Vehicle

Abstract

To improve the convenience of communication between vehicles and communication devices.SOLUTION: An intermediation unit includes one or more intermediation unit processors and one or more intermediation unit memories connected to the intermediation unit processors. Each of the intermediation unit processors executes processes including: when a first message is received from a communication device and its destination is a first target unit, transmitting the first message to the first target unit without dividing it; and when the first message is received from the communication device and the destination is a second target unit, generating a plurality of first division messages by dividing the first message and sequentially transmitting the plurality of first division messages to the second target unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for diagnosing failures of various electronic devices provided in a vehicle by connecting an external device to the vehicle.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventionally, communication has been carried out between an external device connected to a vehicle and various electronic devices mounted on the vehicle by transmitting a message from the external device to each electronic device or transmitting a message from each electronic device to the external device.

[0005] However, there is a current situation where the data size of a message that can be received in one communication may differ depending on the memory size of each electronic device provided in the vehicle. In the case of an electronic device with a relatively small data size of a message that can be received in one communication, there is a possibility that the message transmitted from the external device to the electronic device may not be transmitted as intended. In such a case, failure diagnosis cannot be performed, and there is a possibility that the convenience for the user may decrease.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to improve the convenience in communication between a vehicle and a communication device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle to which a communication device is connected, and includes a target unit provided in the vehicle and including a first target unit and a second target unit, and a mediation unit provided in the vehicle for mediating communication between the communication device and the target unit. The vehicle is provided with a target unit including a first target unit and a second target unit, and a mediation unit provided in the vehicle for mediating communication between the communication device and the target unit. The first target unit has one or more first target unit processors and one or more first target unit memories connected to the first target unit processors. The second target unit has one or more second target unit processors and one or more second target unit memories connected to the second target unit processors. The mediation unit has one or more mediation unit processors and one or more mediation unit memories connected to the mediation unit processors. The first target unit memory has a first reception memory with a first memory size. The second target unit memory has a second reception memory with a second memory size smaller than the first memory size. When the mediation unit processor receives a first message from the communication device and the transmission destination is the first target unit, it transmits the first message to the first target unit without dividing it. When the mediation unit processor receives the first message from the communication device and the transmission destination is the second target unit, it generates a plurality of first divided messages obtained by dividing the first message, and sequentially transmits the plurality of first divided messages to the second target unit. The mediation unit processor executes a process including transmitting the first message to the first target unit without dividing it when the first message is received from the communication device and the transmission destination is the first target unit, and generating a plurality of first divided messages obtained by dividing the first message and sequentially transmitting the plurality of first divided messages to the second target unit when the first message is received from the communication device and the transmission destination is the second target unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] ​According to the present invention, it becomes possible to improve the convenience in communication between a vehicle and a communication device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific dimensions, materials, numerical values, etc. shown in such embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining a vehicle 100 according to the present embodiment. The vehicle 100 is, for example, a hybrid vehicle including an engine and a motor as driving power sources.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 100 includes an intermediary unit 110, a first target unit 120, and a second target unit 130.

[0013] The communication device 200 is a dedicated terminal such as a fault diagnosis terminal for diagnosing faults in the vehicle 100. Further, the communication device 200 is, for example, a personal computer or the like. By being connected to the vehicle 100, the communication device 200 enables bidirectional communication with the first target unit 120 and the second target unit 130 via the intermediary unit 110. Note that the communication among the communication device 200, the intermediary unit 110, the first target unit 120, and the second target unit 130 may use, for example, the CAN (Controller Area Network) protocol. In the present embodiment, the case where the communication device 200 is connected to the vehicle 100 by wire is shown, but it may be connected wirelessly.

[0014] Hereinafter, the first target unit 120 and the second target unit 130 are collectively and abstractly also referred to as "target units". These target units may be control units of various electronic devices mounted on the vehicle 100. Specifically, the target unit may be, for example, an engine control unit that controls the engine. Further, the target unit may be, for example, a motor control unit that controls the motor. Further, the target unit may be, for example, a battery control unit that controls the battery. Further, the target unit may be, for example, a wireless communication unit that communicates wirelessly with a data center outside the vehicle 100. Further, the target unit may be, for example, a car navigation system control unit that controls the car navigation system. Further, the target unit may be, for example, an automatic driving control unit that controls the automatic driving of the vehicle 100.

