Electronic control device

Abstract

To provide an electronic control device that does not require communication for address resolution.SOLUTION: An electronic control device is included in a wired communication network inside a vehicle together with a plurality of in-vehicle apparatuses. The electronic control device is connected to the in-vehicle apparatuses and includes a relay device that relays at least communication between the in-vehicle apparatuses. The electronic control device communicates with the in-vehicle apparatuses via the relay device and includes a processor to which a global MAC address is assigned that is unique to the electronic control device and different from a MAC address used between the in-vehicle apparatuses. The relay device converts between a virtual MAC address, which indicates the electronic control device and corresponds to the MAC address, and the global MAC address (S24, S34).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic control device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a relay device. The relay device includes an address changing unit that changes the address of a frame received by one of two interfaces, and a transfer unit that transfers the frame with the changed address by transmitting it through the other interface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when an electronic control device included in a wired communication network communicates with an external device, a global address may be assigned. In this case, a local address in the wired communication network is assigned to the in-vehicle device. Therefore, when the electronic control device communicates with the in-vehicle device, communication for address resolution is required every time at startup. From the above viewpoints, or from other viewpoints not mentioned, further improvement of the electronic control device is required.

[0005] One object to be disclosed is to provide an electronic control device that does not need to perform communication for address resolution.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The electronic control device disclosed herein is An electronic control device included in a wired communication network in a vehicle together with at least one in-vehicle device (200, 300, 400), A relay device (20) that is connected to the in-vehicle device and relays at least communication between the in-vehicle devices, A processor (10) that communicates with the in-vehicle device via the relay device and is assigned a global address unique to the electronic control device, which is different from the local address used between the in-vehicle devices, The relay device includes rewriting steps (S24, S34) for converting a virtual address corresponding to the local address and the global address, which indicates the electronic control device.

[0007] In this way, the electronic control device converts a virtual address corresponding to the local address and a global address different from the local address. Therefore, the electronic control device can communicate with the in-vehicle device using the virtual address. For this reason, the electronic control device does not need to perform communication for address resolution with the in-vehicle equipment.

[0008] The plurality of aspects disclosed in this specification employ different technical means to achieve their respective purposes. The reference numerals in parentheses described in the claims and this section exemplify the correspondence with parts of the embodiments described later and are not intended to limit the technical scope. The objects, features, and effects disclosed in this specification will become clearer by referring to the subsequent detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The electronic control unit 100 is configured to be mountable on a vehicle. In the vehicle, a second electronic control unit 200, a third electronic control unit 300, and a fourth electronic control unit 400 are mounted as in-vehicle devices. The electronic control unit 100 is individually connected to each of the electronic control units 200 to 400 by a communication line. The electronic control units 100 to 400 are included in a wired communication network in the vehicle. The wired communication network is a local communication network. In the wired communication network, Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like can be adopted as a communication standard.

[0011] The electronic control unit 100 has a function of relaying communication in the wired communication network. The second electronic control unit 200, the third electronic control unit 300, and the fourth electronic control unit 400 perform different vehicle controls, respectively.

[0012] Each of the electronic control units 200 to 400 communicates using a communication frame. The communication frame includes a MAC address indicating a destination and a source, data for vehicle control, data for vehicle diagnosis, and the like. Note that the MAC address is included in the header of the communication frame. MAC is an abbreviation for Media Access Control.

[0013] The MAC address is an address for identifying each of the electronic control units 200 to 400. That is, each of the electronic control units 200 to 400 is given a unique MAC address. Also, the MAC address can be uniquely determined within a wired communication network. Therefore, the MAC address can also be referred to as a local MAC address or a MAC local address. Note that the MAC address corresponds to a local address.

[0014] Furthermore, each of the electronic control units 200 to 400 can communicate using a communication frame including a virtual MAC address corresponding to the MAC address indicating the electronic control unit 100. For example, when the second electronic control unit 200 transmits data to the electronic control unit 100, it transmits a communication frame including a virtual MAC address as the MAC address indicating the destination.

[0015] The virtual MAC address can be said to be the MAC address indicating the electronic control unit 100. The virtual address is, for example, the same MAC address for all vehicle units. The virtual MAC address corresponds to the virtual address. The communication frame is also referred to as an Ether frame.

