHYs in real time, and when it detects that the main link is disconnected or the quality drops below a set threshold, it triggers the switching logic and controls the multiplexer to switch the communication channel from the main link to the backup link. This process is completed within a few microseconds, ensuring uninterrupted data transmission, and is suitable for real-time applications in vehicle operation such as driving assistance and sensor synchronization.

[0056] In one possible implementation, the hardware layer belongs to a centralized electronic architecture platform, and the centralized electronic architecture platform supports the upper software platform to configure the switching strategy to choose whether to automatically switch back to the main link and set the link switching lag time. In this way, a scalable architecture design is achieved. For example, in a centralized electronic architecture platform, an integrated dual-channel PHY chip is designed to support an internal redundant switching mechanism. The chip has a built-in state machine to monitor the status of the two links and complete the master-slave switching without the need for MCU intervention, and is compatible with the standard MAC interface protocol. After the system is deployed, the interrupt interaction between controllers in the entire vehicle architecture can be reduced, effectively improving the redundancy capability and the reliability of the entire vehicle network. The architecture platform also supports the configuration of switching strategies through the upper software platform, such as choosing whether to automatically switch back to the main link, setting the switching lag time, etc.

[0057] In one possible implementation, the multiple Ethernet links support data transmission in a mirror mode, and the link configuration updates of the multiple Ethernet links are independent of each other. In this way, by utilizing link redundancy design and a series of configurable functional units, a variety of data service transmission modes can be implemented. For example, it can be considered to provide a mirror mode on the basis of the main-backup mode, that is, the data transmitted through the main link is also mirrored and transmitted through the backup link. This can be achieved by changing the hardware configuration through the software platform. For another example, it can be considered that when the communication protocol changes, the hardware layer configuration needs to be updated to adapt to the new protocol. At the same time, in order to ensure that the data service is not interrupted, the configuration of the backup link can be updated, and then the switch from the main link to the backup link can be made. That is, through link redundancy, it can be ensured that protocol upgrades and hardware firmware upgrades do not interrupt the transmission of data services.

[0058] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of a device for Ethernet communication according to a first embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 As shown, the device includes: a link status monitoring unit A320 deployed at the hardware layer, used to uniformly monitor the link status of multiple Ethernet links A310 including a main link A312 and at least one backup link A314, wherein the multiple Ethernet links A310 are physically isolated from each other; a physical layer switching circuit A324, used to implement physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links A310; an automatic switching controller A322 deployed at the hardware layer and respectively connected to the link status monitoring unit A320 and the physical layer switching circuit A324, used to: control the physical layer switching circuit A324 based on the link status of the multiple Ethernet links A310 monitored by the link status monitoring unit A320, thereby providing redundant hot switching capability for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links A310.

[0059] Figure 3 The device for Ethernet communication shown ensures high availability and real-time performance of the communication link by implementing link status monitoring and rapid switching at the hardware layer; it has good integrability, scalability and adaptability, and can be widely used in next-generation vehicle communication systems; it implements hardware-layer redundant switching of Ethernet communication to avoid communication interruption; the switching process is imperceptible and packet loss-free, improving system stability; it reduces dependence on the software layer to judge the link status; it can be applied to high-security level systems, such as autonomous driving domain controllers, body control, braking systems, etc.; the architecture is expandable and supports multi-link redundancy and priority scheduling.

[0060] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a device for Ethernet communication according to a second embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 As shown, the device includes: a link status monitoring unit B420 deployed at the hardware layer, used to uniformly monitor the link status of multiple Ethernet links B410 including a main link B412 and at least one backup link B414, wherein the multiple Ethernet links B410 are physically isolated from each other; a physical layer switching circuit B424, used to implement physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links B410; an automatic switching controller B422 deployed at the hardware layer and respectively connected to the link status monitoring unit B420 and the physical layer switching circuit B424, used to: control the physical layer switching circuit B424 based on the link status of the multiple Ethernet links B410 monitored by the link status monitoring unit B420, thereby providing redundant hot switching capability for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links B410. Figure 4The illustrated apparatus further includes a link quality prediction module 430 deployed at the hardware layer. The link quality prediction module 430 is configured to obtain statistical data of packets uploaded and downloaded via each of the multiple Ethernet links B410, thereby providing a link quality prediction result for each of the multiple Ethernet links B410. Furthermore, the automatic switching controller B422 is configured to control the physical layer switching circuit B424 to implement a pre-switching strategy based on the link quality prediction results for each of the multiple Ethernet links B410.

