Method for transferring a file to a controller using the CANXL standard

Abstract

A method for transferring a file to a first controller using the CAN XL standard, said controller being connected to a network comprising a second controller using the CAN FD standard, the first controller being adapted to use the CAN FD standard when communicating with the second controller, comprises the steps performed by the first controller of: receiving (21) a command to switch to CAN XL mode; switching (23) to CAN XL mode; receiving (27) the file, the file being transmitted as a CAN XL frame payload; receiving (29) a command to switch to CAN FD mode. A file transfer system and a motor vehicle comprising the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for transferring a file to a controller using the CAN XL standard Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for transferring a file to a controller using the CAN XL standard, a computer program product, a system for transferring a file to a controller using the CAN XL standard and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. State of the art

[0002] Currently, a motor vehicle includes a multitude of functions managed by a multitude of controllers. To allow these controllers to communicate, a data bus has been developed under the name CAN network (for "Controller Area Network"). It has been standardized under the reference ISO 11898 (the latest version is ISO 11898: 2-2016).

[0003] The premises of this data bus date back to the mid-1980s.

[0004] A first evolution, called CAN FD (for "Flexible Data-Rate") is characterized by an increased bandwidth and an increase in the size (up to 64 bytes) of the payload of the frames. This evolution is included in the 2016 version of the ISO standard.

[0005] A second evolution, called CAN XL, is currently being standardized by ISO. It is described in the documents published by the "CAN in Automation (CIA)" group https: / / www.can-cia.org / under the references CiA 610, CiA 611, CiA 612 and CiA 613. It supports data fields of 1 to 2048 bytes and a data rate of up to 10 Mbit / s.

[0006] Backward compatibility is planned between these developments. Thus, a controller implementing the CAN XL standard can switch to CAN FD mode to communicate with a controller limited to the CAN FD standard.

[0007] However, in this situation, the CAN XL controller is limited to the capability of the CAN FD standard.

[0008] In current or developing automobile generations, the networks are, for reasons of backward compatibility and progressive adaptation of equipment, mixed networks combining CAN XL controllers and CAN FD controllers.

[0009] However, especially during factory initialization of embedded systems, it is necessary to transfer important files into the internal systems of the vehicle. The flow limitation imposed by the CAN FD standard then has the disadvantage of generating significant loading times.

[0010] There is therefore a real need for a method and a system for transferring a file to a first controller using the CAN XL standard in a mixed CAN XL / CAN FD network which resolves all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0011] To resolve one or more of the drawbacks cited above, according to a first embodiment, a method for transferring a file to a first controller using the CAN XL standard, said controller being connected to a network comprising a second controller using the CAN FD standard, the first controller being adapted to use the CAN FD standard when it communicates with the second controller, comprises the steps carried out by the first controller of: • receiving a command to switch to CAN XL mode; • switching to CAN XL mode; • reception of the file, the file being transmitted in the form of a payload of frames in CAN XL format; • receipt of a command to switch to CAN FD mode.

[0012] Thus, the transfer can be carried out using the CAN XL mode flow rate.

[0013] Particular characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination are: • the command to switch to CAN XL mode is transmitted in a diagnostic request message; • after switching to CAN XL mode, the first controller sends a mode change confirmation message; • after receiving the command to switch to CAN FD mode, the first controller switches to CAN FD mode and sends a mode change confirmation message; • when the network includes a plurality of CAN XL standard controllers, all of these controllers receive the command to switch to CAN XL mode; • the file is only received after sending the mode change confirmation message by all CAN XL standard controllers; and / or • each CAN XL standard controller receives either a file common to several controllers, or a file specific to the controller, or no file.

[0014] In a second embodiment, a computer program product comprises program code instructions for implementing the above method.

[0015] In a third embodiment, a file transfer system comprises a data network and a first controller using the CAN XL standard, said controller being connected by the network to a second controller using the CAN FD standard, the first controller being adapted to use the CAN FD standard when it communicates with the second controller and to: • receive a command to switch to CAN XL mode; • switch to CAN XL mode; • receive the file, the file being transmitted as a payload of frames in CAN XL format; • receive a command to switch to CAN FD mode.

[0016] In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle comprises a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0017] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which: • [Fig.l] represents a top view of a vehicle comprising a network of CAN XL and CAN FD controllers connected to a charging terminal according to one embodiment; and • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of a method of transferring a file in the network of [Fig.l] according to one embodiment. Methods of implementation

[0018] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that these are also usable with other types of vehicle such as vans, vans, etc.

[0019] The terms “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom”, “transverse” are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0020] With reference to [Fig.l], a motor vehicle 1 comprises a data network 3 connecting a set of controllers. The connected controllers comprise controllers 5-1, 5-2 to the CAN XL standard and controllers 7-1, 7-2 to the CAN FD standard.

