Method, device and system for communicating trace files in a switched communication network of a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, a device and a system for communicating files in a switched communication network of a vehicle, the switched communication network comprising a plurality of computers (311, 312, 313) and a plurality of switches (301, 302). For this purpose, a first switch (301) receives a first data frame (F1) from a first computer (311) connected to the first switch (301). The first switch (301) records a first item of information representative of a time of reception of the first data frame (F1) by the first switch (301) in a first file (T1). The first switch (301) transmits the first file (T1) to an external device (11) in the switched communication network via a determined port, called the instrument port (3011) of the first switch (301). Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method, device and system for communicating trace files in a switched communication network of a vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for file communication in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method, a device and a system for file communication in a switched communication network of a vehicle, in particular in an Ethernet network. Technological background

[0002] Contemporary vehicles have a number of computers on board, each performing one or more functions, such as, for example, the management of driving assistance, anti-skid, electronic brake distribution, the control of actuators to ensure optimal operation of an engine, the piloting and control of the infotainment system, also called IVI system (from the English "In-Vehicle Info-tainment" or in French "Infodivertissement embargo") and / or other systems embedded in the vehicle such as, for example, the air conditioning system and the vehicle's navigation system.

[0003] These calculators are also called ECU ("Electronic Control Unit" or ECU in English). These calculators embed software which is executed to ensure the functions for which they are responsible. These calculators communicate and exchange data between themselves via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate) type, FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0004] An example of a network architecture implemented in a vehicle and based on CAN type buses is illustrated in [Fig.l]. [Fig.l] illustrates a CAN type communication network embedded in a vehicle according to the prior art, such a network comprising a central computer 10 (also called master computer) connected to all the CAN buses of the vehicle network. A first set of computers 111, 112 and 113 is for example connected to a first CAN bus 110 connected to the central computer 10 and a second set of computers 121, 122 and 123 is for example connected to a second CAN bus 120 connected to the central computer 10. Such a network architecture allows the central computer 10 to receive all the data frames transmitted by each of the computers 111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123 on the CAN network of the vehicle. When a data processing device of the computer or instrument tool type 11 connects to the network via a dedicated port, called instrument port 102, of the central computer 10, for example to collect the data transmitted by the computers on the network during testing or trial phases of the vehicle, the central computer 10 is able to transmit to this instrument tool 11 all the frames transmitted on the network following activation of a dedicated functional module 101 of the central computer 10 by the instrument tool 11 thus connected to the central computer 10 via the instrument port 102.Since all the computers 111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123 of the CAN network are connected to the central computer 10, the central computer 10 is furthermore able to transmit the data frames received from each of these computers 111, 112, 113, 121, 122, 123 to the instrument tool 11 in the time order of reception of these data frames. The instrument tool 11 is thus able to recover the chronology of transmission of the data frames on the network which is consistent with the chronology of reception of these data frames by the central computer 10, such a chronology being able to prove important for tracing the activity of the computers during a test or trial phase of the vehicle.

[0005] With the implementation of Ethernet-type networks in vehicles, certain architectures based on a so-called switched Ethernet network have appeared and are now equipping more and more vehicles. In a switched Ethernet-type network, the vehicle network comprises several switches connected to each other by Ethernet-type data buses, to each switch being connected one or more computers, the switches being synchronized in time to share a common time reference. An example of the architecture of a switched Ethernet network with 2 switches is illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The network of [Fig. 2] thus comprises a first switch 201 implemented by the central computer 21 to which a second switch 202 is connected. A computer 211 is connected directly to the first switch 201 and two computers 212, 213 are connected to the second switch 202.In such a switched network, the central computer no longer directly receives all of the data frames transmitted by all of the computers in the network. Only the data frames transmitted by the computer 211 directly connected to the first switch 201 are received directly by the central computer 21, the data frames transmitted by the other computers being received via the switch to which they are directly connected. Thus, the data frames transmitted by the computers 212 and 213 are transmitted to the central computer 21 via the second switch 202.