[0061] Figure 4 The device for Ethernet communication shown here ensures high availability and real-time performance of the communication link by implementing link status monitoring and rapid switching at the hardware layer. It also boasts excellent integrability, scalability, and adaptability, making it widely applicable to next-generation in-vehicle communication systems. It implements hardware-layer redundant switching for Ethernet communication, avoiding communication interruptions. The switching process is imperceptible and packet loss-free, improving system stability. It also reduces reliance on software-layer link status determination. It can be applied to high-security systems such as autonomous driving domain controllers, body control, and braking systems. Its architecture is scalable, supporting multi-link redundancy and priority scheduling. Furthermore, the link status monitoring unit B420 can adopt both active and passive switching modes. Beyond detecting link failures, it also provides the additional capability of preemptively determining changes in link quality. Combined with the link quality prediction module 430, it can select and initiate link switching in advance, helping to improve system robustness.

[0062] The methods and devices provided in the embodiments of the present application are based on the same inventive concept. Since the principles of the methods and devices for solving problems are similar, the embodiments, implementation methods, examples or implementation methods of the methods and devices can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated. The embodiments of the present application also provide a system, which includes multiple computing devices, and the structure of each computing device can refer to the structure of the computing device described above. The functions or operations that can be implemented by the system can refer to the specific implementation steps in the above method embodiments and / or the specific functions described in the above device embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0063] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a computer device (e.g., one or more processors), the method steps described in the above method embodiments can be implemented. The specific implementation of the above method steps by the processor of the computer-readable storage medium can refer to the specific operations described in the above method embodiments and / or the specific functions described in the above device embodiments, and will not be further described here.

[0064] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. The present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. The embodiments of the present application may be implemented in whole or in part via software, hardware, firmware, or any other combination. When implemented using software, the above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part as a computer program product. The present application may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media containing computer-usable program code. The computer program product comprises one or more computer instructions. When loaded or executed on a computer, the computer program instructions fully or partially perform the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. Computer-readable storage media can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer, or a data storage device such as a server or data center that contains a collection of one or more available media. Available media can be magnetic media (such as floppy disks, hard disks, or magnetic tape), optical media, or semiconductor media. Semiconductor media can be solid-state drives, random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, or any other suitable storage medium.

