Communication method, apparatus, vehicle, medium, and program product

Abstract

This application provides a communication method, apparatus, vehicle, medium, and program product. In this method, when both using a WiFi communication module and a cellular communication module to access a wide area network (WAN) consume mobile data traffic, the cellular communication module is preferentially used for WAN access. This is because the cellular communication module is a fixedly installed device in the vehicle, and its wireless link with the base station is designed and optimized for automotive applications, ensuring predictable signal strength and connection stability. In contrast, the first type of WiFi hotspot is usually provided by a mobile terminal, and the connection may be interrupted if the mobile terminal leaves the vehicle or actively turns off the WiFi hotspot. Since both WAN access methods consume mobile data traffic, by instructing the use of the cellular communication module to access the WAN, the reliability of WAN access is improved compared to using a WiFi communication module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle communication technology, and more particularly to a communication method, device, vehicle, medium, and program product. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of vehicle intelligence, on-board controllers (such as cockpit domain controllers and autonomous driving domain controllers) need to be connected to wide area networks for purposes such as software upgrades, map updates, and audio and video data acquisition.

[0003] Vehicles are typically equipped with both WiFi and cellular communication capabilities. Currently, WiFi is the preferred method for accessing wide area networks (WANs), but this approach lacks flexibility. Therefore, figuring out how to use WiFi and cellular communication to access local area networks (LANs) is a problem that urgently needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, vehicle, medium, and program product that can solve the problem of poor flexibility in vehicle access to wide area networks.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method applied to a communication device, comprising: identifying the type of WiFi hotspot connected to a WiFi communication module; when the type of WiFi hotspot is a first type that consumes mobile data traffic, detecting whether a cellular communication module is available; if the cellular communication module is available, sending a first notification message to a target controller, the first notification message being used to instruct the target controller to use the cellular communication module to access a wide area network (WAN). According to the above technical means, when both using a WiFi communication module and a cellular communication module to access a WAN consume mobile data traffic, the cellular communication module is preferentially used for WAN access because it is a vehicle-mounted device, and its wireless link with the base station is automotive-grade designed and optimized, ensuring predictable signal strength and connection stability. In contrast, the first type of WiFi hotspot is usually provided by a mobile terminal, and the connection may be interrupted if the mobile terminal leaves the vehicle or actively turns off the WiFi hotspot. Since both WAN access methods consume mobile data traffic, instructing the use of a cellular communication module to access the WAN improves the reliability of WAN access compared to using a WiFi communication module.

[0006] In addition, in scenarios where the target controller has already used a cellular communication module to access the wide area network, the above-mentioned technical means can avoid communication interruptions such as data link reconstruction and TCP connection reset that are inevitable during the switch from cellular communication to WiFi communication, thereby ensuring the continuity of data transmission.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: when the WiFi hotspot is of the second type (not consuming mobile data traffic), sending a second notification message to the target controller, the second notification message instructing the target controller to use a WiFi communication module to access the wide area network (WAN). According to the above technical means, when a WiFi hotspot is identified as belonging to the second type (not consuming mobile data traffic), the target controller is instructed to use a WiFi communication module to access the WAN. Since the second type of WiFi hotspot does not consume mobile data traffic and typically has a stable broadband connection, using a WiFi communication module to access the WAN can fully utilize the high bandwidth and low latency characteristics of the fixed access network, and compared to using a cellular communication module to access the WAN, it can reduce the consumption of mobile data traffic.

[0008] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the method further includes: if the cellular communication module is unavailable, sending a second notification message to the target controller, the second notification message instructing the target controller to use the WiFi communication module to access the wide area network. Based on the above technical means, assuming the WiFi hotspot is of the first type, if the cellular communication module is detected to be unavailable, sending a second notification message instructing the target controller to use the WiFi communication module to access the wide area network ensures communication continuity and avoids communication interruptions caused by the unavailability of the cellular communication module.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect mentioned above, one possible implementation includes, before detecting the availability of the cellular communication module, the following steps: controlling the vehicle's display screen to output a prompt message reminding users that using a WiFi hotspot will consume mobile data; receiving feedback instructions from the user in response to the prompt message; and detecting the availability of the cellular communication module, including: if the feedback instruction indicates that the WiFi hotspot should not be used, detecting whether the cellular communication module is available. Based on the above technical means, a human-computer interaction step is introduced before deciding on the WAN access method, allowing the user to control the subsequent WAN access method through feedback instructions. The step of detecting cellular availability only proceeds when the user indicates that the currently connected WiFi hotspot should not be used. That is, if the user has already allowed communication through the current WiFi hotspot, unnecessary detection and possible switching operations are avoided, thereby reducing system processing overhead. Simultaneously, this makes the final selected WAN access method more in line with the user's expectations.

