Method and communication control device for data transmission in vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data packets provided by at least one stationary data transmission device (2) via at least one channel (10) in a vehicle (1), in which the data packets are received by a communication control device (100) using a communication module (120) designed for reception via the at least one channel (10), temporarily stored in a memory (140), an allowable transmission latency is determined for each data packet, and the data packets are transmitted to at least one other component (200, 300) of the vehicle (1) in ascending order of the allowable transmission latency via at least one data transmission section (201, 202) having a transmission rate lower than the maximum transmission rate of the at least one channel (10). The present invention also relates to a communication control device (100) for implementing such a method, as well as to an arrangement of components in the vehicle (1) equipped with at least one such communication control device (100).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data packets in a vehicle as described in the generic concept of claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a communication control device for a vehicle as described in the generic concept of claim 4. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an arrangement of components in a vehicle as described in the generic concept of claim 6.

Background Art

[0002] For various channels for transmitting data via, for example, very high frequency (VHF), microwaves or infrared rays, fixed data transmission devices installed along traffic routes are known. Using these data transmission devices, data packets can be transmitted to a moving vehicle and / or data packets transmitted from that vehicle can be received. This type of data packet can include information about, for example, the availability of a traffic route restricted depending on the weight, vehicle type, vehicle height or similar parameters of the vehicle, the traffic flow, traffic disruptions, or road tolls (tolls) that may occur.

[0003] Furthermore, for example, from Patent Document 1, a distributed data exchange system for a vehicle having a locally stationary primary storage memory for primary storage of data is known. The distributed data exchange system further includes a first in-vehicle transmitter for transmitting temporarily stored data to a dormant local temporary storage memory via a first short-range interface, a second in-vehicle receiver for receiving the temporarily stored data from the dormant local temporary storage memory via a second short-range interface, and a processor connected to the temporary storage memory. The processor is designed to process the data transmitted to the temporary storage memory, generate ambient environment model data, write the ambient environment model data to the temporary storage memory, and transmit it to a second vehicle.

[0004] Publication, Patent Document 2, describes a device for controlling access to a wireless communication network using a time-division multiplexing scheme. This device includes a time-slice allocation module designed to allocate time slices for data transmission from a first node to a second node, and a validation module designed to validate data packets before transmission from the first node to the second node based on latency requirements for data packets and the expected latency of data packets corresponding to the time of the associated time slice. The validation module is provided to distinguish between data packets to be transmitted and data packets that should not be transmitted. The device further includes a time control module designed to classify data packets to be transmitted into time slices intended for transmission from the first node to the second node.

[0005] Data received via data transmission devices and / or from stationary storage memory in moving vehicles are subject to very different requirements regarding the maximum allowable waiting time (i.e., the delay to processing and / or display in each vehicle). Some information, such as general information about road conditions or traffic congestion over short distances, is not so or not time-critical at all. Other information, such as warnings about major disaster events like tsunamis or earthquakes, and payment requirements related to road usage (toll) payment obligations, needs to be processed and / or displayed immediately or within a very short period of time.

[0006] In most cases, the volume of this type of data packet is small, typically between 10 and 100 kilobytes. However, the channel for data transmission between a stationary data transmission device and a vehicle must have a transmission speed that ensures the complete reception of all user data, as well as metadata and backup data required for compliance with the transmission protocol, within a time window that may be significantly limited by the vehicle's maximum travel speed and the minimum reach of the data transmission device.

[0007] The resulting transmission speeds for such channels typically far exceed, often by an order of magnitude or more, the bandwidth or transmission speed intended for data transmission between components within a vehicle.

[0008] Therefore, it was necessary to provide a special data transmission interface (hereinafter also referred to as a gateway) in communication control devices designed for receiving data via such channels, enabling higher data transmission speeds than those typically planned for vehicles. On the other hand, such special gateways are required not only for communication control devices but also for other components that are to process and / or display the data received via such channels, which leads to increased manufacturing costs.

[0009] Furthermore, data transmission sections using wider bandwidths are more sensitive to interference, particularly electromagnetic interference; therefore, higher demands are placed on the cabling and installation of such data transmission sections. Therefore, a method is needed to distribute data packets received via a high-speed transmission channel within the vehicle through a data transmission section with a much slower transmission speed than that channel, without compromising the requirements imposed on the maximum allowable latency in the transport of such data packets. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] DE102018221933A1 [Patent Document 2] WO2021 / 043841A1 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] The problem on which the present invention is based is to provide an improved method for transmitting data packets in a vehicle. This problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1, according to the present invention.