[0016] In the drawings, the processor 10 is described as RPO, the relay device 20 as RDEV, the circuit device 21 as CKT, the register 22 as REG, and the non-volatile memory 30 as NVM. Also, in the drawings, the electronic control unit 100 is described as 1ECU, the second electronic control unit 200 as 2ECU, the third electronic control unit 300 as 3ECU, and the fourth electronic control unit 400 as 4ECU.

[0017] Each of the electronic control units 200 to 400 corresponds to an in-vehicle device. In the present embodiment, as an example, an electronic control unit 100 to which three electronic control units 200 to 300 as in-vehicle devices are connected is adopted. However, the electronic control unit 100 only needs to have at least one in-vehicle device connected thereto.

[0018] <Configuration> First, with reference to FIG. 1, the electronic control device 100 includes a processor 10, a relay device 20, a non-volatile memory 30, and an antenna 40.

[0019] The processor 10 includes an arithmetic processing unit and a storage device, etc. The processor 10 is configured such that the arithmetic processing unit executes a program stored in the storage device. The processor 10 is configured to be communicable with the relay device 20. Also, the processor 10 communicates with each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400 via the relay device 20. Note that the processor 10 communicates with the relay device 20 using a communication frame.

[0020] Also, the processor 10 is configured to be communicable with an external device provided outside the vehicle via the antenna 40. The external device is, for example, an inspection device used at a dealer or a factory. The processor 10 performs diagnostic communication with the inspection device. The processor 10 transmits diagnostic data obtained from each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400 to the inspection device.

[0021] Unlike the MAC addresses used between each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400, the electronic control device 100 is given a global MAC address unique to the electronic control device 100. The global MAC address is stored in the storage device of the processor 10, etc. The global MAC address is an address guaranteed to be globally unique. Also, the global MAC address can be said to be a unique MAC address or a global MAC address that is different for each vehicle. The global MAC address corresponds to a global address.

[0022] The relay device 20 includes a circuit device 21 and a register 22, etc. The circuit device 21 is connected to each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400. The circuit device 21 relays at least the communication between each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400. Also, the circuit device 21 relays the communication between the processor 10 and each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400. The register 22 corresponds to a storage device.

[0023] A transfer rule is set in register 22. The transfer rule can be said to be a rule for transferring communication frames between the processor 10 and each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400. Also, the transfer rule can be said to be a rule for performing communication between the processor 10, which has a global MAC address, and each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400, which have MAC addresses.

[0024] For example, the transfer rule can adopt the address conversion table shown in FIG. 2. In the address conversion table, the MAC address before conversion and the MAC address after conversion are associated with each other. The address conversion table is mainly a table for converting a virtual MAC address and a global MAC address. Therefore, the address conversion table includes a set value indicating a virtual MAC address and a set value indicating a global MAC address. Here, as an example, an address conversion table including a set value indicating a MAC address that is not to be converted is adopted.

[0025] AAA is a virtual MAC address (1ECUMAC) indicating the first electronic control device 100. XXX is the global MAC address (1ECUMAC) given to the first electronic control device 100. Note that the MAC address (2ECUMAC) of the second electronic control device 200 is BBB. The MAC address (3ECUMAC) of the third electronic control device 300 is CCC.

[0026] The address conversion table (transfer rule) is set by the processor 10, for example. Every time the vehicle is started, the processor 10 writes the global address to the register 22 and sets the address conversion table. The relay device 20 converts the virtual address and the global address in the Ether frame based on the address conversion table.

[0027] However, the address conversion table may be set from the non-volatile memory 30. In this case, the global MAC address of the first electronic control device 100 is stored in the non-volatile memory 30. Note that the non-volatile memory 30 can adopt an EEPROM (registered trademark) or the like.

[0028] In this way, the relay device 20 includes a register 22 in which an address conversion table including a global MAC address is stored. Then, the relay device 20 (circuit device 21) converts a virtual MAC address and a global MAC address based on the address conversion table. Therefore, the relay device 20 can change only the target MAC address, and complicated processing becomes unnecessary.

[0029] <Processing operation> The processing operation of the electronic control device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. Here, as an example, a situation where the electronic control device 100 communicates with the second electronic control device 200 is used. However, the electronic control device 100 performs the same processing operation with other electronic control devices 300 and 400.

