Method for determining an appropriate time for transmitting a data packet from a back end to at least one first control unit of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for determining an appropriate time for transmitting a data packet (10) from a backend (12) to at least one first control device (14a) of a motor vehicle (16) in order to control at least one function of the at least one control device (14a), the data packet (10) being transmitted and received between the backend (12) and the at least one control device (14a), and the transmission being off-board triggered (B1) and / or on-board triggered (B2).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data packets from a back end to at least one first control unit of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 . [Background technology]

[0002] Modern vehicles or automobiles have numerous networked control units or control devices that exchange data with the vehicle backend. Here, two types of functionality can be distinguished:

[0003] On the other hand, such an exchange may be "triggered offboard", i.e., the exchange is triggered outside the vehicle. The initial data transmission for realizing the corresponding function takes place from the backend to the vehicle. The entire sequence usually corresponds to a "Request / Response-Pattern", in which the backend sends a data packet to the vehicle. An example of a "Request" would be a command to lock the vehicle. The vehicle then confirms that the data packet has been successfully processed. An example of a "Response" would be the confirmation: "Vehicle locked successfully". The customer does not initiate this function in / on the vehicle itself, but rather via a remote interface, e.g., a smartphone application, accordingly "offboard".

[0004] On the other hand, such an exchange may be "triggered onboard," i.e., triggered inside the vehicle. The initial data transmission for the corresponding function takes place from the vehicle to the backend. The entire sequence also typically corresponds to a "Request / Response-Pattern," in which the vehicle sends a data packet to the backend. Another example of a "Request" would be a command to update status data, such as changing the ignition state, or the locking state. The backend then sends a "response" to the vehicle, confirming successful processing of the data packet. These functions are initiated in / at the vehicle by the customer, for example, when the customer unlocks the vehicle, or by the vehicle itself, for example, when the battery state is low. That is, they are initiated "onboard."

[0005] The backend does not normally communicate directly with the control unit that processes the data packets in the vehicle, but rather via a so-called telecommunications unit (TCU) that has a mobile radio module. While the TCU does guarantee a secure connection with the backend, the protocols used, at least at the application level, do not guarantee that the data packets will be transmitted successfully or that they will even be received. Furthermore, the TCU can only receive a message if it has been received successfully. This means that, according to the current state of the art, data packets can be lost along the communication path, both in the direction from the backend to the control unit and in the opposite direction.

[0006] In cases where a function is triggered off-board due to external influences, for example, if the mobile radio connection is interrupted or poor, the data packet may not reach the vehicle. Nevertheless, there are data packets that must reach the vehicle regarding the successful provision of various off-board customer functions. However, depending on the customer function, the delivery of the data packet does not necessarily have to be immediate.

[0007] Patent Document 1 already discloses a method for re-establishing a cellular connection between a vehicle telematics unit and a wireless carrier system. The method includes detecting a loss of the cellular connection between the vehicle telematics unit and the wireless carrier system and accessing a technology order table (TOT) that sorts multiple radio access technologies (RATs) corresponding to use in the vehicle telematics unit in a preferred order. Similarly, the method attempts to re-establish the cellular connection, particularly through various method steps.

[0008] From DE 10 05 043 A1 a method for setting up access to a vehicle network from a mobile device is known: In the event of an error, the corresponding signaling sequence is restarted. Patent Document 3 discloses a method for off-board control of a vehicle telematics unit by a backend, and only briefly mentions retransmitting a request, without providing further details. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] US9179488B2 [Patent Document 2] US2019 / 0141023A1 [Patent Document 3] US2015 / 0133108A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for transmitting data packets that have been transmitted to a vehicle but have not arrived to the vehicle again at an appropriate time, thereby increasing the probability that the data packets will be received by the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The above problem is solved by a method with the features of claim 1. Advantageous configurations, including preferred developments of the invention, are set forth in the further claims.

[0012] The present invention relates to a method for determining an appropriate time for transmitting data packets from a back end to at least one first control unit for controlling at least one function of at least one control unit of a vehicle, in particular an automobile, in particular a passenger car, in which the data packets are transmitted and received between the back end and the at least one control unit, the transmission being triggered off-board and / or on-board. Likewise, it is also possible to transmit all data packets to different control units for controlling different functions, in which case a priority is provided in the transmission structure.