[0006] One problem associated with this type of switched network architecture is that the timeline reception of data frames by the first switch 201 implemented by the central computer 21 do not always reflect the chronology of transmission of data frames on the network by the computers. For example, a data frame transmitted by the computer 212 is received at a time 't2' followed in time by a data frame transmitted by the computer 213 and received at a time 't3' by the second switch 202 are received at time instants t'2 and t'3, respectively, by the first switch 201 of the second switch 202, a time shift appearing between t2 and t'2 and between t3 and t'3, due for example to the processing and transmission time of the data by the second switch 202. A data frame transmitted by the computer 211 and received directly by the first switch 201 at a time t1 after the times t2 and t3 may be received by the first switch 201 before the reception times t'2 and t'3.The first switch 201 retransmitting the data frames to the instrument tool 11 via the instrument port 2010 in the time order of reception by the first switch 201, the instrument tool 11 will then receive the data frame transmitted by the computer 211 with a time indication equal to t1 and the data frames transmitted by the computers 212 and 213 with the time indications equal to t'2 and t'3 respectively. When the instrument tool 11 determines the timing of transmission of the data frames on the vehicle network, an error occurs in the example described since the time instants t2 and t3 are prior to the time tl while the information received by the instrument tool 11, i.e. tl, t'2 and t'3, indicates that the data frame from the computer 11 received at the time tl is prior, temporally, to the data frames from the computers 212 and 213, which is erroneous. Summary of the present invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to improve the chronological monitoring of transmission of data frames on a switched communication network of a vehicle.

[0009] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for file communication in a switched communication network of a vehicle, the switched communication network comprising a plurality of computers and a plurality of switches, each switch comprising a plurality of communication ports, the method comprising the following steps: - receiving, by a first switch of the plurality of switches, a first data frame from a first computer of the plurality of computers, the first computer being connected to the first switch; - recording, by the first switch, of a first piece of information represented indicating a time of reception of the first data frame by the first switch in a first file; - transmission of the first file by the first switch to a device external to the switched communication network via a determined port, called an instrument port, of the plurality of communication ports of the first switch.

[0010] Such a method makes it possible to reconstruct the communication chronology of the data frames on a switched communication network of the vehicle by recording information on the time of reception of each data frame received in a file which is then transmitted by the switch to a device external to the vehicle network, for example a data processing device collecting data during the vehicle test phase.

[0011] According to a variant, the method further comprises the following steps: - receiving, by a second switch of the plurality of switches, a set of second data frames from at least one second computer of the plurality of computers, the at least one second computer being connected to the second switch; - recording, by the second switch, of a second item of information representative of a time of reception of each second data frame of the set of second data frames by the second switch in a second file; - transmission, by the second switch to the first switch, of the second file.

[0012] According to another variant, the second file is transmitted by the second switch via a determined port, called the instrument port, of the plurality of communication ports of the second switch.

[0013] According to an additional variant, the method further comprises the following steps: - reception, by the first switch, of the second file from the second switch; - transmission, by the first switch to said external device (11), of the second file via the instrument port of the first switch.

[0014] According to an additional variant, the first file and the second file are transmitted periodically by the first switch to the external device according to a first determined time period and the second file is transmitted periodically by the second switch according to a second determined time period.

[0015] According to another variant, the method further comprises the following steps: - compression of the first file by the first switch in a format compressed determined before transmission to the external device; - compression of the second file by the second switch in the determined compressed format before transmission to the first switch, the transmission of the first file and the second file to said external device and the transmission of the second file to said first switch being in the determined compressed format.

[0016] According to an additional variant, the switched communication network is of the Ethernet type.

[0017] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a switch of a switched communication network of a vehicle, the switch comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0018] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a file communication system in a switched communication network of a vehicle, the system comprising a plurality of switches as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a switch as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention or a system as described above according to the third aspect of the present invention.

[0020] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0021] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0022] According to a sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0023] On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a RAM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or even a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

[0024] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0025] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 5, in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates a vehicle communication network, according to a first example of embodiment of the prior art.

[0028] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a vehicle communication network, according to a second exemplary embodiment of the prior art.