[0015] In addition, in the present embodiment, the case where one first target unit 120 is provided is shown, but the number of the first target units 120 is not limited thereto. That is, the number of the first target units 120 may be any number as long as it is one or more.

[0016] In addition, in the present embodiment, the case where one second target unit 130 is provided is shown, but the number of the second target units 130 is not limited thereto. That is, the number of the second target units 130 may be any number as long as it is one or more.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the first target unit 120 includes one or more processors 122 and one or more memories 124 connected to the processors 122. The processor 122 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory 124 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM is a storage element that stores programs and arithmetic parameters used by the CPU. The RAM is a storage element that temporarily stores data such as variables and parameters used for the processing executed by the CPU.

[0018] In addition, the memory 124 is provided with a reception memory 124a having a first memory size for receiving various messages transmitted from the communication device 200 via the mediation unit 110. Hereinafter, various messages transmitted from the communication device 200 to the target unit via the mediation unit 110 are collectively referred to as first messages. In addition, various messages transmitted from the target unit to the communication device 200 via the mediation unit 110 are collectively referred to as second messages.

[0019] The first target unit 120 can receive a first message up to a data length (hereinafter simply referred to as data length) equal to the value of the first memory size. In the present embodiment, specifically, the case where the first memory size is 64 bytes and the data length of the first message that the first target unit 120 can receive in one communication is up to 64 bytes is shown, but it is not limited thereto.

[0020] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the second target unit 130 includes one or more processors 132 and one or more memories 134 connected to the processors 132. The processor 132 includes, for example, a CPU. The memory 134 includes, for example, a ROM and a RAM.

[0021] Further, the memory 134 is provided with a reception memory 134a of a second memory size for receiving the first message transmitted from the communication device 200 via the mediation unit 110. The second target unit 130 can receive a first message up to a data length equal to the value of the second memory size. In the present embodiment, specifically, the case where the second memory size is 8 bytes and the data length of the first message that the second target unit 130 can receive in one communication is up to 8 bytes is shown, but it is not limited thereto. That is, the second memory size may be smaller than the first memory size.

[0022] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the mediation unit 110 includes one or more processors 112 and one or more memories 114 connected to the processors 112. The processor 112 includes, for example, a CPU. The memory 114 includes, for example, a ROM and a RAM.

[0023] In addition, the memory 114 is provided with a receiving memory 114a for receiving various messages transmitted from the communication device 200 to the target unit or from the target unit to the communication device 200. The memory size of the receiving memory 114a is sufficiently larger than the first memory size and the second memory size described above. In the present embodiment, specifically, the case where the memory size of the receiving memory 114a is 128 bytes is shown, but it is not limited thereto.

[0024] In addition, in the present embodiment, memory size information is stored in the memory 114. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the memory size information according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the memory size information stores the memory size of the receiving memory for each type of target unit.

[0025] Although details will be described later, when the mediation unit 110 receives a first message from the communication device 200, it generates a plurality of divided messages obtained by dividing the received message based on the type of the target unit as the transmission destination. Hereinafter, the messages obtained by dividing the first message are collectively referred to as first divided messages. Further, the messages obtained by dividing the second message are collectively referred to as second divided messages.

[0026] Then, the mediation unit 110 sequentially transmits the generated first divided message to the target unit at the destination at a predetermined interval that allows sufficient reading of the message corresponding to the memory size of the receiving memory in the target unit at the destination. Also, when the mediation unit 110 receives a plurality of first divided messages from the target unit, it creates a combined message by combining these plurality of first divided messages and transmits the combined message to the communication device 200. Note that header information indicating the data length of the message is included at the beginning of the first message and the second message. The first divided message obtained by dividing the first message includes the same header information as the header information of the first message before division. Also, the second divided message obtained by dividing the second message includes the same header information as the header information of the second message before division. Therefore, the mediation unit 110 can identify whether the received message is a divided message based on the data length indicated by the header information, that is, whether the reception of the message received at the current time is complete, or whether there is still a message to be received.