[0010] In conjunction with the first aspect mentioned above, in one possible implementation, identifying the type of WiFi hotspot connected to by the WiFi communication module includes: obtaining the access network type identifier of the WiFi hotspot; determining the access network type of the WiFi hotspot based on the access network type identifier; when the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a mobile access network, determining the WiFi hotspot type as a first type; when the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a fixed access network, determining the WiFi hotspot type as a second type that does not consume mobile data traffic. According to the above technical means, since access network types are generally divided into mobile access networks and fixed access networks, mobile access networks are characterized by relying on cellular base stations for access to wide area networks, and using such WiFi hotspots will consume mobile data traffic; fixed access networks are characterized by accessing wide area networks through wired broadband, and using such WiFi hotspots usually does not consume mobile data traffic. Therefore, determining the access network type of the WiFi hotspot through its access network type identifier can accurately identify whether the WiFi hotspot is of the first or second type.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect mentioned above, in one possible implementation, identifying the type of WiFi hotspot connected to by the WiFi communication module includes: obtaining the identity identifier of the device providing the WiFi hotspot; if the identity identifier indicates that the device is a first-type device, determining that the WiFi hotspot type is first-type, where the first-type device is a device accessing the wide area network (WAN) via a mobile access network; if the identity identifier indicates that the device is a second-type device, determining that the WiFi hotspot type is a second-type device that does not consume mobile data traffic, where the second-type device is a device accessing the WAN via a fixed access network. Based on the above technical means, considering that WiFi hotspots are generally provided by mobile terminals or fixed access points (such as routers), and that mobile terminals access the WAN via mobile access networks, consuming mobile data traffic, while fixed access points access the WAN via wired broadband and typically do not consume mobile data traffic, obtaining the device's identity identifier and identifying the device type accordingly can indirectly infer the type of WiFi hotspot, providing an effective alternative in scenarios where the access network type identifier cannot be directly obtained.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect described above, in one possible implementation, the first notification message is specifically used to instruct the target controller to set the target media access control address of the Ethernet frame to be sent to the media access control address of the cellular communication module. Based on the above technical means, the gateway can accurately forward Ethernet frames to the cellular communication module according to the target MAC address of the Ethernet frame, without needing to perform IP routing or address resolution protocol lookups, thereby reducing forwarding latency and improving the efficiency of wide area network access.

[0013] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, including: an identification module for identifying the type of WiFi hotspot connected to the WiFi communication module; a detection module for detecting whether the cellular communication module is available when the type of the WiFi hotspot is a first type that consumes mobile data traffic; and a notification module for sending a first notification message to a target controller if the cellular communication module is available, the first notification message being used to instruct the target controller to use the cellular communication module to access the wide area network.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the notification module is further configured to send a second notification message to the target controller when the WiFi hotspot is of the second type, which does not consume mobile data traffic. The second notification message is used to instruct the target controller to access the wide area network using the WiFi communication module.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the notification module is further configured to send a second notification message to the target controller if the cellular communication module is unavailable. The second notification message is used to instruct the target controller to access the wide area network using the WiFi communication module.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the detection module is further configured to: control the vehicle's display screen to output a prompt message reminding users that using a WiFi hotspot will consume mobile data; receive feedback instructions from the user in response to the prompt message; and if the feedback instructions indicate that the WiFi hotspot should not be used, detect whether the cellular communication module is available.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the identification module is used to: identify the type of WiFi hotspot connected to the WiFi communication module, including: obtaining the access network type identifier of the WiFi hotspot; determining the access network type of the WiFi hotspot based on the access network type identifier; when the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a mobile access network, determining the type of the WiFi hotspot as a first type; when the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a fixed access network, determining the type of the WiFi hotspot as a second type that does not consume mobile data traffic.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the identification module is configured to: obtain the identity identifier of the device providing the WiFi hotspot; if the identity identifier indicates that the device is a first type device, determine that the WiFi hotspot is of the first type, and the first type device is a device that accesses the wide area network through a mobile access network; if the identity identifier indicates that the device is a second type device, determine that the WiFi hotspot is of the second type that does not consume mobile data traffic, and the second type device is a device that accesses the wide area network through a fixed access network.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the first notification message is specifically used to instruct the target controller to set the target media access control address of the Ethernet frame to be sent to the media access control address of the cellular communication module.

[0020] Thirdly, this application provides a vehicle including a WiFi communication module, a cellular communication module, and a communication device as described in the second aspect above and any possible implementation thereof.

[0021] Fourthly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0022] Fifthly, this application provides a computer program product including computer instructions that, when executed on a device, cause the device to perform the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0023] The second to fifth aspects described above correspond to the technical solutions of the first aspect of the embodiments of this application. The beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and its corresponding feasible implementation are similar, and will not be repeated here. It should be noted that various possible implementations of any aspect described above can be combined, provided that the solutions do not contradict each other. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a vehicle communication architecture provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A detailed flowchart of step S10; Figure 4 for Figure 2 Another detailed flowchart of step S10; Figure 5 A functional module diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another communication architecture for a vehicle provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. Those skilled in the art will recognize that, with the emergence of new application scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0026] This application provides a communication device suitable for a vehicle's communication system. The communication device can be a standalone ECU (Electronic Control Unit), such as a CDC (Cockpit Domain Controller), vehicle gateway, or dedicated network management controller. Alternatively, the communication device can be a software or firmware module integrated into any of the aforementioned controllers, such as a communication device deployed within a CDC. (See also...) Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a communication architecture for a vehicle provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 As shown, vehicles are typically equipped with multiple controllers, such as CDC, ADC (Autonomous Driving Domain Controller), and BDC (Body Domain Controller). Among them, CDC is responsible for functions such as the in-vehicle infotainment system, instrument display, and human-machine interface; ADC is responsible for autonomous driving perception, decision-making, and control; and BDC is responsible for controlling and managing electronic components of the vehicle body, such as windows, doors, lights, wipers, air conditioning, and seats.

