VEHICLE DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND COMMUNICATION BANDWIDTH SETTING PROGRAM

Abstract

Vehicle data communication system (1), comprising: - a server-side electronic control unit (6) acting as a server; and - a client-side electronic control unit (7) acting as a client, wherein - the server-side electronic control unit and the client-side electronic control unit are configured to mutually exchange data via a communication path (9) using a communication protocol for service-oriented communication, - the server-side electronic control unit includes a server-side communication bandwidth setting unit (6i) configured to operate in conjunction with a server-side service discovery (6g) defined in AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), - the client-side electronic control unit includes a client-side communication bandwidth setting unit (7i) configured to operate in conjunction with a client-side service discovery (7g) defined in AUTOSAR, and - the server-side communication bandwidth setting unit and the client-side communication bandwidth setting unit are configured to cooperate with each other to dynamically set a predetermined communication bandwidth required for data communication on the communication path.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle data communication system, an electronic control unit, and a communication bandwidth setting program.

[0002] In recent years, for example, the use of an Ethernet ® A communication protocol for data communication in vehicles such as automobiles has been discussed, and a SOMEIIP (Scalable Service-Oriented Middleware over IP) communication protocol has attracted attention as a communication protocol for an upper layer of Ethernet. SOME / IP is a specification for in-vehicle middleware that applies a service-oriented architecture to data communications in a vehicle and is a communication protocol for service-oriented communications (see, for example, JP 2022-186222 A).

[0003] In SOME / IP-SD (SD: Service Discovery), a communication protocol at or above the session layer, even if service communication is established, the communication bandwidth required for stable data communication between the server and client is not necessarily guaranteed. At the network layer and below, the communication bandwidth is typically determined statically based on a system design that considers a communication path between the server and client. For these reasons, when communicating using the SOME / IP communication protocol, it is necessary to adequately secure the communication bandwidth required for stable data communication.

[0004] EP 3 726 330 A1 and WO 2020 / 230 620 A1 also disclose vehicle communication systems that exchange data between client / server control units via a communication channel and work in conjunction with a service discovery defined in AUTOSAR.

[0005] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle data communication system, an electronic control unit, and a communication bandwidth setting program capable of adequately securing a communication bandwidth required for stable data communication when data communication is performed using a communication protocol for service-oriented communication.

[0006] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, the communication bandwidth setting unit is provided for both the server and the client and operates using the service discovery defined in AUTOSAR. The communication bandwidth or communication band is set through the cooperation of the communication bandwidth setting unit for the server and the communication bandwidth setting unit for the client. Instead of statically setting the communication bandwidth, the communication bandwidth required for a predetermined communication bandwidth is dynamically set. When data communication is performed using the communication protocol for service-oriented communication, it is possible to adequately ensure the communication bandwidth required for stable data communication.

[0008] The objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals. Fig. 1 shows a functional block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 shows a figure illustrating a software configuration. Fig. Figure 3 shows a diagram illustrating a flow of processes. Fig. Figure 4 shows a figure illustrating one aspect of the creation of a first message. Fig. Figure 5 shows a figure illustrating one aspect of the creation of a second message. Fig. Figure 6 shows a figure illustrating one aspect of securing communication bandwidth. Fig. Figure 7 shows a figure illustrating one aspect of setting a VLAN ID. Fig. Figure 8 shows a figure illustrating one aspect of setting the VLAN ID. Fig. Figure 9 shows a figure illustrating a process flow of a comparison target.

[0009] An embodiment is described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle data communication system 1 is a system in which various ECUs, such as an integrated ECU 2, a plurality of zone ECUs 3, and a plurality of local ECUs 4, transmit and receive frames via an in-vehicle network. The integrated ECU 2 is mounted at a predetermined location of a vehicle. The zone ECUs 3 are arranged in respective areas of the vehicle, e.g., front, rear, left, and right, and are connected to the integrated ECU 2 via individual data communication lines. Each of the local ECUs 4 is located at a predetermined location of the vehicle and is connected to the nearest zone ECU 3 via the individual data communication line. The integrated ECU 2 and the plurality of zone ECUs 3 are connected in, for example, a star-shaped network configuration and transmit and receive frames using an Ethernet communication protocol.A plurality of local ECUs 4 are arranged for one zone ECU 3, and the zone ECU 3 and the plurality of local ECUs 4 are connected in a star-shaped network configuration, for example, and frames are sent and received according to the Ethernet communication protocol.