[0012] Furthermore, the problem on which the present invention is based is to provide an improved communication control device for vehicles. This problem is solved by a communication control device having the features of claim 4, according to the present invention.

[0013] Furthermore, a problem on which the present invention is based is to provide an improved arrangement of components in a vehicle. This problem is solved by an apparatus having the features of claim 6, according to the present invention.

[0014] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are subject to the dependent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] Accordingly, according to a first aspect of the present invention, in a method for transmitting data packets within a vehicle that are provided from at least one stationary data transmission device via at least one channel, the data packets are received by a vehicle's communication control device using a communication module designed to receive via at least one channel and temporarily stored in memory. In one embodiment, a timestamp indicating the time of reception by the communication module is assigned to the data packet during temporary storage.

[0016] For each data packet, an acceptable transport latency is determined. The acceptable transport latency represents the time interval within that allowable transport latency during which the data packet must be processed and / or displayed in the vehicle after it is received by the communication module.

[0017] For example, a data packet indicating traffic congestion far from the vehicle will be associated with a relatively long delivery time. In contrast, a data packet indicating tolls that must be paid to travel on a toll road will be associated with a relatively short delivery time. Similarly, a data packet indicating a warning notification for a tsunami, earthquake, or levee fire along a road section immediately ahead will also be associated with a relatively short delivery time.

[0018] The data packets are designed to exchange data with a communication control device and are transmitted in a predetermined order to at least one other component of the vehicle via at least one data transmission section having a transmission rate slower than the maximum transmission rate of at least one channel for receiving data from at least one stationary data transmission device.

[0019] The transmission order of data packets is determined so as to adhere to the allowable transit latency for each data packet.

[0020] For example, the latest possible acceptable transport time for a data packet can be determined using the transport latency from the timestamp of reception of the data packet by the communication module. In other words, the time at which the data packet must be transmitted to at least one other component via the data transmission section can be determined. This allows all temporarily stored data packets to be sorted according to the latest possible acceptable transport time for each data packet, starting with the earliest (i.e., closest) acceptable transport time, and transmitted in the order of this list. In this way, if the transmission speed of the data transmission section is sufficient, the timely transport of all data packets can be guaranteed.

[0021] In other words, data packets received by the communication control device are temporarily stored, and priority is determined for transfers through the data transmission section, with high priority assigned to data packets that require urgent transport and low priority assigned to data packets that do not require urgent transport.

[0022] In this way, without losing data packets or violating requirements regarding the waiting time in transit, the data received from the channel can be distributed to another component in the vehicle over a relatively long time within the transmission time window limited by the minimum reach of the stationary data transmission device and the maximum speed of the vehicle.

[0023] As a result, for at least one data transmission section in the vehicle, a cheap gateway having a transmission speed slower than the transmission speed achievable according to the prior art can be used. In particular, special dedicated gateways designed for particularly high transmission speeds, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces or Controller Area Network Flexible Datarate (CAN-FD) gateways, can be omitted.

[0024] Furthermore, higher interference resistance for at least one data transmission section is achieved. Also, requirements regarding cable wiring and the implementation of that kind of data transmission section in the vehicle can be relaxed.

[0025] In one embodiment of the method, data transmitted by the communication control device via at least one data transmission section at a transmission speed slower than the maximum transmission speed of at least one channel at least partially includes toll payment information.

[0026] By associating a short waiting time in transit and a corresponding high priority for transmission to at least one other component in the vehicle with data packets containing that kind of toll payment information, those data are preferably displayed and / or processed. As a result, appropriate processing of the payment process regarding tolls is ensured, even though the transmission speed of the communication control device is relatively limited (with respect to the channel).

[0027] In another embodiment of this method, data transmitted by the communication control device over at least one data transmission section at a transmission rate slower than the maximum transmission rate of at least one channel includes at least partially an emergency alarm notification.

[0028] The data packets containing such emergency warning notifications are associated with a short transport latency and a corresponding high priority for transmission to at least one other component in the vehicle, thereby enabling the display and / or processing of those warning notifications. This ensures that existing emergency warning notifications are appropriately and reliably communicated to vehicle occupants, even if the transmission speed of the communication control device is relatively limited (with respect to the channel).