[0029] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a switched communication network of a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a device configured for file communication over the switched communication network of [Fig.3], according to particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and

[0031] [Fig.5] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method of communicating a file on the switched communication network of [Fig.3], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of implementation

[0032] A method, a device and a system for file communication in a switched communication network of a vehicle will now be described in the following with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0033] The terms "first(s)", "second(s)" (or "first(s)", "second(s)"), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to enable different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below to be identified and distinguished. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0034] According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, the communication of a file, for example a trace file, in a switched type communication network of a vehicle is implemented by one or more switches of the network connected to each other via one or more data buses, for example of the Ethernet type. Each switch comprises a plurality of communication ports, and at least one switch comprises among these communication ports a particular communication port, called an instrument port. A part of the communication ports other than the instrument port are for example connected to one or more computers and / or to one or more other switches of the network.The file communication on the switched communication network comprises the reception, by a first switch of the network, of a first data frame transmitted by a first computer of the switched communication network, this first computer being linked or connected directly, that is to say without an intermediate device (such as another switch) to the first switch. The first switch then records a first information representative of a time of reception of the first data frame by the first switch in a first file, this information corresponding to a time stamp information associated with the first data frame. The time of reception of the first data frame by the first switch is representative of the time of transmission of the first data frame by the first computer.

[0035] Such a method thus makes it possible to store in a file the time trace of reception of the data frames received by a network switch.

[0036] Timestamping of data frames allows a history of the communication timeline of data frames on the network to be kept.

[0037] [Fig. 3] schematically illustrates an electronic and electrical architecture, called E / E architecture, of a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The E / E architecture comprises a set of computers or ECUs 311, 312, 313 and a plurality of switches 301, 302 connected to each other by data buses to form a switched type network, for example a switched Ethernet network (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0039] The numbers of computers and switches are not limited to the numbers of computers and switches of the particular example of [Fig.3] but extend to any number, for example 10, 20, 50, 100 or more computers and 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 or more switches.

[0040] A switch (also called a network switch) is a network device configured to transmit the data frames that it receives from the devices connected to it (for example, computers) to another device based on the destination address contained in each data frame received, for example for example a MAC address (from the English “Media Access Control”), via the switch’s communication ports (for example RJ45 type).

[0041] The vehicle comprising the switched network corresponds for example to a vehicle with a thermal engine, with electric motor(s) or even a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle thus corresponds for example to a land vehicle, for example a car, a truck, a bus, a motorcycle.

[0042] According to the example of [Fig.l], the switched communication network of the vehicle comprises a first switch 301, for example implemented by a central computer 21. A first computer 311 is linked or connected directly to this first switch 301 via a communication port of the set of communication ports that the first switch 301 comprises. The first switch 301 advantageously comprises a particular communication port, called instrument port 3011, which is configured to be connected to a device external to the network such as a data processing device 11 of the computer type. The data processing device 11 corresponds for example to a diagnostic tool or to an instrument tool configured to record the data transmitted on the switched network of the vehicle, for example during vehicle tests, for example during a vehicle design phase.

[0043] A second switch 302 is also connected or directly connected to the first switch 301 via communication ports of the first and second switches 301, 302. The second switch 302 is connected to the first switch 301 via one or more communication ports of the second switch 302. According to an optional embodiment, the second switch 302 also comprises an instrument port (not shown in [Fig. 3]), the second switch 302 being for example connected to the first switch via this instrument port of the second switch 302, which instrument port is connected to a port of the first switch 301 via a data bus.

[0044] Two computers 312, 313 are connected or linked directly to the second switch 302, each computer 312, 313 being connected to a communication port of the second switch 302 and called second computer thereafter.

[0045] Of course, the architecture of the switched network according to the invention is not limited to such an example, several first computers and / or switches being able to be connected directly to the first switch 301, more than 2 second computers being able to be connected to the second switch 302, one or more switches being able to be connected directly to the second switch 302 (each via its instrument port and another communication port), other computers and / or other switches which can in turn be connected directly to these other computers, the switches being cascaded in the architecture to form a hierarchical architecture.

[0046] A file communication process in the switched network illustrated in [Fig.3] is advantageously implemented by one or more switches of this switched network, i.e. by one or more processors of this or these switches.

[0047] In a first operation of the process, the first computer 311 transmits a first data frame F1, the second computer 312 transmits a second data frame F2 and the second computer 313 transmits another second data frame F3.

[0048] The second switch 302 thus receives a set of second data frames from the set of second computers 312, 313, each computer directly connected to the second switch 302 being called a second computer, each data frame received by the second switch from a second computer being called a second data frame.

[0049] The first computer 311 being connected to the first switch 301 and the set of second computers 312, 313 being connected to the second switch 302, the first data frame F1 is received by the first switch 301 at a time 't1' (for example for retransmission by the first switch 301 to the recipient of the first data frame F1), the second data frame F2 is received by the second switch 302 at a time 't2' (for example for retransmission by the second switch 302 to the recipient of the second data frame F2) and the second data frame F3 is received by the second switch 302 at a time 't3' (for example for retransmission by the second switch 302 to the recipient of the third data frame F3).