[0010] The integrated ECU 2 is connected via a data communication line to a DCM (Data Communication Module) 5, which functions as a data communication device. The DCM 5 sends and receives frames to and from a server (not shown) outside the vehicle by wirelessly connecting to the server via a communication network.

[0011] The integrated ECU 2 includes a controller 2a, a memory 2b, and a data communication unit 2c. The controller 2a mainly includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The controller 2a performs various processes by reading and executing a control program stored in the memory 2b. The controller 2a performs various processes, such as a process for sending and receiving frames to and from the zone ECU 3, a process for extracting and storing information from the frames, and a process for storing the stored information in the frames. The memory 2b mainly includes, for example, a non-volatile memory element such as a flash memory or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).The data communication unit 2c controls data communication according to the Ethernet communication protocol and sends and receives frames to and from the zone ECU 3 according to the Ethernet communication protocol.

[0012] The zone ECU 3 has substantially the same configuration as the integrated ECU 2 and includes a controller 3a, a memory 3b, and a data communication unit 3c. The controller 3a mainly includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU or an MPU. The controller 3a performs various processes by reading and executing a control program stored in the memory 3b. The controller 3a performs various processes, such as, for example, a process for transmitting and receiving frames between the integrated ECU 2 and the local ECUs 4, a process for extracting and storing information from the frames, and a process for storing the stored information in the frames. The memory 3b mainly includes, for example, a non-volatile memory element such as a flash memory or an EEPROM.The data communication unit 3c controls data communication according to the Ethernet communication protocol and sends and receives frames between the integrated ECU 2 and the local ECU 4 according to the Ethernet communication protocol.

[0013] The local ECU 4 has basically the same configuration as the integrated ECU 2 and the zone ECU 3 and includes a controller 4a, a memory 4b, and a data communication unit 4c. The controller 4a mainly includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU or an MPU. The controller 4a performs various processes by reading and executing a control program stored in the memory 4b. The controller 4a performs various processes, such as a process for transmitting and receiving frames to and from the zone ECU 3, a process for extracting and storing information from the frames, and a process for storing the stored information in the frames. The memory 4b mainly includes, for example, a non-volatile memory element such as a flash memory or an EEPROM.The data communication unit 4c controls data communication according to the Ethernet communication protocol and sends and receives frames to and from the zone ECU 3 according to the Ethernet communication protocol.

[0014] Data communication occurs between the onboard ECU 2 and the zone ECU 3, and between the zone ECU 3 and the local ECU 4 using the SOME / IP communication protocol defined by AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture). For example, an image sensor is connected to the local ECU 4, and image data captured by the image sensor is collected by the local ECU 4 and forwarded to the onboard ECU 2. Based on the analysis result of the image data, an app executes a predetermined process. In the app, the local ECU 4, from which the image data is sent, becomes a sending node, the zone ECU 3 becomes a forwarding node, and the onboard ECU 2, to which the image data is sent, becomes a receiving node. In other words, the local ECU 4, which provides the image data, functions as a server-side ECU (corresponding to a server-side electronic control unit) that provides a service.The integrated ECU 2, which uses the image data, acts as a client-side ECU (corresponding to a client-side electronic control unit) that uses the service.

[0015] SOME / IP supports data communication based on the TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) communication protocol. SOME / IP implements software functions in independent service units and creates a system by combining the service units. The client-side ECU sends a search service, and the server-side ECU sends an offered service, and they attempt to establish mutual communication.

[0016] As in Fig. 2, an ECU 8 that forwards frames is arranged between a server-side ECU 6 and a client-side ECU 7. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which one ECU 8 is provided that forwards frames is shown, but there may be two or more ECUs 8 that forward frames, or there may be no ECU 8 that forwards frames.