[0013] According to the present invention, when the transmission of at least one data packet to a first control device is triggered offboard, a timer is started during which the backend waits for confirmation information regarding the reception of the data packet transmitted by the offboard trigger. If the confirmation information is received, control of the function is confirmed; if the confirmation information is not received, the data packet is buffered in the backend for future transmission. The buffered data packet is then transmitted again to the first control device when the transmission of another data packet is triggered onboard from the same or another control device. In particular, the timer ensures that, from the backend's perspective, a message that did not reach the vehicle or a data packet that was not transmitted to each control device is sent again at the appropriate time. The timer identifies a high probability that the message was not received. A new transmission at the appropriate time is realized via the onboard triggered message and buffer.

[0014] The solution for determining the appropriate time to resend a data packet when a function is triggered offboard is implemented using an onboard-triggered function and under the assumption that communication between the backend and the vehicle is performed via a request / response pattern, preventing the vehicle from receiving the same data packet multiple times. In other words, the onboard-triggered function triggers a new attempt to transmit data packets that were not transmitted when the offboard-triggered function failed. If a response is not received for a predetermined period of time or after the expiration of a timer when the function is triggered offboard, the backend data must assume that the corresponding data packet did not reach the vehicle or a control unit. Therefore, the backend must temporarily store data packets specific to the vehicle or a control unit.

[0015] The appropriate time or trigger for retransmitting or retransmitting the data packet is the successful reception of a data packet that the vehicle or each control unit sent to the backend within the context of an onboard-triggered function. The transmission of these data packets is triggered by the vehicle or each control unit itself and is therefore triggered independently of the offboard-triggered function, for example, when the customer unlocks the vehicle or changes the ignition state, and usually occurs in a context different from the context of the offboard-triggered function. The reception of the data packet from the vehicle or each control unit justifies the assumption that the vehicle or control unit can be accessed again and therefore the data packet sent from the backend will also be received with a very high probability. This means that, since at least one further transmission is performed in the present invention, the probability of a single transmission without an inquiry is lower than in the method according to the present invention.

[0016] In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a check is carried out to determine whether a data packet needs to be transmitted again. This means that when an on-board triggered function appears in the buffer, a certain function is checked for its necessity. For example, after getting into the car, the lock protection is no longer present, so this protection can be deleted from the buffer again. Here, for safety reasons, for example, each function that has not been performed can be recorded and stored for further processing, thereby reducing the memory space and working memory required.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the buffer is cleared after a successful on-board triggered transmission, where the buffer clearing can be performed as a direct result of the on-board triggered function or as a delayed result, in which case the OEM can configure the clearing, particularly in this case where vehicle safety is a priority.

[0018] It has been found to be further advantageous that the inventive configuration transmits information to the data receiver if the transmission of an off-board triggered data packet is not confirmed. This is advantageous because of security precautions at the application level, since the user of the application receives a warning as soon as the backend receives the confirmation information. This means that, for example, if the vehicle is not locked, various functions can be provided with higher security.

[0019] Finally, in an advantageous configuration of the invention, after the transmission of the onboard-triggered data packet has been confirmed, another second and / or another timer is started, during which the backend waits again for confirmation information regarding the reception of the previously buffered data packet of the offboard-triggered transmission, and if confirmation information is not received again, a signal is generated to trigger an error message, which notifies the user or OEM of the confirmation of a possible interruption of the interface between the backend and the control device and suggests to the user or OEM that a possible physical connection / interface or another component is defective.

[0020] The invention comes from the field of telematics and relates to a method that makes it possible, from the vehicle backend's point of view, to retransmit to the vehicle, at the appropriate time, messages that have not reached the vehicle.