[0050] According to a particular example of illustration of the process, 't2' is earlier than 't3' which is itself earlier than 'tl' in time. In other words, from a time point of view, the second data frame F2 is transmitted before the second data frame F3 and the second data frame F3 is transmitted before the first data frame F1, i.e. t2 < t3 < tl.

[0051] In a second operation of the process, the second switch 302 receives the second data frame F2 at time 't2' from the second computer 312 and the second data frame F3 at time 't3' from the second computer 313. The first switch 301 receives the first data frame F1 at time 'tl' from the first computer 311.

[0052] In a third operation of the process, the first switch 301 records a first piece of information representative of the instant 'tl' of reception of the first data frame F1 in a first file, noted 'Tl', the writing of the first piece of information in the file 'Tl' being triggered by the reception of the first frame Fl. The first file 'Tl' corresponds to a so-called trace file (from the English "trace") storing, for each first data frame received by the first switch 301, a first piece of information on reception of the first data frame by the first switch 301. This first file 'Tl' is for example stored or recorded in a memory of the first switch 301, or in a memory of the central computer 31 implementing the first switch 301.

[0053] The first file 'Tl' is updated and saved in memory each time a first data frame is received by the first switch 301.

[0054] The first file 'Tl' further comprises, for example, information identifying the first data frame F1 in correspondence with the first information associated with it in order to find the correspondence information between the first information and the first data frame, for each first data frame, from the first file 'Tl'.

[0055] The first file 'Tl' is generated, updated and saved under the control of a first module 3010 of the first switch 301, which first module 3010 is implemented in software by the first switch 301 or by the central computer 31. According to a variant, the first module 3010 is produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0056] The second switch 302 records a second piece of information representative of the instant 't2' and the instant 't3' of reception of each second data frame F2 and F3 in a second file, denoted 'T2', the writing of a second piece of information in the file 'T2' being triggered by the reception of the second associated frame F2 and F3, respectively. The second file 'T2' corresponds to a so-called trace file (from the English "trace") storing, for each second data frame received by the second switch 302, a second piece of information of reception of a second data frame by the second switch 302. This second file 'T2' is for example stored or recorded in a memory of the second switch 302.

[0057] The second file 'T2' is updated and saved in memory each time a second data frame is received by the second switch 302.

[0058] The second file 'T2' further comprises, for example, information identifying each second data frame F2, F3 with a correspondence with the associated second information to find the correspondence information between each second information and each second data frame from the second file 'T2'.

[0059] The second file 'T2' is generated, updated and saved under the control of a second module 3020 of the second switch 302, which second module 3020 is for example implemented in software by the second switch 302. According to one variant, the second module 3020 is produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0060] According to a particular embodiment, the first file 'T1' and the second file 'T2' (as well as any other file of the same type generated by one or more other switches of the switched communication network of the vehicle) are generated and recorded only when an instrument tool 11 is connected to the first switch 301 via the instrument port 3011.

[0061] According to this embodiment, the instrument tool 11 transmits for example for this purpose a request to the central computer 31 to receive the generated files, as well as all the data frames transmitted on the network by the computers of the network, which triggers the transmission of a request by the central computer 31 so that each switch of the network generates a file such as the file 'T1', 'T2' and transmits the generated files to the first switch 301 so that the latter retransmits them to the instrument tool 11. According to another example, the first switch 301 detects the connection of the instrument tool 11 to the instrument port 3010, which triggers the transmission of the request for generation and transmission of the trace files such as the files 'T1' and 'T2'.

[0062] In a fourth operation of the process, the second switch 302 transmits the generated and saved file 'T2' to the first switch 301. The file 'T2' is transmitted via a communication port of the second switch 302 to a communication port of the first switch 301.

[0063] The second file 'T2' is for example transmitted via the same link as that used by the second switch 302 to transmit to the first switch 301 each second data frame F2, F3 that the second switch 302 receives from a second computer 312, 313. In such an example, the second file 'T2' is transmitted in a so-called "best effort" mode, that is to say with the only guarantee of service, that is to say the only guarantee of good transmission, that the network will do the best it can based on the resources available at the second switch 302 and the network. The priority for allocating resources to the data transmission is for example provided to the transmission of the second data frames F2, F3 to the first switch 301.