[0027] The vehicle is also equipped with a WiFi communication module, which refers to the wireless communication hardware in the vehicle used to scan for and connect to external WiFi hotspots. The WiFi communication module can be a standalone physical unit, such as a separate WiFi communication module, connected to the controller via a PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), USB (Universal Serial Bus), or SDIO (Secure Digital Input Output) interface; the WiFi communication module can also be integrated inside the controller, such as within the CDC.

[0028] The vehicle is also equipped with a cellular communication module, typically integrated into a TBOX (Telematics Box, in-vehicle communication terminal). This cellular module accesses the wide area network (WAN) via a cellular communication network (e.g., 4G / 5G network). The vehicle also features a gateway, a Layer 2 switching device (i.e., an in-vehicle Ethernet switch) used to forward messages from the ADC and BDC to the WiFi or cellular communication modules. Figure 1 The architecture shown forwards messages from the ADC and BDC to the CDC or TBOX.

[0029] In one application scenario, if the WiFi communication module is connected to a WiFi hotspot and the cellular communication module is connected to a wide area network (WAN) via a cellular network, the target controller can use either the WiFi or cellular communication module to access the WAN. Currently, the default is to prioritize WiFi communication for WAN access, which will cause the target controller to use the WiFi communication module to access the WAN.

[0030] However, if the WiFi hotspot is provided by a mobile terminal (such as a mobile phone or portable WiFi device), and the access network behind the WiFi hotspot is a cellular communication network, using a WiFi communication module to access the WAN will also consume the user's mobile data traffic, just like using a cellular communication module. In other words, from an economic perspective, there is no significant advantage or disadvantage between using a WiFi communication module to access the WAN and using a cellular communication module. From a connection stability perspective, since cellular communication modules are fixed devices installed in vehicles, their wireless links with base stations are automotive-grade designed and optimized, resulting in predictable signal strength and connection stability. However, when the WiFi hotspot is provided by a mobile terminal, the WiFi connection will be interrupted as the distance between the mobile terminal and the vehicle increases, the mobile terminal moves to a signal dead zone, or the hotspot is actively turned off. Therefore, using a cellular communication module to access the WAN offers better connection stability compared to using a WiFi communication module.

[0031] In another application scenario, when the cellular communication module has already accessed the WAN via the cellular network, and the target controller is using the cellular communication module to obtain data from the WAN (e.g., downloading an OTA upgrade package), and subsequently the WiFi communication module connects to a WiFi hotspot, the current access strategy prioritizes using WiFi communication to access the WAN. This will cause the target controller to switch from using the cellular communication module to the WiFi communication module. This switching action not only fails to effectively save mobile data traffic (the reasons have been described above and will not be repeated here), but also introduces the following problems: the data link needs to be re-established during the switching process, causing communication interruption or delay between the target controller and the data source.

[0032] As can be seen from the above description of application scenarios, the WAN access method determined by conventional strategies not only fails to optimize mobile data traffic consumption, but also introduces technical problems such as communication interruption, latency, and decreased connection stability due to blind switching.

[0033] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the technical concept proposed in this application is as follows: First, identify the type of WiFi hotspot connected to by the WiFi communication module and determine whether it belongs to the first type that consumes mobile data traffic; if so, further detect whether the cellular communication module is available; if available, instruct the target controller to use the cellular communication module to access the wide area network. This application, by identifying the type of WiFi hotspot, and determining that both using the cellular communication module to access the wide area network and using the WiFi communication module to access the wide area network consume mobile data traffic, instructs the target controller to use the cellular communication module to access the wide area network. Compared to conventional strategies, this approach provides better connection stability without significantly increasing mobile data traffic consumption and avoids unnecessary switching, thereby ensuring communication continuity.

[0034] The communication method provided in this application will be described below with reference to specific embodiments. These embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments.

[0035] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the communication method provided in this application. The entity executing the communication method provided in this application can be a communication device; in the following embodiments, a CDC (Communication Control Center) is used as an example. Figure 2 As shown, the communication method provided in this application embodiment may include: Step S10: The CDC identifies the type of WiFi hotspot connected to the WiFi communication module.