[0027] Note that the mediation unit 110 may construct and update the memory size information based on the memory size of the receiving memory of the target unit mounted on the vehicle 100. For example, due to the arrival of a predetermined timing such as the start of the engine, the mediation unit 110 may construct and update the memory size information based on the memory size of each receiving memory of the target unit mounted on the vehicle 100.

[0028] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the communication device 200 includes one or more processors 202 and one or more memories 204 connected to the processor 202. The processor 202 includes, for example, a CPU. Also, the memory 204 includes, for example, a ROM and a RAM.

[0029] Further, the memory 204 of the communication device 200 is provided with a receiving memory 204a for receiving the second message transmitted from the target unit via the mediation unit 110. The memory size of the receiving memory 204a is sufficiently larger than the above-described first memory size and second memory size. In the present embodiment, specifically, the case where the memory size of the receiving memory 204a is 128 bytes is shown, but it is not limited thereto. That is, the memory size of the receiving memory 204a of the communication device 200 may be larger or smaller than the memory size of the receiving memory 114a of the mediation unit 110.

[0030] As described above, in the present embodiment, the vehicle 100 is provided with a first target unit 120 having a maximum data length of a message that can be received at one time of 64 bytes and a second target unit 130 having a maximum data length of a message that can be received at one time of 8 bytes.

[0031] For example, when a first message having a data length of 64 bytes is transmitted from the communication device 200 to the second target unit 130, the data length of the first message exceeds the maximum data length of a message that the second target unit 130 can receive at one time. In such a case, since the second target unit 130 cannot receive the first message, there is a possibility that the content of the first message is not transmitted as intended.

[0032] When the content of the first message is not transmitted as intended, in the communication device 200, there is a possibility that fault diagnosis cannot be accurately performed and the convenience of the user may be reduced. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to ensure normal communication between the communication device 200 and the target unit, the mediation unit 110 appropriately divides the first message received and then transmits it to the transmission destination. Thereby, by reducing the possibility that the first message is not transmitted as intended, it is possible to suppress the possibility that fault diagnosis cannot be accurately performed and improve the convenience of the user.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a case where a first message is transmitted from the communication device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention to the first target unit 120. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a case where a first message is transmitted from the communication device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention to the second target unit 130. Assume that a 64-byte first message with the transmission destination being the target unit is transmitted from the communication device 200. When receiving the first message, the mediation unit 110 refers to the memory size information to check the memory size of the reception memory of the target unit that is the transmission destination. The mediation unit 110 compares the data length of the received first message with the memory size of the reception memory of the target unit that is the transmission destination, and determines whether to perform division on the received first message.

[0034] Specifically, in the case shown in FIG. 3, since the data length of the received first message is equal to or less than the memory size of the reception memory 124a of the first target unit 120 that is the transmission destination, the mediation unit 110 determines not to perform division. That is, in the present embodiment, when the data length of the received first message is equal to or less than the memory size of the reception memory of the target unit that is the transmission destination, the mediation unit 110 determines not to perform division. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the mediation unit 110 transmits the received first message to the first target unit 120 set as the transmission destination without performing division.

[0035] On the other hand, in the case shown in FIG. 4, since the data length of the received first message is greater than the memory size of the reception memory 124a of the second target unit 130 that is the transmission destination, the mediation unit 110 determines to perform division. That is, in the present embodiment, when the data length of the received first message is greater than the memory size of the reception memory of the target unit that is the transmission destination, the mediation unit 110 determines to perform division.

[0036] When the execution of the division is determined, the mediation unit 110 determines the number of divisions based on the data length of the received first message and the memory size of the receiving memory of the target unit at the destination. In the case shown in FIG. 4, the mediation unit 110 determines, as the number of divisions, an integer value obtained by rounding up the numerical value after the decimal point of the value obtained by dividing the data length of the received first message by the memory size of the receiving memory 134a of the second target unit 130 at the destination. Specifically, since the value obtained by dividing 64 bytes, which is the data length of the first message received by the mediation unit 110, by 8 bytes, which is the memory size of the receiving memory 134a of the second target unit 130 at the destination, is 8, the mediation unit 110 determines the number of divisions to be 8.