[0029] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a communication control device for a vehicle includes a communication module equipped with a transceiver designed to receive data packets from a stationary data transmission device via at least one channel. According to the present invention, the communication control device further includes a memory for temporarily storing data packets, a computing unit, and at least one gateway designed to be connected to at least one data transmission section, each having a transmission speed slower than the maximum transmission speed of at least one channel, and the communication control device is designed to implement a method for transmitting data packets in a vehicle as described according to a first aspect of the present invention. In particular, the communication control device is designed to assign priorities, and the memory is designed to temporarily store data packets received via the channel.

[0030] By selecting a transmission speed of at least one gateway lower than the transmission speed of the channel, the structure of such a communication control device according to the present invention allows for a simpler and more interference-free assembly, particularly the use of gateways that are widely used in automotive manufacturing and are readily available at low cost. Another advantage of the communication control device according to the present invention corresponds to the advantages of the method according to the present invention for transmitting data packets in a vehicle.

[0031] In one embodiment, at least one gateway is designed as a Controller Area Network (CAN) gateway having a transmission rate slower than the maximum transmission rate of at least one channel. This type of CAN gateway is particularly widespread and inexpensive in automotive manufacturing.

[0032] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an arrangement of components which can be configured, for example, as a control device, as an infotainment component, or as a display and operating device, is configured as a communication control device according to a second aspect of the present invention, and includes at least one component which is designed to receive data packets from a stationary data transmission device via at least one channel and is connected to at least one other component via a data transmission section with a transmission speed slower than the maximum transmission speed of at least one channel.

[0033] The advantages of such an arrangement correspond to the advantages of the method for transmitting data packets in a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention and the advantages of the communication control device according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0034] In one embodiment, at least one other component connected to the communication control unit is configured as an infotainment main unit and is designed to determine the vehicle's driving route.

[0035] The present invention is based on the understanding that such infotainment main units, in their typical operating mode, rarely receive urgent data packets with short transport latency, such as warning notifications regarding natural disasters or toll payment information, but rather receive data packets with long transport latency that are not very time-critical, or not time-critical at all, relatively frequently, but still at sufficiently long time intervals.

[0036] By using the method according to the present invention, data packets are assigned a priority according to their maximum allowable transport latency and are temporarily stored in memory until the data packets are transmitted through at least one data transmission section, thereby stabilizing burst-like data transmission at high data transmission rates in the channel. This enables data transmission at significantly lower data transmission rates without compromising the security or reliability of the infotainment main unit. Another advantage of such embodiments corresponds to the advantages of the method for transmitting data packets in a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention and the advantages of the communication control device according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0038] [Figure 1] This diagram schematically shows a stationary data transmission device and a vehicle equipped with a communication control device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0039] In all of the figures, corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numeral.

[0040] Figure 1 schematically shows a mobile vehicle 1 and a stationary data transmission device 2. Vehicle 1 includes a communication control device 100, an infotainment main unit 200, and other electrical and / or electronic components that are simply schematically grouped together as vehicle electronics 300 in Figure 1. The infotainment main unit 200, also hereafter referred to as the head unit 200, is connected to the communication control device 100 or the vehicle electronics 300 by data transmission sections 201 and 202, which are designed bidirectionally to exchange data and / or control commands.

[0041] Vehicle 1 and data transmission device 2 are designed to exchange data via channel 10.

[0042] Channel 10 can be configured, for example, as a unidirectional frequency-modulated channel 10, through which data packets are transmitted from a data transmission device 2, which is configured in particular as a ground transmission station, and thereby provided in the form of broadcast for reception by a number of vehicles 1. Through such a frequency-modulated channel 10, data packets up to 50 kilobytes can be transmitted at a data transmission rate of approximately 16 kilobits per second over a typical radius of approximately 10 to 50 kilometers, at a typical carrier frequency of 76 MHz to 90 MHz.

[0043] In another embodiment, channel 10 may be configured as a microwave channel 10, in which case data packets up to 25 kilobytes are transmitted over a carrier frequency of typically 5.8 GHz at a data transmission rate of approximately 4 megabits per second. In that embodiment, the data transmission station 2 is configured as a stationary microwave beacon, which has a typical range of up to 20 meters and is usually installed along busy traffic routes such as highways and main roads.