[0036] In this embodiment, the type of WiFi hotspot is categorized based on whether using the WiFi hotspot consumes mobile data traffic. Specifically, WiFi hotspots are divided into two categories: Type 1: The WiFi hotspot's access network type is a mobile access network (such as 4G / 5G, i.e., fourth-generation / fifth-generation mobile communication technology). This means the device providing the WiFi hotspot connects to the wide area network via a mobile access network. Typical examples include WiFi hotspots provided by mobile phones, MiFi (Mobile WiFi) devices, etc. Using a Type 1 WiFi hotspot will consume mobile data.

[0037] The second type: WiFi hotspots use a fixed access network (such as fiber optic, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), coaxial cable, etc.), meaning the device providing the WiFi hotspot connects to the wide area network via a fixed access network. Typical examples include WiFi hotspots provided by home wireless routers, enterprise WiFi access points, and public WiFi in shopping malls. Using a second type of WiFi hotspot does not consume mobile data.

[0038] The CDC (Distributed Control Center) obtains the attribute information of the currently connected WiFi hotspot by calling the driver interface of the WiFi communication module. This attribute information may include: access network type identifier, identity identifier of the device providing the hotspot, device type field, etc. By analyzing this attribute information, the CDC can accurately determine whether the currently connected WiFi hotspot belongs to type one or type two, thus providing a basis for subsequent decision-making logic.

[0039] For example, refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 for Figure 2 A detailed flowchart of step S10 is shown below. Figure 3 As shown, step S10 includes: Step S301: The CDC obtains the access network type identifier of the WiFi hotspot; Step S302: The CDC determines the access network type of the WiFi hotspot based on the access network type identifier; Step S303: When the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a mobile access network, the CDC determines the type of the WiFi hotspot as the first type; Step S304: When the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a fixed access network, the CDC determines the type of the WiFi hotspot as the second type, which does not consume mobile data traffic.

[0040] In this embodiment of the application, the access network type identifier refers to an information element broadcast by the WiFi hotspot at the protocol layer (e.g., a beacon frame or associated response frame defined in the IEEE 802.11u standard), which is used to characterize the type of access network through which the WiFi hotspot accesses the wide area network.

[0041] The CDC can obtain the access network type identifier of the currently connected WiFi hotspot by calling the driver interface of the WiFi communication module. For example, it can call the INI_WiFiStation.REQUEST_WiFiLoginInfo service, which encapsulates the interaction process between the CDC and the WiFi communication module. The data structure returned by the service includes an access network type identifier field, with values ​​of INI_MODE_BROADBAND or INI_MODE_CELLULAR, corresponding to fixed and mobile access networks respectively. By parsing the data returned by the service, the access network type identifier of the WiFi hotspot can be obtained.

[0042] If the access network type identifier of the WiFi hotspot is INI_MODE_CELLULAR, it indicates that the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a mobile access network. In this case, the CDC determines the WiFi hotspot type as type one. If the access network type identifier of the WiFi hotspot is INI_MODE_BROADBAND, it indicates that the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a fixed access network. In this case, the CDC determines the WiFi hotspot type as type two. Through the embodiments of this application, the CDC can directly obtain the access network type identifier broadcast by the WiFi hotspot at the protocol layer without additional network probing or manual user labeling. This access network type identifier is generated by the device providing the WiFi hotspot based on its own backend network configuration, ensuring high reliability and thus guaranteeing the accuracy of WiFi hotspot type identification.

[0043] This application also provides another specific implementation for identifying WiFi hotspot types, namely, determining the type of WiFi hotspot by obtaining the identity identifier of the device providing the WiFi hotspot. (See reference...) Figure 4 , Figure 4 for Figure 2 Another detailed flowchart of step S10. (See diagram below.) Figure 4 As shown, step S10 includes: Step S401: The CDC obtains the identity identifier of the device providing the WiFi hotspot; Step S402: If the identity identifier indicates that the device is a first type device, the CDC determines that the WiFi hotspot is of the first type, and the first type device is a device that accesses the wide area network through the mobile access network; Step S403: If the identity identifier indicates that the device is a second type device, the CDC determines that the WiFi hotspot is of the second type that does not consume mobile data traffic, and the second type device is a device that accesses the wide area network through the fixed access network.

[0044] In this embodiment, the device providing a WiFi hotspot (hereinafter referred to as the hotspot device to distinguish it from other devices) refers to a hardware entity that physically emits WiFi signals and allows other devices (such as vehicle WiFi communication modules) to connect. The hotspot device can be a mobile terminal (such as a mobile phone, MiFi), a fixed access point (such as a home wireless router, an enterprise-level wireless access point), a portable router, etc. An identification identifier is used to uniquely or roughly distinguish the type of the hotspot device. The identification identifier includes, but is not limited to: the device manufacturer, product model, device type (mobile phone / router / other), device name, serial number, etc.