[0064] According to an alternative embodiment, the second file 'T2' is transmitted to the first switch 301 via the instrument port of the second switch 302. According to this alternative, the second data frames F2, F3 are transmitted by the second switch 302 to the first switch 301 via a communication port other than the instrument port. This makes it possible, for example, to better distribute the resources for the transmission of the second file 'T2' and the second data frames F2, F3.

[0065] The second data frame F2 and the second data frame F3 are for example transmitted to the first switch 301 according to their order of reception by the second switch 302. Thus, when t2 is earlier than t3, the second data frame F2 is transmitted temporally before the second data frame F3.

[0066] The second file 'T2' is for example transmitted periodically to the first switch 301 according to a second time period of determined duration. The duration of the second time period is for example defined as a function of the memory available at the second switch 302 and / or as a function of the network load, the duration between two successive transmissions thus being able to vary.

[0067] When a second file is transmitted, the data stored in memory of the second switch 302 for this second file are erased to be replaced by new data representative of the second reception times stored in a new second file 'T2' replacing the one which has just been transmitted.

[0068] In a fifth operation of the process, the first switch 301 receives the second file 'T2' from the second switch 302.

[0069] In a sixth operation, the first switch 301 transmits to the instrument tool 11 the first file 'T1' and the second file 'T2' according to a first time period of determined duration. The duration of the first time period is for example defined as a function of the memory available at the first switch 301 and / or as a function of the network load, the duration between two successive transmissions thus being able to vary.

[0070] The second file 'T2' received by the first switch 301 is for example temporarily stored in the memory of the first switch 301 before transmission to the instrument tool 11, for example in a buffer memory.

[0071] The first file 'T1' and the second file 'T2' are transmitted via the instrument port 3011 on the same link as that used for the transmission of each first data frame F1 and each second data frame F2, F3. The first file 'T1' and the second file 'T2' are transmitted in the so-called "best effort" mode, i.e. with the only guarantee of service, i.e. as the only guarantee of good transmission, that the network will do the best it can based on the resources available at the first switch 301 and the network. The priority for allocating resources to the data transmission is for example provided to the transmission of the first and second data frames F1, F2, F3 to the instrument tool 11, the files 'T1' and 'T2' being transmitted for example when the resources necessary for transmission are available.

[0072] According to a particular embodiment, the data included in the second file 'T2' are compressed in a particular format (for example in a format such as the "zip" format as defined in the ISO / IEC 21320-1 standard) before transmission to the first switch 301, the second file 'T2' being transmitted in compressed format to the first switch 301. The compression of the data of the second file 'T2' is for example implemented by the module 3020 of the second switch 302.

[0073] In the same way, the data included in the first file 'T1' are compressed in a particular format (identical to that used for the second file 'T2') before transmission to the instrument tool 11, the first file 'T1' (as well as each second file 'T2') being transmitted in compressed format to the instrument tool 11. The compression of the data of the first file 'T1' is for example implemented by the module 3010 of the first switch 301.

[0074] According to this particular embodiment, the instrument tool 11 receiving the first file 'Tl' and the second file 'T2' in compressed format implements a data decompression operation to be able to extract and read the data contained in these files 'Tl' and 'T2'.

[0075] Such a particular embodiment makes it possible to limit the volume of data transiting over the network and over the link with the tool 11, which in particular reduces bandwidth requirements.

[0076] The reception of each first file 'Tl' and each second file 'T2' by the instrument tool 11 allows the instrument tool to recover the communication time information of each first data frame F1 and each second data frame F2, F3 on the switched communication network of the vehicle, this information being lost when the first and second data frames F1, F2, F3 are transmitted by the first switch 301 to the instrument tool 11 in the order of their reception by the first switch 301. The information relating to the time stamp of the first and second data frames F1, F2, F3 included in the first and second files 'Tl', 'T2' is useful for a better analysis of the data communicated on the vehicle network, for example to determine the chronology of the events and / or problems detected on the network during testing or trial phases of the vehicle.

[0077] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates a device 4 configured for the communication of data (for example trace file data and / or data frames), in particular in a switched communication network of a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 4 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle, for example a computer or a switch in the switched network.

[0078] According to another example of implementation, the device 4 corresponds to a data processing device, for example the tool 11, configured to connect to the vehicle network.