[0044] In another embodiment, channel 10 may be configured as an infrared channel 10, in which case data packets up to 10 kilobytes are transmitted via an optical connection between vehicle 1 and data transmission device 2 configured as an infrared beacon. This type of infrared beacon typically has a range of up to 3.5 meters, is designed for data transmission speeds of up to 1 megabit per second from the infrared beacon to vehicle 1 (downlink), and for data transmission speeds of up to 64 kilobits per second from vehicle 1 to the infrared beacon (uplink), and is installed along normal traffic routes or sparsely trafficked routes.

[0045] For simplicity, only one channel 10 is shown in Figure 1, but typically, the vehicle 1 is equipped with various stationary data transmission devices 2 for data exchange, and data can be exchanged via multiple channels 10 configured in various ways.

[0046] An infotainment main unit or head unit 200 located on the vehicle side processes data transmitted via channel 10 and / or provides such data for transmission.

[0047] For example, the head unit 200 is specifically designed to perform route setting, i.e., calculate the driving route of vehicle 1 based on location data and map data. For this type of route setting, traffic data provided via at least one channel 10 may be considered. The traffic data may include information about traffic flow and / or traffic guidance, such as the latest information on closures, congestion, or other restrictions along the traffic routes relevant to the route setting. The display and processing of traffic data by the head unit 200 is generally not time-critical.

[0048] Furthermore, the head unit 200 can display important information for the vehicle occupants, such as warnings about bad weather or major disasters along the road, and this information is also provided via one or more channels 10 from a stationary data transmission device.

[0049] Furthermore, the head unit 200 can display and / or process important information related to the specific road on which vehicle 1 is currently traveling, such as information regarding tolls that must be paid (i.e., information regarding the amount that must be paid directly to use a certain section of road), such as information regarding height restrictions or tonnage limits when traveling on ferries, tunnels, bridges, or other traffic structures.

[0050] This type of information, which is merely an example and not exhaustive, can also be provided via a stationary data transmission device 2. Such information may require an immediate response from the head unit 200 or other components of the vehicle electronics 300, and / or from the vehicle occupants of vehicle 1.

[0051] Accordingly, the present invention is based on the recognition that various data received by the vehicle 1 via one or more channels 10 need to be processed with different temporal urgency or priority. Some of this data is associated with strict real-time requirements and must be processed and / or presented to the vehicle occupants within a predetermined period or permissible transport waiting time calculated after reception by the vehicle 1. Other data is associated with less stringent real-time requirements, i.e., must be processed and / or displayed within a predetermined time on a statistical average, although this time may be exceeded in extremely rare individual cases. Still other data can be processed and / or displayed without any special temporal requirements.

[0052] Based on this understanding, the present invention derives the problem of configuring the transmission, storage, and processing of such data received in a vehicle 1 via one or more channels 10 in a manner that satisfies all temporal requirements and prevents data loss with very little technical effort.

[0053] In this regard, for data exchange via at least one channel 10, the communication control device 100 is provided with a communication module 120 comprising at least one transceiver 121. That is, for example, the first transceiver 121 can be designed as an ultra-shortwave receiver for receiving data via a frequency-modulated channel 10, the second transceiver 121 can be designed as a microwave receiver for receiving data via a microwave channel 10, and the third transceiver 121 can be designed as a bidirectional infrared transceiver for receiving and transmitting data via an infrared channel 10.

[0054] The communication control device 100 further includes a computing unit 130 and a memory 140. The computing unit 130 is connected to the communication module 120 and the memory 140 so that it can transmit data between the computing unit 130 and the communication module 120, store data in the memory 140, and / or read data from the memory 140.

[0055] In the embodiment illustrated here, the memory 140 is configured as a separate component from the computing unit 130, for example, as a separate memory module. This makes it easy to manufacture communication control devices 100 with various configurations, and these various configurations meet different requirements by having different configurations of the memory 140, for example, different memory capacities and / or transfer speeds.

[0056] However, alternatively, the memory 140 can also be configured as part of the components of the computing unit 130. This allows for higher transfer speeds, for example, for reading and writing data in the memory 140.

[0057] Data received by the communication module 120 via channel 10 is transmitted to the computing unit 130. According to the present invention, the computing unit 130 is preferably designed to use a computing program implemented in the computing unit 130 to determine the maximum allowable transport latency of the received data of that type (and therefore the priority for transmission to other components 200, 300 in vehicle 1). In other words, the computing unit 130 sorts the data in an order in which it should be transmitted to the head unit 200, and sorts it in such a way that the temporal requirements for display and / or processing of all the data are met.

