Management device, vehicle communication management method, and vehicle communication management program

Abstract

A management device according to an aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a detection unit that detects the addition of a function unit to a network including one or more vehicle-mounted function units; an acquisition unit that acquires function unit information of the vehicle-mounted function units and that, in a case of not being able to acquire, from a new function unit that is the function unit the addition of which is detected by the detection unit, target information, i.e., function unit information of the new function unit, transmits candidate information indicating candidates of the target information and receives a selection result of the candidates indicated by the candidate information, thereby acquiring the target information; and a generation unit that, on the basis of the respective pieces of function unit information acquired by the acquisition unit, generates structure information of a new network, i.e., the network further including the new function unit.

Description

Management device, vehicle communication management method, and vehicle communication management program

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-123582 filed on August 2, 2022, and incorporates by reference all of the contents of that application.

[0002] Technologies for changing the configuration of an in-vehicle network have been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 (WO 2020 / 179124) discloses the following technology. That is, a management device includes a detection unit that detects the addition of a functional unit to a network that includes one or more in-vehicle functional units, a generation unit that acquires functional unit information of a new functional unit that is the functional unit whose addition is detected by the detection unit and the functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional units, and generates configuration information of a new network that is the network that further includes the new functional unit based on the acquired functional unit information, and an acquisition unit that acquires feasibility information indicating the feasibility of the new network, corresponding to the configuration information generated by the generation unit, from a database in a storage device.

[0003] International Publication No. 2020 / 179124

[0004] The management device disclosed herein includes a detection unit that detects the addition of a functional unit to a network that includes one or more in-vehicle functional units; an acquisition unit that acquires functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional units, and if target information, which is functional unit information of the new functional unit that is the functional unit whose addition is detected by the detection unit, cannot be acquired from the new functional unit, sends candidate information indicating candidates for the target information and acquires the target information by receiving a selection result of the candidates indicated by the candidate information; and a generation unit that generates configuration information of the new network, which is the network that further includes the new functional unit, based on the functional unit information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure may be realized as a semiconductor integrated circuit that implements part or all of the management device, or as a system that includes the management device.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration in the vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a new network in the vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of a configuration of a new network in the vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of a configuration of a new network in the vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server in the communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a success / failure database stored in a storage device in the communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting database stored in a storage device in the communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of a configuration of a new network after a setting change in the vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of provisional network configuration information generated by a management unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of candidate information generated by a management unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of selection information received by a management unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of configuration information of a new network generated by a management unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a flowchart defining an operation procedure when a management unit in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure builds a new network. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence of a process for building a new network in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating another example of a sequence of a process for building a new network in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating another example of a sequence of a process for building a new network in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0007] In the technology described in Patent Literature 1, a new functional unit has a function of transmitting functional unit information. However, if an in-vehicle ECU (Electronic Control Unit) added to an in-vehicle network does not have this function, it becomes difficult for the management device to generate configuration information for the new network.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a management device, a vehicle communication management method, and a vehicle communication management program that can more reliably build a new network configuration that includes an on-board functional unit.

[0009] <Effects of the Present Disclosure> According to the present disclosure, it is possible to more reliably build a network with a new configuration including an in-vehicle functional unit.

[0010] <Overview of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> First, the contents of embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) A management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a detection unit that detects the addition of a functional unit to a network that includes one or more in-vehicle functional units, an acquisition unit that acquires functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional units and, if target information that is functional unit information of a new functional unit that is the functional unit whose addition is detected by the detection unit cannot be acquired from the new functional unit, transmits candidate information that indicates candidates for the target information and receives a selection result of the candidates indicated by the candidate information to acquire the target information, and a generation unit that generates configuration information of a new network that is the network that further includes the new functional unit, based on the functional unit information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0011] With this configuration, even if a new functional unit added to the network does not have the function of transmitting functional unit information, the functional unit information can be supplemented using selection information for candidate information to generate configuration information for the new network. Therefore, a network with a new configuration including an in-vehicle functional unit can be more reliably constructed. Furthermore, compared to a configuration in which the functional unit information is supplemented by user input, the input burden on the user can be reduced, and processing complexity due to, for example, input errors can be prevented.

[0012] (2) In the above (1), the acquisition unit may acquire the candidate information based on acquired functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional unit.

[0013] With this configuration, it is possible to obtain appropriate candidate information using functional unit information of existing functional units in the network.