[0021] The network is also connected to a download terminal 9, external to the motor vehicle 1. For example, the terminal 9 is a terminal installed on the production lines to load the programs of the different controllers of the network 3. The connection is temporary since, at the end of the operation, the terminal 9 is disconnected from the network 3. This temporary connection can use a diagnostic link connector 11.

[0022] The controllers 5-1, 5-2, 7-1, 7-2 may, for example, be integrated into the vehicle control system 1, such as an advanced driver assistance system, commonly called AD AS (for "Advanced driver-assistance Systems" according to English terminology) which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then referred to as an autonomous motor vehicle. But they may also be part of a centralized vehicle management system including, or not, driving aids.

[0023] The operation of the network 3 during a file loading is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0024] The CAN XL controllers 5-1, 5-2 receive, step 21, from the terminal 9, a command to switch to CAN XL mode. This command can be sent in the form of a diagnostic request.

[0025] Controllers 5-1, 5-2 switch, step 23, to CAN XL mode.

[0026] They then send, step 25, a mode change confirmation message. This message can take the form of a diagnostic response message.

[0027] When the terminal 9 has received confirmation from all the controllers 5-1, 5-2, it begins, step 27, the transfer of the file using the payload of the CAN XL frames. Depending on the needs, each controller 5-1, 5-2 can receive a common file, different files specific to each controller or no file.

[0028] When the transfer of the file(s) is complete, the terminal 9 sends, step 29, a command to end the transfer and return to the normal communication mode, i.e. the CAN FD mode so that the controllers 5-1, 5-2 can communicate with the controllers 7-1, 7-2. This command can be sent in the form of a diagnostic request.

[0029] Controllers 5-1, 5-2 switch, step 31, to CAN FD mode.

[0030] They then send, step 33, a mode change confirmation message. This message can also take the form of a diagnostic response message.

[0031] Terminal 9 closes, step 35, the transfer phase.

[0032] [Fig.l] illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The cutting presented is for educational purposes to highlight the various functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or their combinations, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers and / or electronic circuits. Each of the components may include at least one computer or a control-command unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may include computer program instructions or software code.

[0033] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central computing unit, a signal processing processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, etc. The computers can be implemented as a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0034] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0035] For software, also called a computer program product, the implementation may include modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile memories, hard disks, random access memories, flash memories, etc.

[0036] Furthermore, the program instructions stored in the memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0037] The computer program product may be in a downloadable form from a communications network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium such as a key or storage disk.

[0038] The computer program instructions stored in the memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter performs one or more of the steps of the methods described above.

[0039] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This should be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible.

[0040] In a variant, instead of having a transfer phase that concerns all CAN XL controllers, it is possible to define transfer phases associated with only one or a few CAN XL controllers. This variant is advantageous when, for example, it is a question of updating the software of only a few controllers.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for transferring a file to a first controller compatible with ISO 11898:2-2016 and having a mode called CAN XL supporting data fields up to 2048 bits and a rate up to 100 bits / s, said controller being connected to a network comprising a second controller using the CAN FD mode of ISO 11898:2-2016, the first controller being adapted to use the CAN FD mode when communicating with the second controller, comprising the steps performed by the first controller of: • receiving (21) a command to switch to CAN XL mode; • switching (23) to CAN XL mode; • receiving (27) the file, the file being transmitted in the form of a payload of frames to CAN XL mode; • receiving (29) a command to switch to CAN FD mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the command to switch to CAN XL mode is transmitted in a diagnostic request message.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, in which, after switching to CAN XL mode, the first controller sends (25) a mode change confirmation message.

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, after receiving the command to switch to CAN FD mode, the first controller switches (31) to CAN FD mode and sends (33) a mode change confirmation message.

5. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein, when the network comprises a plurality of controllers comprising CAN XL mode, all of these controllers receive the command to switch to CAN XL mode.

6. A method according to claim 5 as dependent on claim 3, wherein the file is received only after sending the mode change confirmation message by all the controllers comprising the CAN XL mode.

7. A method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each controller comprising the CAN XL mode receives either a file common to multiple controllers, either a controller-specific file or no file.

8. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7 when said program is executed on a computer.

9. System for transferring a file comprising a data network (3) and a first controller (5-1, 5-2) compatible with ISO 11898:2-2016 and having a mode called CAN XL supporting data fields up to 2048 bits and a flow rate up to 10 Mbits / s, said controller being connected by the network to a second controller (7-1, 7-2) using the CAN FD mode of ISO 11898:2-2016, the first controller being adapted to use the CAN FD mode when communicating with the second controller and to: • receive a command to switch to CAN XL mode; • switch to CAN XL mode; • receive the file, the file being transmitted in the form of a payload of frames in CAN XL mode; • receive a command to switch to CAN FD mode.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 9.

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