[0065] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present application. Each process and / or block in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of processes and / or blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowchart and / or block diagram. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can guide a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific way, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a product including the instruction device, which implements the function specified in the process. Figure 1a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device, so that a series of operation steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions for implementing the process in the process. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps for the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0066] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different emphases. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the embodiments of the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present application. The steps in the method of the embodiment of the present application can be adjusted in sequence, merged or deleted according to actual needs; the modules in the system of the embodiment of the present application can be divided, merged or deleted according to actual needs. If these modifications and variations of the embodiments of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalent technologies, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method for Ethernet communication, characterized in that: The method comprises: The link status monitoring unit deployed at the hardware layer uniformly monitors the link status of each of a plurality of Ethernet links including a primary link and at least one backup link, wherein the plurality of Ethernet links are physically isolated from each other; Implementing physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links through a physical layer switching circuit; An automatic switching controller is deployed at the hardware layer and is connected to the link status monitoring unit and the physical layer switching circuit respectively. The automatic switching controller controls the physical layer switching circuit based on the link status of each of the multiple Ethernet links monitored by the link status monitoring unit, thereby providing redundant hot switching capability for the physical layer data paths associated with the multiple Ethernet links. The link status of each of the plurality of Ethernet links indicates a bit error rate, a link training status, and a signal-to-noise ratio of each of the plurality of Ethernet links. The automatic switching controller is configured to determine, based on a link status of a working Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet links, whether a link failure occurs in the working Ethernet link, and if so, switch to another Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet links that is different from the working Ethernet link as a new working Ethernet link. The method further includes: obtaining statistical data of packets uploaded and downloaded through each of the plurality of Ethernet links through a link quality prediction module deployed at the hardware layer, thereby providing link quality prediction results for each of the plurality of Ethernet links; and the automatic switching controller is configured to control the physical layer switching circuit to implement a pre-switching strategy based on the link quality prediction results for each of the plurality of Ethernet links. The pre-switching strategy is based on a comparison between link quality prediction results of each of the plurality of Ethernet links and historical status data, wherein the historical status data indicates characteristic link quality information when the automatic switching controller performs link switching based on a link failure.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The hardware layer is a lower layer relative to the data link layer according to the standard protocol layer specification, and the protocol layer is an upper layer relative to the data link layer according to the standard protocol layer specification. The hardware layer is a physical adaptation layer or a physical layer.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The redundant hot switch capability ensures that the data transmission service of the physical layer data path is not interrupted during the switching of the physical layer data path between the multiple Ethernet links.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The multiple Ethernet links correspond one-to-one to multiple Ethernet physical layer modules, the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules are physically isolated from each other, each of the multiple Ethernet links is connected to the Ethernet physical layer module corresponding to the Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules, and the link status monitoring unit, the physical layer switching circuit and the automatic switching controller are all independent of the multiple Ethernet physical layer modules.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The multiple Ethernet links correspond one-to-one to the multiple channels, and the physical layer data path switching between the multiple Ethernet links is used to achieve seamless hot switching between the multiple channels.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The link status monitoring unit simultaneously monitors the link status of at least two Ethernet links among the plurality of Ethernet links, where the at least two Ethernet links include the working Ethernet link and the another Ethernet link.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The statistical data of the message packets include the data length of the message packets, the count of message packet losses, and the count of message packet retransmissions.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The automatic switching controller is configured to passively perform link switching based on the occurrence of a link failure, and actively perform link switching when no link failure is detected based on the link quality prediction results of each of the plurality of Ethernet links.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The link status monitoring unit includes a bit error rate analyzer, a link training detector and a signal-to-noise ratio evaluator.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method is applied to a redundant link management system of an automotive Ethernet, or an in-vehicle Ethernet communication system of an autonomous driving domain controller.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein The hardware layer belongs to a centralized electronic architecture platform, which supports the upper software platform to choose whether to automatically switch back to the main link and set the link switching lag time by configuring the switching strategy.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The multiple Ethernet links support data transmission in a mirroring mode, and link configuration updates of the multiple Ethernet links are independent of each other.

13. A device for Ethernet communication, characterized in that: The device comprises: A link status monitoring unit deployed at the hardware layer, configured to uniformly monitor the link status of each of a plurality of Ethernet links, including a primary link and at least one backup link, wherein the plurality of Ethernet links are physically isolated from each other; A physical layer switching circuit, configured to implement physical layer data path switching between the plurality of Ethernet links; an automatic switching controller deployed at the hardware layer and connected to the link status monitoring unit and the physical layer switching circuit, respectively, for controlling the physical layer switching circuit based on the link status of each of the plurality of Ethernet links monitored by the link status monitoring unit, thereby providing redundant hot switching capability for the physical layer data paths associated with the plurality of Ethernet links; The link status of each of the plurality of Ethernet links indicates a bit error rate, a link training status, and a signal-to-noise ratio of each of the plurality of Ethernet links. The automatic switching controller is configured to determine, based on a link status of a working Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet links, whether a link failure occurs in the working Ethernet link, and if so, switch to another Ethernet link among the multiple Ethernet links that is different from the working Ethernet link as a new working Ethernet link. The device also includes a link quality prediction module deployed at the hardware layer, the link quality prediction module being configured to obtain statistical data of packets uploaded and downloaded through each of the multiple Ethernet links, thereby providing a link quality prediction result for each of the multiple Ethernet links, and the automatic switching controller being configured to control the physical layer switching circuit to implement a pre-switching strategy based on the link quality prediction results for each of the multiple Ethernet links. The pre-switching strategy is based on a comparison between link quality prediction results of each of the plurality of Ethernet links and historical status data, wherein the historical status data indicates characteristic link quality information when the automatic switching controller performs link switching based on a link failure.

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