[0017] The server-side ECU 6 has software layers from lower to upper layers, including an Ethernet driver (Eth) 6a and a switch driver 6b as a physical layer, an Ethernet interface (EthIF) 6c as a data link layer, TCP / UDP 6d as a network layer, a socket adapter 6e as a transport layer, SOME / IP TP 6f and service discovery 6g as a session layer, and a server application 6h as an application layer.

[0018] The client-side ECU 7, which acts as a client, has a software hierarchy from the lower layer to the upper layer, including an Ethernet driver 7a and a switch driver 7b as a physical layer, an Ethernet interface 7c as a data link layer, TCP / UDP 7d as a network layer, a socket adapter 7e as a transport layer, SOME / IP TP 7f and service discovery 7g as a session layer, and a client application 7h as an application layer.

[0019] A characteristic feature of the present embodiment is that a communication bandwidth adjustment module 6i (corresponding to a server-side communication bandwidth adjustment unit) is arranged in the server-side ECU 6, and a communication bandwidth adjustment module 7i (corresponding to a client-side communication bandwidth adjustment unit) is arranged in the client-side ECU 7. The communication bandwidth adjustment module 6i cooperates with the service discovery 6g to obtain service information and timings for establishing and releasing / disconnecting service communication provided by the service discovery 6g, and cooperates with the communication bandwidth adjustment module 7i to dynamically adjust the communication bandwidth required for data communication.The communication bandwidth adjustment module 7i cooperates with the service discovery 7g to obtain service information and timings used by the service discovery 7g to establish, release, or disconnect service communication, and cooperates with the communication bandwidth adjustment module 6i to dynamically adjust the communication bandwidth required for data communication. The communication bandwidth adjustment module 6i is not limited to being disposed within the server-side ECU 6, but may also be disposed outside the server-side ECU 6. The communication bandwidth adjustment module 7i is not limited to being disposed within the client-side ECU 7, but may also be disposed outside the client-side ECU 7.

[0020] A communication path 9 is an Ethernet and includes switches 9a to 9c, which correspond to the ECUs 6 to 8, respectively. Each of the ECUs 6 to 8 sets a communication bandwidth for each port of the corresponding switch 9a to 9c. That is, the server-side ECU 6 sets the communication bandwidth for each port of the switch 9a. The client-side ECU 7 sets the communication bandwidth for each port of the switch 9b. The ECU 8, which forwards the frames, sets a communication bandwidth for each port of the switch 9c. As a method for setting the communication bandwidth, an MSRP (Message Session Relay Protocol) is adopted, and setting information for setting the communication bandwidth is passed between switches 9a to 9c to ensure the required communication bandwidth.

[0021] The following are operations of the above configuration with reference to the Fig. 3 to 9. The client-side ECU 7 and the server-side ECU 6 cooperate to perform sequential operations (S1 to S4), including: initial setup of the entire system; multicast domain formation to form a domain for sending and receiving frames; gPTP (generalized Precision Time Protocol) domain formation to establish time synchronization; and SRP domain formation.

[0022] In the client-side ECU 7, the service discovery 7g sends a search service with a service ID and an instance ID to the communication path 9 (S5).

[0023] In the server-side ECU 6, the service discovery 6g (corresponding to a server-side service discovery) sends an offered service including a service ID, an instance ID, an IP address, and a port number to the communication path 9 (S6, corresponding to a server-side first sending process). When the service discovery 6g sends the offered service, the communication bandwidth setting module 6i receives available service information and available event group information from the service discovery 6g, as shown in Fig. 4, and creates a first message (talker advertisement) with reference to stream information including a stream ID. The communication bandwidth setting module 6i sends the created first message to the communication path 9 (S7, which corresponds to a server-side second sending process). As shown in Fig. 6, the first message sent by the server-side ECU 6 is received by the client-side ECU 7 via the switch 9a, the switch 9b and the switch 9c.