[0037] Also, for example, when the data length of the first message received by the mediation unit 110 is 20 bytes, since the value obtained by dividing 20 bytes by 8 bytes, which is the memory size of the receiving memory 134a of the second target unit 130 at the destination, is 2.5, the mediation unit 110 determines the number of divisions to be 3. In this case, the mediation unit 110 may set the data lengths of the first and second first divided messages to 8 bytes and the data length of the third first divided message to 4 bytes. Alternatively, the mediation unit 110 may set the data lengths of the first and second first divided messages to 8 bytes, and the third first divided message may have a data length of 8 bytes including 4 bytes of actual data and 4 bytes of padding value.

[0038] Then, the mediation unit 110 sequentially transmits the plurality of first divided messages generated as described above to the second target unit 130 set as the destination. Specifically, the mediation unit 110 transmits the first one of the plurality of first divided messages generated as described above to the second target unit 130 set as the destination. Then, the mediation unit 110 transmits the next first divided message to the second target unit 130 set as the destination at a predetermined interval that allows sufficient reading of messages corresponding to the memory size of the reception memory 134a in the second target unit 130. Thereafter, until all the first divided messages are transmitted, the mediation unit 110 repeats the above process. When the second target unit 130 receives a plurality of first divided messages, it generates a combined message by combining all the received first divided messages and executes a predetermined process based on the combined message.

[0039] As described above, in this embodiment, the mediation unit 110 generates a first divided message obtained by appropriately dividing the first message received from the communication device 200 according to the type of the target unit at the destination, and transmits the first divided message to the target unit. As a result, the target unit can receive a message having a data length that can be received according to the memory size of its reception memory. Therefore, the target unit can execute an appropriate process according to the content of the first message transmitted from the communication device 200. This makes it possible to reduce the risk that the first message is not transmitted as intended, suppress the risk that fault diagnosis cannot be accurately performed, and improve the convenience for the user.

[0040] In addition, in the communication device 200, there is no need to provide a database or the like for checking the memory size of the reception memory for each type of target unit at the transmission destination. Also, there is no need to equip the communication device 200 with a function to change the data length of the first message to be transmitted according to the type of the target unit at the transmission destination. Therefore, without the need for major design changes to the communication device 200, the communication device 200 can transmit the first message to the target unit without considering the type of the target unit at the transmission destination, that is, the memory size of the reception memory of the target unit at the transmission destination. As a result, it is possible to suppress the risk of increasing the design cost.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a case where a second message is transmitted from the first target unit 120 to the communication device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a case where a second message is transmitted from the second target unit 130 to the communication device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Suppose that a second message or a second divided message with the communication device 200 as the transmission destination is transmitted from the target unit. When the mediation unit 110 receives a message from the target unit, it identifies whether the message received from the target unit is a second message or a second divided message based on the data length indicated by the header information of the message and the data length of the message.

[0042] Specifically, in the case shown in FIG. 5, when the data length indicated by the header information of the received message is 64 bytes and the currently received message is 64 bytes, the mediation unit 110 can identify that the received message is an undivided second message. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the mediation unit 110 transmits the received second message to the communication device 200 set as the transmission destination.

[0043] On the other hand, in the case shown in FIG. 6, when the mediation unit 110 determines that the data length indicated by the header information of the received message is 64 bytes and the currently received message is 8 bytes, it can identify that the received message is a second split message that has been split. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the mediation unit 110 waits for other second split messages to be received. When all of the plurality of second split messages have been received, the mediation unit 110 generates a combined message by combining all of the received second split messages. Specifically, when the mediation unit 110 receives a second split message from the second target unit 130, it stores the received second split message in a predetermined area of the memory 114. Thereafter, the mediation unit 110 repeatedly stores the received second split messages until all of the second split messages have been received. Then, when all of the second split messages have been received, the mediation unit 110 generates a combined message by combining all of the received second split messages.

[0044] In the case shown in FIG. 6, the mediation unit 110 will receive a total of eight second split messages each having a data length of 8 bytes, and thus generates a 64-byte combined message by combining these second split messages.

[0045] Then, the mediation unit 110 transmits the combined message generated as described above to the communication device 200 set as the transmission destination. The communication device 200 executes predetermined processing based on the received combined message.