[0058] Data that does not need to be transmitted immediately (i.e., with high priority) to the head unit 200 is temporarily stored in memory 140 and is read from memory 140 and transmitted only after the transmission of higher-priority data has been completed. After the data has been transmitted, that data can be erased from memory 140 again to make space for data that will be temporarily stored afterward.

[0059] In this way, even if the data transmission section 201 between the communication control device 100 and the head unit 200 has a slow transfer rate, it is possible to maintain compliance with all time requirements related to the data on channel 10. In particular, this data transmission section 201 may have a transfer rate that is much slower than the transfer rate required to transmit all the data received from channel 10 in the order in which the communication module 120 receives that data (i.e., without sorting and primary storage according to temporal priority).

[0060] In other words, although the data transmitted by the data transmission device 2 is transmitted in bursts at a high transmission speed, it is buffered in the memory 140 of the communication control device 100 with a small packet size and sufficient time (with respect to the burst duration or effective occupancy time of channel 10), and then transmitted to the head unit 200 with priority assigned according to the waiting time requirements, thereby easing the performance requirements for the data transmission section 201.

[0061] In one embodiment, the data transmission section 201 between the head unit 200 and the communication control device 100 is formed by interconnected, simple, and inexpensive Controller Area Network (CAN) gateways 210, 110. Advantageously, this eliminates the need for gateways with higher transmission speeds, such as CAN Flexible Data Rate (CAN-FD) gateways. Similarly, it eliminates the need for additional or alternative interfaces, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, between the communication control device 100 and the head unit 200. This allows both the communication control device 100 and the head unit 200 to be designed more simply and inexpensively. Furthermore, the configuration and implementation of the cables or cable sets for connecting the communication control device 100 and the head unit 200 can also be simplified. Moreover, this simplified configuration reduces the risk of failure in the data transmission section 201.

[0062] Similarly, with respect to the further transmission of data originally received from channel 10 and transmitted to the head unit 200, the performance requirements for the components of the vehicle electronics 300 can be relaxed. Thus, the data transmission section 202 between the vehicle electronics 300 and the head unit 200 can also be formed by inexpensive and simple CAN gateways 310, 220. Here again, the relatively complex, expensive, and failure-prone CAN-FD gateway or USB interface can be omitted.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data packets, wherein the data packets are provided by at least one stationary data transmission device (2) via at least one channel (10) in a vehicle (1) including a communication control device (100), The data packets are received by the communication control device (100), which includes a communication module (120), a memory (140), and a computing unit (130) connected to the communication module (120) and the memory (140), using the communication module (120) which is designed to receive via at least one channel (10), and are temporarily stored in the memory (140) via the computing unit (130). The computing unit (130) determines an allowable transport latency for each data packet, and the data packets are transmitted in a predetermined order to at least one other component (200, 300) of the vehicle (1) by the computing unit (130) via at least one data transmission section (201, 202) having a transmission speed slower than the maximum transmission speed of at least one channel (10). The method is characterized in that the order of transmission of the data packets is determined by the computing unit (130) so as to comply with the allowable transport waiting time for each data packet.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data transmitted through the at least one transmission section (201, 202) includes at least partially toll payment information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the data transmitted through the at least one transmission section (201, 202) includes at least a portion of an emergency alarm notification.

4. A communication control device (100) for a vehicle (1), comprising a communication module (120) having a transceiver (121) designed to receive data packets from a stationary data transmission device (2) via at least one channel (10), The communication control device (100) includes a memory (140) for temporarily storing data packets, a computing unit (130), and at least one gateway (110) for connecting to each of two data transmission sections (201) having a transmission speed slower than the maximum transmission speed of at least one channel (10), wherein the communication control device (100) is designed to carry out the method according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The communication control device (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one gateway (110) is configured as a controller area network (CAN) gateway having a transmission speed slower than the maximum transmission speed of the at least one channel (10).

6. In the arrangement configuration of components (100, 200, 300) in vehicle (1), The arrangement configuration is characterized in that at least one component (100, 200, 300) is configured as a communication control device (100) according to claim 4 for receiving data packets from a stationary data transmission device (2) via at least one channel (10), and is connected to at least one other component (200, 300) via a data transmission section (201, 202) having a transmission speed slower than the maximum transmission speed of the at least one channel (10).

7. The arrangement configuration according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one component (100, 200, 300) is configured as an infotainment main unit (200) and is designed to determine the driving route of the vehicle (1).

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