[0030] First, the linking process will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The linking process is a process of setting an address conversion table that links a global MAC address and a virtual MAC address. The processor 10 starts the flowchart of FIG. 4, for example, when the vehicle is started. Note that when the vehicle is started, it can also be regarded as the time when the supply of the operating power to the electronic control device 100 is started. Further, when the vehicle is started, it can also be regarded as the time when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on. Note that the processor 10 can also perform the linking process in the initial process executed by starting the supply of the operating power.

[0031] In step S10, a transfer rule is set in the relay device. The processor 10 writes a global MAC address in the register 22 and sets an address conversion table. In the present embodiment, as an example, an example of setting the address conversion table every time the vehicle is started is adopted.

[0032] Also, the global MAC address is stored in the storage device of the processor 10 or the like. The global MAC address is used not only for setting the address conversion table. For example, it is also used in software parts such as the SoC and microcomputer of the electronic control device 100. Therefore, by having the processor 10 store the global MAC address, complex processing can be suppressed.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, before performing communication processing with the second electronic control device 200, the processor 10 sets the address conversion table in the register 22. Also, it can be said that the processor 10 sets the address conversion table before performing communication processing with each of the first electronic control devices 200 to 300 after the supply of the operating power to the electronic control device 100 is started. That is, the register 22 has the address conversion table set before communication processing in the wired communication network. As a result, the electronic control device 100 can communicate with each of the electronic control devices 200 to 300 even in the first communication processing after the supply of the operating power is started.

[0034] However, the linking process is not limited to the above. The register 22 may have the address conversion table set from the non-volatile memory 30. In this case, the processor 10 writes the global MAC address to the non-volatile memory 30 at the first startup of the vehicle. Then, at subsequent startups of the vehicle, the non-volatile memory 30 writes the global MAC address to the register 22 and sets the address conversion table. That is, the non-volatile memory 30 sets the address conversion table without going through the processor 10. As a result, the processor 10 does not need to set the address conversion table every time at startup. Note that the non-volatile memory 30 can also be said to be a memory device dedicated to relay device setting.

[0035] Furthermore, the non-volatile memory 30 may have a global MAC address written therein during the manufacture of the electronic control device 100. Thus, the global MAC address may be written in the non-volatile memory 30 by a device in the factory instead of the processor 10. When the vehicle is started, the non-volatile memory 30 writes the global MAC address to the register 22 and sets the address conversion table. Even in this case, when the vehicle is started, the global MAC address is written to the register 22 from the non-volatile memory 30 and the address conversion table is set. As a result, the processor 10 does not need to set the address conversion table.

[0036] Next, with reference to FIG. 5, relay processing when receiving an Ether frame from the second electronic control device 200 will be described. The relay device 20 (circuit device 21) starts the flowchart of FIG. 5 after the linking process is completed.

[0037] In step S20, an Ether frame is received. The circuit device 21 receives an Ether frame including the source address, destination address, etc. Note that the circuit device 21 checks for the reception of an Ether frame every predetermined time. Then, when the circuit device 21 receives an Ether frame, it may execute step S22. Also, when the circuit device 21 receives an Ether frame from each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400, it may execute step S22.

[0038] In step S22, it is determined whether the destination is a virtual MAC address. The circuit device 21 checks the header of the Ether frame. Then, the circuit device 21 determines whether the destination included in the Ether frame is a MAC address. If the circuit device 21 determines that the destination is a MAC address, it proceeds to step S24, and if it determines that the destination is not a MAC address, it ends the flowchart of FIG. 5.

[0039] In step S24, it rewrites to the global MAC address (rewriting step). The circuit device 21 rewrites the virtual MAC address (destination) included in the Ether frame received in step S20 to the global MAC address. That is, the circuit device 21 converts the virtual MAC address to the global MAC address. At this time, the circuit device 21 refers to the address conversion table for the conversion. As a result, the destination of the Ether frame becomes the global MAC address. Note that the source of the Ether frame is the MAC address of the second electronic control device 200.

[0040] Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the circuit device 21 transmits the Ether frame with the rewritten destination to the processor 10. As a result, the processor 10 recognizes that it has received an Ether frame addressed to itself.

[0041] The relay process when transmitting an Ether frame from the first electronic control device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The circuit device 21 starts the flowchart of FIG. 6 after the linking process is completed.

[0042] Step S30 is the same as step S20. Note that the circuit device 21 checks for the reception of an Ether frame every predetermined time. And the circuit device 21 may execute step S32 when it receives an Ether frame. Also, the circuit device 21 may execute step S32 when it receives an Ether frame from the processor 10.