[0046] As described above, in this embodiment, when the mediation unit 110 receives a second split message from the target unit, it generates a combined message by combining the received second split messages, and transmits the combined message to the communication device 200 of the destination. As a result, since the communication device 200 does not receive a plurality of second split messages, it is not necessary to have a function of combining a plurality of second split messages. Therefore, a major design change to the communication device 200 is not required, and it becomes possible to receive a message from the target unit. This makes it possible to suppress the risk of an increase in design cost. Hereinafter, the processes executed by the vehicle 100, particularly the processes executed in the mediation unit 110, will be described.

[0047] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the first process on the mediation unit side according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the second process on the mediation unit side according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first process on the mediation unit side and the second process on the mediation unit side are executed by a timer interrupt that occurs at predetermined time intervals. Note that various processes including the processes described below can be executed by the processor 112 of the mediation unit 110. Specifically, various processes are executed by the memory 114 executing a program stored in the processor 112 of the mediation unit 110.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 7, the mediation unit 110 determines whether or not it has received a first message from the communication device 200 (S100-1). If the first message has not been received from the communication device 200 (NO in S100-1), the mediation unit 220 ends the first process on the mediation unit side.

[0049] When the first message is received from the communication device 200 (YES in S100-1), the mediation unit 110 confirms the destination of the first message (step S100-3). Further, the mediation unit 110 confirms the memory size information stored in the memory 114 (step S100-5).

[0050] Based on the confirmation results in the above step 100-3 and the above step 100-5, the mediation unit 110 determines whether to split the received first message (S100-7). Specifically, when the data length of the received first message is larger than the memory size of the receiving memory of the target unit of the destination of the first message, the mediation unit 110 determines to split the received first message. Also, when the data length of the received first message is less than or equal to the memory size of the receiving memory of the target unit of the destination of the first message, the mediation unit 110 determines not to split the received first message.

[0051] If it is determined not to split the received first message (NO in S100-7), the mediation unit 110 executes message relay processing to continuously transmit the received first message to the target unit of the destination confirmed in the above step S100-3 at once (S100-9). After executing the message relay processing, the mediation unit 110 ends the first processing on the mediation unit side.

[0052] Also, if it is determined to split the received first message (YES in S100-7), the mediation unit 110 determines the number of splits based on the data length of the received first message and the memory size of the receiving memory of the target unit of the destination (S100-11). Specifically, for example, the mediation unit 110 determines the integer value obtained by rounding up the numerical value after the decimal point of the value obtained by dividing the data length of the received first message by the memory size of the receiving memory of the target unit of the destination as the number of splits.

[0053] The mediation unit 110 generates a first split message by splitting the received first message based on the number of splits determined in the above step S100-13 (S100-13). Then, the mediation unit 110 executes message transmission processing to transmit the first split message to the target unit of the destination confirmed in the above step S100-3 (S100-15).

[0054] The mediation unit 110 determines whether all the first divided messages have been transmitted (S100-17). If not all the first divided messages have been transmitted (NO in S100-17), the mediation unit 110 transfers the process to step S100-15 above. Then, the mediation unit 110 executes message transmission processing for transmitting the next first divided message to the target unit (S100-15). At this time, the mediation unit 110 transmits the next first divided message to the target unit at a predetermined interval sufficient for reading a message corresponding to the memory size of the reception memory in the target unit of the transmission destination. In this way, the mediation unit 110 repeatedly executes the processes of step S100-15 and step S100-17 until the transmission of all the first divided messages is completed.

[0055] Then, when the transmission of all the first divided messages is completed (YES in S100-17), the mediation unit 110 ends the first process on the mediation unit side. The mediation unit 110 can sequentially transmit the first divided messages generated as described above to the target unit set as the transmission destination.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 8, the mediation unit 110 determines whether a message has been received from the target unit (S110-1). If a message has not been received from the target unit (NO in S110-1), the mediation unit 220 ends the second process on the mediation unit side.