[0024] When the communication bandwidth setting module 7i in the client-side ECU 7 receives the first message from the server-side ECU 6, as shown in Fig. 5, it receives the available service information and the event group information from the service discovery 7g and creates a second message (Listener (Ready)) with reference to the stream ID. The service discovery 7g sends a subscribe request (Subscribe Event Group) with the service ID, the instance ID, the event group ID, the IP address, and the port number to the communication path 9 (S8, which corresponds to a client-side first sending process). When the service discovery 7g sends a subscribe request, the communication bandwidth setting module 7i sends the created second message to the communication path 9 (S9, which corresponds to a client-side second sending process). As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the second message sent from the client-side ECU 7 is received by the server-side ECU 6 via the switch 9c, the switch 9b, and the switch 9a. The switches 9a, 9b, and 9c transmit the first message and the second message to relay setting information for setting a communication bandwidth and securing the required communication bandwidth for each port according to the stream information.

[0025] In the server-side ECU 6, when the service discovery 6g receives the subscribe request and the second message from the client-side ECU 7, it sends a subscribe request ACK containing the service ID, instance ID, event group ID, IP address to be used for multicast, and port number to the communication path 9 (S10). The server application 6h sets a VLAN ID (corresponding to a VLAN identifier) according to the service information and event group information of the transmission destination to the transmission frame that is the transmission destination, and sends the transmission frame (event / field notification) for which the VLAN ID is set to the communication path 9 (S11).

[0026] The server-side ECU 6 must associate the communication bandwidth secured by the procedure described above with the VLAN ID and therefore set the VLAN ID in the transmission frame. In this case, there are two methods for setting the VLAN ID. The first method is as shown in Fig. 7 shows how to store the VLAN ID associated with a PDU ID as static configuration information and set it at the socket adapter layer. The second method is to Fig. 8 shows how to statically store the VLAN ID by adding it to the socket configuration information when storing a UDP socket individually for each event. By linking the secured communication bandwidth to the VLAN ID in this way, it is possible to transmit frames (also referred to herein as frames) with the secured communication bandwidth. In this way, data delays and the like can be avoided.

[0027] In a configuration where the communication bandwidth adjustment modules 6i and 7i are not present, as in Fig. 9, the first message (Talker-Advertise) and the second message (Listener (Ready)) shown in the present embodiment are not transmitted or received. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the communication bandwidth setting modules 6i and 7i are provided, so that the first message and the second message are transmitted and received. A predetermined communication bandwidth required for data communication is dynamically set on the communication path 9.

[0028] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operation and effects can be achieved. In the vehicle data communication system 1, the communication bandwidth adjustment modules 6i, 7i, which operate in conjunction with the service discoveries 6g, 7g defined in AUTOSAR, are provided on the server side and the client side, respectively. The communication bandwidth adjustment modules 6i, 7i cooperate to dynamically adjust the predetermined communication bandwidth required for data communication on the communication path 9. When data communication is performed using the service-oriented communication communication protocol, it is possible to adequately secure the communication bandwidth required for stable data communication.

[0029] MSRP is used as the communication bandwidth setting method, and setting information for setting the communication bandwidth is passed between switches 9a to 9c to ensure the required communication bandwidth. It is possible to secure the required communication bandwidth using the existing MSRP.

[0030] The VLAN ID corresponding to the service information and event group information of the transmission destination is set in the transmission frame and then transmitted. By associating the secured communication bandwidth with a VLAN ID, frames can be transmitted using the secured communication bandwidth. This way, data delays and the like can be avoided.

[0031] Although the present disclosure is described above in connection with the above embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment or structure described herein. The present disclosure includes various modification examples and their equivalents. Various combinations and configurations, as well as other combinations and configurations including more, fewer, or only a single element, are included within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0032] The controller and associated method described in the present disclosure may be implemented by a dedicated computer configured by a processor and memory programmed to perform one or more functions implemented by a computer program. Alternatively, the controller and associated method described in the present disclosure may also be implemented by a dedicated computer configured by a processor with one or more dedicated hardware logic circuits.Alternatively, the controller and associated method described in the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more dedicated computers configured by a combination of (i) a processor and memory programmed to perform one or more functions, and (ii) a processor with one or more hardware logic circuits. The computer program may be stored on a computer-readable, non-transitory, tangible storage medium as an instruction to be executed by the computer.