[0079] The device 4 is for example configured for implementing the operations described with regard to figures 1 to 3 and / or the steps of the method described with regard to [Fig.5]. Examples of such a device 4 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a TCU (Telematic Control Unit), a computer or any device for processing or communicating data of an on-board vehicle system. The elements of the device 4, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components.The device 4 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0080] The device 4 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 40 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 4. The processor 40 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 4 further comprises at least one memory 41 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0081] The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the 4L memory.

[0082] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 4 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0083] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 comprises a block 42 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 42 advantageously comprise one or more communication ports, for example a set of Ethernet (or RJ 45) ports. According to another example, the interface elements comprise a LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network” or in French “Local Interconnected Network”).

[0084] According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 comprises a communication interface 43 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a wired network of the Ethernet type (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0085] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers and / or other peripherals via respective output interfaces.

[0086] [Fig. 5] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for communicating files in a switched communication network of a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The switched communication network comprises a plurality of computers and a plurality of switches, each switch comprising a plurality of communication ports, at least one switch comprising a so-called instrument port. The method is for example implemented by one or more devices on board the vehicle 10, for example by one or more switches, or by the device 4 of [Fig. 4],

[0087] In a first step 51, a first switch of the plurality of switches receives a first data frame from a first computer of the plurality of computers, the first computer being connected to the first switch.

[0088] In a second step 52, the first switch records first information representative of a time of reception of the first data frame by the first switch in a first file.

[0089] In a third step 53, the first file is transmitted by the first switch to a device external to the switched communication network, via a determined port, called an instrument port, of the plurality of communication ports of the first switch.

[0090] According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to figures 1 to 3 apply to the steps of the method of [Fig.5].

[0091] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for tracking the transmission history of data frames on a switched network of a vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. It would be even of a device configured for the implementation of such a method.

[0092] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 4 of [Fig.4].

Claims

Claims

1. A method of file communication in a switched communication network of a vehicle, said switched communication network comprising a plurality of computers (311, 312, 313) and a plurality of switches (301, 302), each switch comprising a plurality of communication ports, said method comprising the following steps: - reception (51), by a first switch (301) of said plurality of switches, of a first data frame from a first computer (311) of said plurality of computers, said first computer (311) being connected to said first switch (301); - recording (52), by said first switch (301), of first information representative of a time of reception of said first data frame by said first switch (301) in a first file (Tl);- transmission (53) of said first file (Tl) by said first switch (301) to an external device (11) to said switched communication network via a determined port, called instrument port (3011), of the plurality of communication ports of the first switch (301).;

2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps: - reception, by a second switch (302) of said plurality of switches, of a set of second data frames from at least one second computer (312, 313) of said plurality of computers, said at least one second computer (312, 313) being connected to said second switch (302); - recording, by said second switch (302), of a second information representative of a time of reception of each second data frame of said set of second data frames by said second switch (302) in a second file (T2); - transmission, by said second switch (302) to said first switch (301), of said second file (T2).

3. Method according to claim 2, for which said second file (T2) is transmitted by said second switch (302) via a determined port, called instrument port, of the plurality of communication ports. nication of said second switch (302).

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising the following steps: - receiving, by said first switch (301), said second file (T2) from said second switch (302); - transmitting, by said first switch (301) to said external device (11), said second file (T2) via said instrument port (3011) of said first switch (301).

5. Method according to claim 4, for which said first file (T1) and said second file (T2) are transmitted periodically by said first switch (301) to said external device (11) according to a first determined time period and for which said second file (T2) is transmitted periodically by said second switch (302) according to a second determined time period.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the following steps: - compressing said first file (T1) by said first switch (301) into a determined compressed format before transmission to said external device (11); - compressing said second file (T2) by said second switch (302) into said determined compressed format before transmission to said first switch (301), the transmission of the first file (T1) and the second file (T2) to said external device (11) and the transmission of the second file (T2) to said first switch (301) being in said determined compressed format.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, for which said switched communication network is of the Ethernet type.

8. Switch (4) of a switched communication network of a vehicle, said switch (4) comprising a memory (41) associated with at least one processor (40) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to claim 1.

9. A file communication system in a switched communication network of a vehicle, said system comprising a plurality of switches (4) according to claim 8, said system being configured to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A vehicle comprising the switch (4) according to claim 8 or the system according to claim 9.

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