[0057] When a message is received from the target unit (YES in S110-1), the mediation unit 110 determines whether the reception of the currently received message is complete or there are still messages to be received based on the data length indicated by the header information of the message and the data length of the currently received message, that is, whether the second split message has been received from the target unit (step S110-3). Specifically, for example, if the data length indicated by the header information of the received message is 64 bytes and the currently received message is 8 bytes, the mediation unit 110 can identify that the received message is the second split message that has been split. Also, if the data length indicated by the header information of the received message is 64 bytes and the currently received message is 64 bytes, the mediation unit 110 can identify that the received message is the second message that has not been split.

[0058] When the received message is not the second split message (NO in S110-3), that is, when the received message is the second message and the reception of the currently received message is complete, the mediation unit 110 executes message relay processing to continuously transmit the received second message to the communication device 200 at once (S110-5). After executing the message relay processing, the mediation unit 110 ends the second processing on the mediation unit side.

[0059] When the received message is the second split message (YES in S110-3), that is, when there are still messages to be received, the mediation unit 110 holds the received second split message in a predetermined area of the memory 114 (S110-7).

[0060] The mediation unit 110 determines whether all the second split messages have been received (S110-9). If not all the second split messages have been received (NO in S110-9), the mediation unit 110 transfers the process to step S110-7 above, and when the next second split message is received, the received second split message is held in a predetermined area of the memory 114. In this way, the mediation unit 110 repeatedly executes the processes from step S110-7 to step S110-9 until all the second split messages are received.

[0061] And when all the second split messages are received (YES in S110-9), the mediation unit 110 generates a combined message by combining all the second split messages held in step S110-7 above (S110-11).

[0062] The mediation unit 110 transmits the combined message generated in step S110-11 above to the communication device 200 (S110-13), and ends the second process on the mediation unit side.

[0063] As described above, the vehicle 100 according to the present embodiment is the vehicle 100 to which the communication device 200 is connected. The vehicle 100 includes a target unit provided in the vehicle 100 and including a first target unit 120 and a second target unit 130. The vehicle 100 includes a mediation unit 110 provided in the vehicle 100 and mediating communication between the communication device 200 and the target unit. The first target unit 120 has one or more first target unit processors (for example, the processor 122) and one or more first target unit memories (for example, the memory 124) connected to the first target unit processor (for example, the processor 122). The second target unit 130 has one or more second target unit processors (for example, the processor 132) and one or more second target unit memories (for example, the memory 134) connected to the second target unit processor (for example, the processor 132). The mediation unit 110 includes one or more mediation unit processors (e.g., processor 112) and one or more mediation unit memories (e.g., memory 114) connected to the mediation unit processor (e.g., processor 112). The first target unit memory (e.g., memory 124) has a first reception memory (e.g., reception memory 124a) with a first memory size (e.g., 64 bytes). The second target unit memory (e.g., memory 134) has a second reception memory (e.g., reception memory 134a) with a second memory size (e.g., 8 bytes) that is smaller than the first memory size (e.g., 64 bytes). When the mediation unit processor (e.g., processor 112) receives a first message from the communication device 200 and the destination is the first target unit 120, it executes a process including transmitting the first message to the first target unit 120 without splitting it (in the above embodiment, as an example, steps S100-1 to steps S100-9). When the mediation unit processor (e.g., processor 112) receives a first message from the communication device 200 and the destination is the second target unit 130, it generates a plurality of first split messages obtained by splitting the first message and sequentially transmits the plurality of first split messages to the second target unit 130 (in the above embodiment, as an example, steps S100-1 to steps S100-7, steps S100-11 to steps S100-17).

[0064] In the vehicle 100 of this embodiment, after appropriately splitting the first message received by the mediation unit 110, it is possible to transmit it to the target unit of the destination. As a result, it is possible to reduce the risk that the first message is not transmitted as intended, suppress the risk that the fault diagnosis cannot be accurately performed, and improve the convenience for the user.

[0065] Also, when the mediation unit processor (e.g., processor 112) receives a plurality of second split messages obtained by splitting a second message from the second target unit 130, the mediation unit processor may execute a process including combining the plurality of second split messages to generate a combined message and transmitting the combined message to the communication device 200 (in the above embodiment, as an example, steps S110-1, step S110-3, steps S110-7 to S110-13).