[0045] In one possible implementation, after the CDC detects that the WiFi communication module is connected to a WiFi hotspot, it outputs a query through the vehicle's human-machine interface, prompting the user to specify the device type of the currently connected WiFi hotspot. For example, a dialog box might pop up on the central control display: "What device is providing the currently connected WiFi hotspot?" with options such as "Mobile phone / MiFi" or "Home router / Enterprise wireless access point." Alternatively, it could use voice prompts: "Please state whether the currently connected WiFi hotspot is a mobile phone / MiFi hotspot or a router hotspot." The user selects the device through touchscreen clicks, pressing physical buttons, or voice commands. The CDC receives the user's feedback input as an identifier for the hotspot device. At this point, the CDC can determine whether the hotspot device is a mobile phone, MiFi, home router, or enterprise wireless access point. If the hotspot device is a mobile phone or MiFi, since both mobile phones and MiFi access devices connect to the wide area network via mobile access networks, the WiFi hotspot type is determined to be type one. If the hotspot device is a home router or an enterprise wireless access point, since both home routers and enterprise wireless access points connect to the wide area network via fixed access networks, the WiFi hotspot type is determined to be type two. Through the embodiments of this application, the identity identifier of the hotspot device is obtained through human-computer interaction, which overcomes the bottleneck of purely automatic identification in certain scenarios (such as failure to call the driver interface of the WiFi communication module) and improves the robustness of WiFi hotspot type identification.

[0046] In another possible implementation, after the CDC detects that the WiFi communication module is connected to the WiFi hotspot, it obtains the MAC (Media Access Control Address) address of the hotspot device and then extracts the OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier) ​​from the MAC address as an identity identifier. The OUI is generally the first three bytes of the MAC address. Based on the extracted OUI, the CDC queries the database on the vehicle or in the cloud to determine the device manufacturer information corresponding to the extracted OUI. Some device manufacturers only produce a certain type of device (such as only producing mobile phones or only producing routers), so the CDC can determine whether the hotspot device is a mobile phone or a router, thereby determining the type of WiFi hotspot.

[0047] In this embodiment, the MAC address of the hotspot device is information that is inevitably obtained during the WiFi connection establishment process. Extracting the OUI only requires local calculation and does not require sending additional probe frames to the hotspot device. Therefore, obtaining the identity identifier adds almost no network load.

[0048] Step S20: When the WiFi hotspot type is the first type that consumes mobile data traffic, the CDC detects whether the cellular communication module is available.

[0049] In this embodiment, the CDC's detection of whether the cellular communication module is available refers to the CDC detecting whether the cellular communication module has successfully established a data connection for wide area network (WAN) data communication. Generally, if the cellular communication module has established a PDN (Packet Data Network) connection and obtained an IP address in 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution), or has established a PDU (Protocol Data Unit) session in 5G, then the cellular communication module is considered to have successfully established a data connection for WAN data communication, and the CDC determines that the cellular communication module is available; otherwise, the CDC determines that the cellular communication module is unavailable.

[0050] In some embodiments, after the CDC detects that the cellular communication module has successfully established a data connection for wide area network (WAN) data communication, it does not directly determine that the cellular communication module is available. Instead, it further determines the availability of the cellular communication module based on the signal quality of the data connection. This improves the accuracy of the availability assessment of the cellular communication module. After the CDC detects that the cellular communication module has successfully established a data connection for WAN data communication, the CDC acquires signal strength indicators characterizing the signal quality of the data connection, including but not limited to: RSRP (Reference Signal Receiving Power), RSRQ (Reference Signal Receiving Quality), and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The CDC compares at least one strength indicator with a preset threshold. For example, if RSRP > -110 dBm and / or RSRQ > -15 dB, the signal quality is considered good, thus determining that the cellular communication module is available; otherwise, the cellular communication module is determined to be unavailable.

[0051] In some embodiments, to reduce unnecessary detection and possible handover operations, and to make the final selected communication method more in line with user expectations, the CDC can control the vehicle's display screen to output a prompt message before detecting whether the cellular communication module is available. The prompt message is used to remind users that using a WiFi hotspot will consume mobile data.

[0052] In this embodiment of the application, when the WiFi hotspot connected to by the WiFi communication module is of type 1, the CDC outputs a prompt message through the vehicle's central control display or instrument panel, such as a pop-up window displaying: "The currently connected WiFi hotspot will consume your mobile data. Do you want to switch to in-vehicle 4G / 5G?", and provides the option: "Yes / No", which may be accompanied by voice prompts.

[0053] In some embodiments, the CDC receives feedback instructions from the user in response to the prompt message.

[0054] In this embodiment, after seeing the text or image prompt displayed in the pop-up window, the user can input a feedback command by clicking the "Yes / No" button on the touchscreen; or, after hearing a voice prompt, input a feedback command via voice command (e.g., saying "Confirm" or "Cancel"); in addition, the user can also input a feedback command by pressing a physical button (such as the OK / Cancel button on the center console). The CDC obtains the above feedback commands through the vehicle bus (such as CAN bus, Ethernet) or a dedicated signal line, and parses the specific content indicated by the feedback command (e.g., indicating "Do not use this WiFi hotspot" or "Continue to use this WiFi hotspot").

[0055] In some embodiments, the CDC detects whether the cellular communication module is available, including: if a feedback instruction indicates that a WiFi hotspot is not being used, the CDC detects whether the cellular communication module is available.