Claims

[1] Vehicle data communication system (1), comprising: - a server-side electronic control unit (6) acting as a server; and - a client-side electronic control unit (7) acting as a client, wherein - the server-side electronic control unit and the client-side electronic control unit are configured to mutually exchange data via a communication path (9) using a communication protocol for service-oriented communication, - the server-side electronic control unit includes a server-side communication bandwidth setting unit (6i) configured to operate in conjunction with a server-side service discovery (6g) defined in AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), - the client-side electronic control unit includes a client-side communication bandwidth setting unit (7i) configured to operate in conjunction with a client-side service discovery (7g) defined in AUTOSAR, and - the server-side communication bandwidth setting unit and the client-side communication bandwidth setting unit are configured to cooperate with each other to dynamically set a predetermined communication bandwidth required for data communication on the communication path. [2] The vehicle data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the server-side communication bandwidth setting unit and the client-side communication bandwidth setting unit are configured to dynamically set the predetermined communication bandwidth required for data communication on the communication path using a message session relay protocol. [3] Vehicle data communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - the server-side electronic control unit statically holds stream information including a stream identification (ID), and - the server-side communication bandwidth setting unit is configured to acquire available service information and available event group information from the server-side service discovery in response to sending an offered service to the client-side electronic control unit, and to create and send a first message with reference to the stream information. [4] Vehicle data communication system according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein - the client-side electronic control unit is configured to keep a stream ID static, and - the client-side communication bandwidth setting unit is configured to acquire available service information and available event group information from the server-side service discovery in response to sending a subscribe request to the server-side electronic control unit and to create and send a second message with reference to the stream ID. [5] The vehicle data communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the server-side communication bandwidth setting unit is configured to: - to set a VLAN identifier according to the service information and the event group information of a transmission destination in a transmission frame, and - to transmit the transmission frame. [6] Electronic control unit (6) configured to act as a server of a vehicle data communication system (1) and to exchange data with a client-side electronic control unit (7) acting as a client via a communication path (9) using a communication protocol for service-oriented communication, the electronic control unit comprising: - a server-side communication bandwidth setting unit (6i) configured to operate in conjunction with a service discovery (6g) defined in AUTOSAR and to cooperate with a client-side communication bandwidth setting unit (7i) of the client-side electronic control unit to dynamically set a predetermined communication bandwidth required for data communication on the communication path. [7] Electronic control unit (7) configured to act as a client of a vehicle data communication system (1) and to exchange data with a server-side electronic control unit (6) acting as a server via a communication path (9) using a communication protocol for service-oriented communication, the electronic control unit comprising: - a client-side communication bandwidth setting unit (7i) configured to operate in conjunction with a service discovery (7g) defined in AUTOSAR and to cooperate with a server-side communication bandwidth setting unit (6i) of the server-side electronic control unit to dynamically set a predetermined communication bandwidth required for data communication on the communication path. [8] A communication bandwidth setting program that causes an electronic control unit (6) configured to act as a server of a vehicle data communication system (1) and to exchange data with a client-side electronic control unit (7) acting as a client via a communication path (9) using a communication protocol for service-oriented communication to perform the following steps: - Sending an offered service from a service discovery defined in AUTOSAR (6g); and - Cooperating with the client-side electronic control unit to send, from a communication bandwidth setting unit (6i) configured to operate with service discovery, a first message for dynamically setting a predetermined communication bandwidth required for data communication on the communication path. [9] A communication bandwidth setting program that causes an electronic control unit (7) configured to act as a client of a vehicle data communication system (1) and to exchange data with a server-side electronic control unit (6) acting as a server via a communication path (9) using a communication protocol for service-oriented communication to perform the following steps: - Sending a subscribe request from a service discovery defined in AUTOSAR (7g); and - Cooperating with the server-side electronic control unit to send, from a communication bandwidth setting unit (7i) configured to operate in conjunction with the service discovery, a second message for dynamically setting a predetermined communication bandwidth required for data communication on the communication path.

Images