[0066] By doing so, since the communication device 200 does not receive the second split messages, it is not necessary to equip the communication device 200 with a function to combine the second split messages. Therefore, a major design change to the communication device 200 is not required, and it becomes possible to receive messages from the target unit. As a result, it is possible to suppress the possibility of an increase in design cost.

[0067] Also, the mediation unit memory (e.g., memory 114) may have memory size information (e.g., the memory size information shown in FIG. 2) including the memory sizes of the first reception memory (e.g., reception memory 124a) and the second reception memory (e.g., reception memory 134a). Also, when the mediation unit processor (e.g., processor 112) receives a first message from the communication device 200, the mediation unit processor may execute a process including determining whether to split the first message based on the memory size information (e.g., the memory size information shown in FIG. 2) (in the above embodiment, as an example, steps S100-1 to S100-7).

[0068] By doing so, in the communication device 200, there is no need to provide a database or the like for checking the memory size of the receiving memory for each type of target unit at the destination. Also, there is no need to equip the communication device 200 with a function to change the data length of the first message to be transmitted according to the type of the target unit at the destination. Therefore, without the need for a major design change to the communication device 200, the communication device 200 can transmit the first message to the target unit without considering the type of the target unit at the destination, that is, the memory size of the receiving memory of the target unit at the destination. As a result, it is possible to suppress the risk of increasing the design cost.

[0069] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims, and it is naturally understood that those also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the case where the vehicle 100 is a hybrid type has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to various vehicle types such as gasoline vehicles, electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and non-plug-in hybrid vehicles (hybrid vehicles).

[0071] Note that the series of processes by the vehicle 100 according to the above embodiment may be realized using any of software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The program constituting the software is stored in advance, for example, in a non-transitory storage medium provided inside or outside each device. Then, the program is read from a non-transitory storage medium (for example, ROM) into a temporary storage medium (for example, RAM) and executed by a processor such as a CPU.

[0072] Also, according to the above embodiment, a program for executing the processing of each function of the vehicle 100 can be provided. Further, a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing the program can also be provided. The non-transitory recording medium may be, for example, a disk-type recording medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a magneto-optical disk, or may be a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory or a USB memory.

Explanation of Signs

[0073] 100 Vehicle 110 Intermediary Unit 112 Processor (Intermediary Unit Processor) 114 Memory (Intermediary Unit Memory) 120 First Target Unit 122 Processor (First Target Unit Processor) 124 Memory (First Target Unit Memory) 124a Receiving Memory (First Receiving Memory) 130 Second Target Unit 132 Processor (Second Target Unit Processor) 134 Memory (Second Target Unit Memory) 134a Receiving Memory (Second Receiving Memory) 200 Communication Device

Claims

1. A vehicle to which a communication device is connected, A target unit provided on the vehicle, the target unit including a first target unit and a second target unit; an intermediate unit provided in the vehicle and intermediates communication between the communication device and the target unit; Equipped with The first target unit is one or more first target unit processors; and one or more first target unit memories coupled to the first target unit processors; The second target unit is one or more second target unit processors; and one or more second target unit memories coupled to the second target unit processors; The intermediate unit is one or more mediation unit processors; and one or more mediation unit memories coupled to said mediation unit processors; The first target unit memory includes: a first receiving memory having a first memory size; The second target unit memory includes: a second receiving memory having a second memory size smaller than the first memory size; The intermediate unit processor includes: When a first message is received from the communication device and a destination is the first target unit, transmitting the first message to the first target unit without dividing the first message; When receiving the first message from the communication device and when a transmission destination is the second target unit, generating a plurality of first divided messages by dividing the first message, and sequentially transmitting the plurality of first divided messages to the second target unit; A vehicle that performs processing including.

2. The intermediate unit processor includes: when receiving a plurality of second divided messages obtained by dividing a second message from the second target unit, combining the plurality of second divided messages to generate a combined message, and transmitting the combined message to the communication device; The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:

3. The intermediate unit memory includes: memory size information including memory sizes of the first receiving memory and the second receiving memory; The intermediate unit processor includes: determining whether to divide the first message based on the memory size information when receiving the first message from the communication device; The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, which executes a process including the steps of:

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