[0043] In step S32, it determines whether the source is the global MAC address. The circuit device 21 checks the header of the Ether frame. And the circuit device 21 determines whether the source included in the Ether frame is the global MAC address. If the circuit device 21 determines that the source is the global MAC address, it proceeds to step S34, and if it determines that the source is not the global MAC address, it ends the flowchart of FIG. 6.

[0044] In step S34, rewrite to the virtual MAC address (rewrite step). The circuit device 21 rewrites the global MAC address (source) included in the Ether frame received in step S30 to the virtual MAC address. That is, the circuit device 21 converts the global MAC address to the virtual MAC address. At this time, the circuit device 21 refers to the address conversion table for the conversion. As a result, the source of the Ether frame becomes the virtual MAC address. Note that the destination of the Ether frame is the MAC address of the second electronic control device 200.

[0045] Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the circuit device 21 transmits the Ether frame with the rewritten source to the processor 10. As a result, the processor 10 can transmit the Ether frame whose source is itself.

[0046] <Effect> In this way, the electronic control device 100 converts the virtual MAC address corresponding to the MAC address and the global MAC address different from the MAC address. Therefore, the electronic control device 100 can communicate with the in-vehicle device using the virtual MAC address. Therefore, the electronic control device 100 does not need to perform address resolution communication (ARP) with each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400. ARP is an abbreviation for Address Resolution Protocol. ARP is communication for recognizing an address before control communication.

[0047] In addition, since the electronic control device 100 does not need to perform address resolution communication, the startup time can be shortened and the communication load can be reduced. Furthermore, since the electronic control device 100 does not use ARP, it does not need to perform communication for teaching an address. Therefore, the electronic control device 100 can ensure security. Note that each of the electronic control devices 200 to 400 can communicate with the electronic control device 100 without being aware of the MAC address of the electronic control device 100.

[0048] Note that the register 22 may include a majority decision circuit. Thereby, the electronic control device 100 can suppress the corruption of each set value in the address conversion table.

[0049] The processor 10 may compare its own global MAC address with the global MAC address of the register 22. And when the two global MAC addresses do not match, the processor 10 may rewrite the global MAC address to the register 22 again. Thereby, the electronic control device 100 can suppress the corruption of each set value in the address conversion table.

[0050] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. Although the present disclosure has been described in accordance with the embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and structures. The present disclosure also includes various modifications and modifications within the equivalent scope. In addition, although various combinations and forms are shown in the present disclosure, other combinations and forms including only one element, more than one element, or less than one element thereof are also within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0051] 10…Processor, 20…Relay device, 21…Circuit device, 22…Register, 30…Non-volatile memory, 40…Antenna, 100…Electronic control device, 200…Second electronic control device, 300…Third electronic control device, 400…Fourth electronic control device

Claims

1. An electronic control device included in a wired communication network in a vehicle together with at least one in-vehicle device (200, 300, 400), a relay device (20) connected to the in-vehicle device and performing at least relaying communication between the in-vehicle devices, a processor (10) that communicates with the in-vehicle device via the relay device and is given a global address unique to the electronic control device, which is different from a local address used between the in-vehicle devices, and the relay device includes a rewriting step (S24, S34) of converting a virtual address corresponding to the local address and the global address, which indicates the electronic control device. An electronic control device.

2. The electronic control device according to claim 1, wherein the relay device includes a storage device (22) in which an address conversion table including the global address is stored, and the virtual address and the global address are converted based on the address conversion table.

3. The electronic control device according to claim 2, wherein the processor writes the global address into the storage device and sets the address conversion table every time the vehicle is started.

4. Comprising a non-volatile memory (30), the processor writes the global address into the non-volatile memory at the first start-up of the vehicle, The electronic control device according to claim 2, wherein the storage device is written with the global address from the non-volatile memory and the address conversion table is set when the vehicle is started.

5. Comprising a non-volatile memory (30) into which the global address is written, The electronic control device according to claim 2, wherein the storage device is written with the global address from the non-volatile memory and the address conversion table is set when the vehicle is started.

6. The electronic control device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the storage device includes a majority decision circuit.

7. The electronic control device according to claim 2, wherein the processor compares its own global address with the global address of the storage device, and if they do not match, rewrites the global address into the storage device again.

Images