[0056] In this embodiment, the CDC receives feedback instructions via the vehicle bus. The CDC only performs a check on the availability of the cellular communication module when the feedback instruction specifies "Do not use this WiFi hotspot." If the user feedback is "Continue to use this WiFi hotspot," the entire decision-making process terminates, and the CDC sends a second notification message to the target controller. This embodiment avoids conflicts between automatic system decisions and user intentions through human-computer interaction design, while saving signaling overhead and computing resources when detection is not required, thus improving the user experience.

[0057] Step S30: If the cellular communication module is available, the CDC sends a first notification message to the target controller. The first notification message is used to instruct the target controller to use the cellular communication module to access the wide area network.

[0058] In some embodiments, the target controller can be all domain controllers in the vehicle.

[0059] In some embodiments, the target controller can be a controller in the vehicle that needs to access a wide area network (WAN) to obtain data. For example, the target controller can be a controller that needs to access a WAN to obtain OTA upgrade packages, a controller that needs to access a WAN to obtain audio-visual data, etc.

[0060] If the target controller includes a CDC, the CDC can send a first notification message to itself through an internal notification mechanism; if the target controller also includes an ADC, the CDC can send a first notification message to the ADC through SOME / IP (Scalable service-Oriented Middleware over IP), a service discovery and communication protocol commonly used in automotive Ethernet.

[0061] The first notification message is the arbitration result obtained by the CDC based on the type of WiFi hotspot and the availability of the cellular communication module. When the WiFi hotspot is of type 1 and the cellular communication module is available, the first notification message is used to instruct the target controller to use the cellular communication module to access the wide area network.

[0062] In some embodiments, the first notification message is specifically used to instruct the target controller to set the target media access control address of the message to be sent to the wide area network to the media access control address of the cellular communication module.

[0063] In this embodiment of the application, the first notification message is used to instruct the target controller to perform the following operations: When the cellular communication module is configured independently, the target controller sets the target MAC address of the message to be sent to the wide area network to the MAC address of the cellular communication module; when the cellular communication module is integrated into a device, the target controller sets the target MAC address of the message to be sent to the wide area network to the MAC address of the device where the cellular communication module is located.

[0064] Taking the target controller as the ADC and the cellular communication module as the TBOX as an example, the complete packet forwarding process is described in detail, combined with the gateway's actions: In response to the received first notification message, the ADC, according to the instructions in the first notification message, adds an Ethernet frame header and an Ethernet frame trailer to each message to be sent to the wide area network, obtains an Ethernet frame, and sends it to the gateway. The destination MAC address field in the Ethernet frame header is filled with the TBOX's MAC address. The gateway receives the Ethernet frame, parses the destination MAC address in the Ethernet frame header, and, in conjunction with the MAC address forwarding table, forwards the Ethernet frame to the TBOX.

[0065] In some embodiments, the first notification message further instructs the target controller to add a tag of the virtual local area network (VLAN) where the cellular communication module resides to the message to be sent to the wide area network. At this time, the ADC also adds a tag of the VLAN where the cellular communication module resides (i.e., a VLAN tag) to the constructed Ethernet frame. After receiving the Ethernet frame carrying the VLAN tag, the gateway parses the VLAN tag and the destination MAC address. For example, if the VLAN tag is VLAN 100, it forwards the Ethernet frame to the TBOX according to the destination MAC address and the MAC address forwarding table corresponding to VLAN 100. By adding a VLAN tag, the gateway can restrict the forwarding of Ethernet frames to the corresponding VLAN based on the VLAN tag, avoiding global broadcasting and thus reducing unnecessary network bandwidth consumption and processor overhead.

[0066] After receiving an Ethernet frame, the TBOX extracts the message to be sent to the wide area network encapsulated within the Ethernet frame, and then sends the message to the base station through the cellular communication module, thereby enabling the target controller to access the wide area network using the cellular communication module.

[0067] For a specific implementation of the target controller using a WiFi communication module to access a wide area network, please refer to the above-described implementation of the target controller using a cellular communication module to access a wide area network. The difference is that when the target controller constructs an Ethernet frame, it sets the target MAC address to the media access control address of the WiFi communication module and adds a tag to the virtual local area network where the WiFi communication module is located.

[0068] Through the embodiments of this application, the gateway can accurately forward Ethernet frames to the cellular communication module according to the target MAC address of the Ethernet frame, without needing to go through IP routing or address resolution protocol lookup, thereby reducing forwarding latency and improving the efficiency of wide area network access.

[0069] The above describes the corresponding embodiments when the WiFi hotspot type is the first type. In some embodiments, when the WiFi hotspot type is the second type that does not consume mobile data traffic, the CDC sends a second notification message to the target controller. The second notification message is used to instruct the target controller to use the WiFi communication module to access the wide area network.

[0070] In this embodiment, the CDC identifies the type of WiFi hotspot. If the WiFi hotspot is identified as the second type that does not consume mobile data traffic, then using the WiFi hotspot can effectively reduce mobile data traffic consumption compared to using cellular communication and can make full use of the high bandwidth and low latency characteristics of the fixed access network. Therefore, the CDC sends a second notification message to the target controller, so that after receiving the second notification message, the target controller follows the instructions of the second notification message and uses the WiFi communication module to access the wide area network.