[0021] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned in the above description and below in the description of several figures and / or shown in a single figure can be used not only in the combinations respectively described, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1]In the only drawing (figure) a schematic chart is shown to explain the method according to the invention, in which identical and functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The only drawing (figure) shows an example of application of the method according to the invention, in which an appropriate time is determined for transmitting a data packet 10 from a back end 12 to at least one first control unit 14a of a vehicle 16, in particular a motor vehicle, for controlling at least one function of at least one control unit 14a. The data packet 10 is transmitted and received between the back end 12 and the at least one control unit 14a, the transmission being initiated by an off-board trigger B1 and / or an on-board trigger B2. When the transmission of at least one data packet 10 to the first control unit 14a is off-board triggered B1, a timer T is started during which the back end 12 waits for a confirmation 18 regarding the reception of the data packet 10 transmitted by the off-board trigger B1. If the confirmation 18 is received, confirmation of the control of the function is signaled. If the confirmation 18 is not received, and therefore a non-confirmation 28 is transmitted, the data packet 10 is temporarily stored in a buffer 20 of the back end for future transmission. The non-acknowledgement information 28 from the vehicle 16 to the backend 12 is in particular the expiry of the timer T, which can be forwarded to another entity. Finally, the buffered data packet 10 is transmitted again to the at least one control device 14a when an on-board trigger B2 is issued for the transmission of another data packet 10b.

[0024] This single drawing (figure) illustrates an example in which a customer / user 22 configures a pre-conditioning function for his / her vehicle 16, which is designed as an electric vehicle, via an OEM smartphone app 26, with the pre-conditioning function set to activate at a preset time of 2:00 PM in the vehicle 16. In this case, an off-board triggered B1 transmission of a data packet 10 is performed for this function. For the pre-conditioning, a pre-conditioning command 24 is transmitted to the vehicle 16 via the backend 12. First, a request data packet 10a is transmitted to the backend 12, and then this data packet 10 in the form of a command data packet is transmitted from the backend 12 to the vehicle 16 and / or the control device 14a. In other words, the data packets 10, 10a are different in that they are command data packets or data packets 10 between the vehicle 16 and the backend 12, and data packets 10a between the backend 12 and the customer / user 22.

[0025] As soon as the customer / user 22 sets the desired activation time in the smartphone app 26, the backend 12 sends a corresponding data packet 10 to the vehicle 16 with a pre-conditioning command 24 for setting up the pre-conditioning, including in particular the activation time. If the backend 12 does not receive the expected confirmation 18 or (English) "response" to the sent data packet 10 within a predetermined period or timer T, it can assume that the data packet 10 did not reach the vehicle 16 or the control device 14a and that the pre-conditioning 24 was not set according to the customer's request.

[0026] Instead of transmitting the data packet 10 to the vehicle 16 or the control device 14a at periodic time intervals or having the customer / user 22 reset the start-up time, the backend 12 waits in accordance with the method until it receives another data packet 10b from the vehicle 16, transmitted within the framework of an on-board triggered B2 function, for example when the vehicle 16 connected to the charging station transmits a new charging status to the backend 12. This data packet 10b, which is unrelated to the pre-conditioning 24, thus triggers the repetition of the buffered data packet 10, which will with a very high probability be received by the vehicle 16 or the control device 14a and thus result in the setting of the pre-conditioning 24 in the vehicle 16 and the setting of the corresponding confirmation information 18 in the backend 12.

Claims

1. 1. A method for determining an appropriate time for transmitting a data packet (10) from a back end (12) to at least one first control unit (14a) of a motor vehicle (16) for controlling at least one function of the at least one control unit (14a), the data packet (10) being transmitted and received between the back end (12) and the at least one control unit (14a), the transmission being off-board triggered (B1) and / or on-board triggered (B2), the method comprising: the method further comprising: if the transmission of at least one data packet (10) to the first control device (14a) is triggered off-board (B1), a timer (T) is started during which the backend (12) waits for a confirmation (18) regarding the reception of the at least one data packet (10) transmitted by the off-board trigger (B1); if the confirmation (18) is received, control of the function is confirmed; if the confirmation (18) is not received, the at least one data packet (10) is buffered in a buffer (20) of the backend (12) for a future transmission; and the buffered at least one data packet (10) is transmitted again to the control device (14a) when the transmission of another data packet (10b) is triggered on-board (B2).

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a check is carried out as to the necessity of said at least one data packet (10) being transmitted again.

3. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the buffer (20) is flushed after a successful transmission of an on-board triggered (B2) data packet (10b).

4. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the transmission of an off-board triggered data packet is not acknowledged, a non-acknowledgement message is transmitted to the data receiver.

5. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the transmission of the on-board triggered data packet has been confirmed, a second timer is started in which the backend waits again for the previously stored confirmation information on the reception of the data packet, and if the confirmation information is not received again, a signal is generated to trigger an error message.

Images