[0071] The above describes the corresponding embodiments when the cellular communication module is available. In some embodiments, if the cellular communication module is unavailable, the CDC sends a second notification message to the target controller, which instructs the target controller to use the WiFi communication module to access the wide area network.

[0072] In this embodiment, when the CDC identifies the WiFi hotspot as a second type that does not consume mobile data traffic, and the CDC detects that the cellular communication module is unavailable, the CDC sends a second notification message to the target controller. Upon receiving the second notification message, the target controller follows its instructions and uses the WiFi communication module to access the wide area network. This ensures that even when the cellular communication module is unavailable, the target controller can still maintain network connectivity with the wide area network through the data-consuming WiFi hotspot, thus guaranteeing communication continuity.

[0073] It should be noted that the processing of data protected by the laws and regulations of relevant countries and regions involved in the embodiments of this application (e.g., collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision and disclosure) complies with the relevant laws and regulations of the relevant countries and regions.

[0074] The communication method of the embodiments of this application has been described above. The apparatus for executing the above method provided in the embodiments of this application is described below. Those skilled in the art will understand that the methods and apparatus can be combined with and referenced by each other. The related apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application can execute the steps in the above communication method. The related apparatus can be referred to in the following description: Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a functional module of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 As shown, the communication device 500 may include: an identification module 510, a detection module 520, and a notification module 530. Wherein: The identification module 510 is used to identify the type of WiFi hotspot connected to by the WiFi communication module; the detection module 520 is used to detect whether the cellular communication module is available when the type of WiFi hotspot is the first type that consumes mobile data traffic; the notification module 530 is used to send a first notification message to the target controller if the cellular communication module is available, the first notification message being used to instruct the target controller to use the cellular communication module to access the wide area network.

[0075] In some embodiments, the notification module 530 is further configured to send a second notification message to the target controller when the WiFi hotspot is of the second type that does not consume mobile data traffic. The second notification message is used to instruct the target controller to access the wide area network using the WiFi communication module.

[0076] In some embodiments, the notification module 530 is further configured to send a second notification message to the target controller if the cellular communication module is unavailable. The second notification message is configured to instruct the target controller to access the wide area network using the WiFi communication module.

[0077] In some embodiments, the detection module 520 is further configured to: control the vehicle's display screen to output a prompt message, the prompt message being used to remind users that using a WiFi hotspot will consume mobile data traffic; receive feedback instructions from the user in response to the prompt message; and if the feedback instructions indicate that the WiFi hotspot should not be used, detect whether the cellular communication module is available.

[0078] In some embodiments, the identification module 510 is configured to: identify the type of WiFi hotspot connected to the WiFi communication module, including: obtaining the access network type identifier of the WiFi hotspot; determining the access network type of the WiFi hotspot based on the access network type identifier; when the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a mobile access network, determining the type of the WiFi hotspot as a first type; when the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a fixed access network, determining the type of the WiFi hotspot as a second type that does not consume mobile data traffic.

[0079] In some embodiments, the identification module 510 is configured to: obtain the identity identifier of the device providing the WiFi hotspot; if the identity identifier indicates that the device is a first type device, determine that the type of the WiFi hotspot is a first type, and the first type device is a device that accesses the wide area network through a mobile access network; if the identity identifier indicates that the device is a second type device, determine that the type of the WiFi hotspot is a second type that does not consume mobile data traffic, and the second type device is a device that accesses the wide area network through a fixed access network.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first notification message is specifically used to instruct the target controller to set the target media access control address of the Ethernet frame to be sent to the media access control address of the cellular communication module.

[0081] This application also provides a communication device, referring to... Figure 6 The communication device 600 may include a memory 610 and a processor 620. The memory 610 and the processor 620 are connected via an internal connection path. The memory 610 stores instructions, and the processor 620 executes the instructions stored in the memory 610, enabling the communication device 600 to implement the aforementioned communication method. Optionally, the memory 610 may be coupled to the processor 620 via an interface, or it may be integrated with the processor 620.

[0082] The processor 620 stores one or more computer programs, which include instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor 620, the communication device 600 performs the methods described in the above embodiments.

[0083] In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by the integrated logic circuitry of the hardware in the processor 620 or by instructions in software form. The method disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly implemented by the hardware processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software modules can reside in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory 610, and the processor 620 reads the information in memory 610 and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are not provided here.

[0084] As one possible implementation, the communication device 600 can be a physical device, such as including one or more of the following modules: central processing unit, microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit, field-programmable gate array, complex programmable logic device (CPLD), coprocessor (assisting the central processing unit in completing corresponding processing and applications), microcontroller unit (MCU), domain controller (DC), vehicle domain controller unit (VDC), electronic control unit (ECU), cockpit domain controller (CDC), vehicle integrated unit (VIU), vehicle control unit (VCU), motor control unit (MCU), etc. Furthermore, the communication device 600 includes at least one processor integrated in the form of a system-on-chip (SoC), commonly referred to by those skilled in the art as an SoC. The SoC may include at least one processor, and when the SoC includes multiple processors, the types of the multiple processors may be different.

[0085] Optionally, Figure 6 The memory 610 in the memory can store at least one of the following data: the mapping relationship between the access network type identifier of the WiFi hotspot and the hotspot type, the mapping relationship between the device identity identifier (such as the MAC address prefix OUI) and the device type (first type device or second type device), the preset signal strength threshold value (such as the RSRP threshold), user labeling information (such as the user's manual classification result of a specific WiFi hotspot), etc. Figure 6 The processor 620 can execute instructions stored in the memory 610 to implement the steps in the communication method in the foregoing embodiments.

[0086] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing program code that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the methods described in the above embodiments.

[0087] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when run, causes the computer to perform any of the methods described in the above embodiments.

[0088] This application also provides a chip, including: a circuit for performing any of the methods in the above embodiments.

[0089] This application also provides a device, including... Figure 5 The communication device 500 shown or Figure 6 The communication device 600 shown can perform any of the methods in the above embodiments.

[0090] This application also provides a vehicle, including a WiFi communication module, a cellular communication module, and... Figure 5 The communication device 500 shown or Figure 6 The communication device 600 shown. (Refer to...) Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another communication architecture for a vehicle provided in an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the vehicle is equipped with a WiFi communication module, which is integrated inside the CDC; the vehicle is also equipped with a cellular communication module, which is integrated into the TBOX; the vehicle is also equipped with a communication device 500, which is integrated inside the CDC; the vehicle is also equipped with multiple controllers, such as the CDC, ADC, and BDC; the vehicle is also equipped with a gateway, which is a Layer 2 switching device (i.e., an onboard Ethernet switch) in the vehicle, used to forward messages sent by the ADC and BDC to the CDC or TBOX.

[0091] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0092] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0093] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0094] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of the embodiments of this application, depending on actual needs.

[0095] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0096] If a functional unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0097] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

[0098] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate; this is merely a way of distinguishing objects with the same attributes in the description of embodiments of this application. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not explicitly listed or inherent to those processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0099] It is understood that, in the embodiments of this application, the order of the above-mentioned process numbers does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, Applied to a communication device, the method includes: Identify the type of WiFi hotspot the WiFi communication module is connected to; When the WiFi hotspot is of the first type that consumes mobile data traffic, check whether the cellular communication module is available; If the cellular communication module is available, a first notification message is sent to the target controller, the first notification message being used to instruct the target controller to use the cellular communication module to access the wide area network.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the WiFi hotspot is of the second type that does not consume mobile data traffic, a second notification message is sent to the target controller. The second notification message is used to instruct the target controller to use the WiFi communication module to access the wide area network.

3. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the cellular communication module is unavailable, a second notification message is sent to the target controller, which instructs the target controller to use the WiFi communication module to access the wide area network.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before detecting whether the cellular communication module is available, the method further includes: The vehicle's display screen outputs a prompt message, which reminds users that using the WiFi hotspot will consume mobile data. Receive feedback instructions from the user in response to the prompt information; The detection of whether the cellular communication module is available includes: If the feedback instruction indicates that the WiFi hotspot is not to be used, check whether the cellular communication module is available.

5. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The identification of the type of WiFi hotspot connected to the WiFi communication module includes: Obtain the access network type identifier of the WiFi hotspot; The access network type of the WiFi hotspot is determined based on the access network type identifier; When the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a mobile access network, the type of the WiFi hotspot is determined to be the first type; When the access network type of the WiFi hotspot is a fixed access network, the type of the WiFi hotspot is determined to be the second type that does not consume mobile data traffic.

6. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The identification of the type of WiFi hotspot connected to the WiFi communication module includes: Obtain the identity identifier of the device providing the WiFi hotspot; If the identity identifier indicates that the device is a first type device, the type of the WiFi hotspot is determined to be the first type, and the first type device is a device that accesses the wide area network through a mobile access network. If the identity identifier indicates that the device is a second type device, the type of the WiFi hotspot is determined to be a second type that does not consume mobile data traffic, and the second type device is a device that accesses the wide area network through a fixed access network.

7. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first notification message is specifically used to instruct the target controller to set the target media access control address of the Ethernet frame to be sent to the media access control address of the cellular communication module.

8. A communication device, characterized in that, include: The identification module is used to identify the type of WiFi hotspot that the WiFi communication module is connected to. The detection module is used to detect whether the cellular communication module is available when the WiFi hotspot is of the first type that consumes mobile data traffic; The notification module is used to send a first notification message to the target controller if the cellular communication module is available. The first notification message is used to instruct the target controller to use the cellular communication module to access the wide area network.

9. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes a WiFi communication module, a cellular communication module, and the communication device as described in claim 8.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, When the computer-executable instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium are executed by the device, the device is capable of performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-7.

11. A computer program product, said computer program product comprising computer instructions, characterized in that, When the computer instructions are executed on the device, the device is able to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-7.

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