[0014] (3) In the above (2), the acquisition unit may generate provisional configuration information of the network based on functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional unit acquired by the acquisition unit, and acquire the candidate information based on the provisional configuration information and feasibility information indicating the feasibility of the new network.

[0015] With this configuration, it is possible to easily estimate the function unit information of new function units that can be connected to a new network using the verification results of the feasibility of the network that have been generated in advance.

[0016] (4) In (3) above, the feasibility information may be information indicating multiple combinations of functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional unit and functional unit information of the new functional unit and the feasibility of the new network, and the acquisition unit may acquire the candidate information based on the functional unit information of the new functional unit that corresponds to the provisional configuration information in the feasibility information.

[0017] With this configuration, candidate information can be generated through simple processing using the listed feasibility information.

[0018] (5) In any one of (2) to (4) above, the acquisition unit may acquire the candidate information further based on a location where the new function unit is added to the network.

[0019] With this configuration, it is possible to further narrow down the candidates using the location of addition to the network, generate more appropriate candidate information, and also reduce the burden on the user when selecting target information.

[0020] (6) In any of (1) to (5) above, the management device may further include a configuration processing unit that acquires feasibility information indicating the feasibility of the new network, corresponding to the configuration information of the new network generated by the generation unit, from a database in a storage device.

[0021] With this configuration, a new network can be constructed using the previously generated results of network feasibility verification. This allows the construction of a new network whose feasibility is guaranteed, taking into account, for example, the logical configuration and the physical configuration, thereby suppressing the occurrence of delays in important communications due to, for example, the addition of a new functional unit to the network.

[0022] (7) A vehicle communication management method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a vehicle communication management method in a management device, and includes the steps of: detecting the addition of a functional unit to a network including one or more in-vehicle functional units; acquiring functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional units; and, if target information, which is functional unit information of the new functional unit, which is the functional unit whose addition has been detected, acquiring the target information from the new functional unit by sending candidate information indicating candidates for the target information and receiving a selection result of the candidates indicated by the candidate information; and generating configuration information of a new network, which is the network further including the new functional unit, based on the acquired functional unit information of each functional unit.

[0023] With this configuration, even if a new functional unit added to the network does not have the function of transmitting functional unit information, the functional unit information can be supplemented using selection information for candidate information to generate configuration information for the new network. Therefore, a network with a new configuration including an in-vehicle functional unit can be more reliably constructed. Furthermore, compared to a configuration in which the functional unit information is supplemented by user input, the input burden on the user can be reduced, and processing complexity due to, for example, input errors can be prevented.

[0024] (8) A vehicle communication management program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a vehicle communication management program used in a management device, and is a program for causing a computer to function as: a detection unit that detects the addition of a functional unit to a network that includes one or more in-vehicle functional units; an acquisition unit that acquires functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional units, and, if target information, which is functional unit information of a new functional unit that is the functional unit whose addition is detected by the detection unit, cannot be acquired from the new functional unit, sends candidate information indicating candidates for the target information and acquires the target information by receiving a selection result of the candidate indicated by the candidate information; and a generation unit that generates configuration information of a new network, which is the network that further includes the new functional unit, based on the functional unit information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0025] With this configuration, even if a new functional unit added to the network does not have the function of transmitting functional unit information, the functional unit information can be supplemented using selection information for candidate information to generate configuration information for the new network. Therefore, a network with a new configuration including an in-vehicle functional unit can be more reliably constructed. Furthermore, compared to a configuration in which the functional unit information is supplemented by user input, the input burden on the user can be reduced, and processing complexity due to, for example, input errors can be prevented.

[0026] <Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated. In addition, at least some of the embodiments described below may be combined in any manner.

[0027] [Communication System] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] 1 , the communication system 400 includes a server 180 and one or more vehicle communication systems 300. The vehicle communication system 300 is mounted on a vehicle 1.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] 2 , vehicle communication system 300 includes one or more in-vehicle Electronic Control Units (ECUs) 111 and a relay device 112. Specifically, vehicle communication system 300 includes in-vehicle ECUs 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D, and 111E as in-vehicle ECUs 111. Relay device 112 includes a management unit 200.

[0031] Each of the in-vehicle ECUs 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D, and 111E and the relay device 112 includes an application 100.

[0032] More specifically, as applications 100, in-vehicle ECU 111A includes application 100A, in-vehicle ECU 111B includes application 100B, in-vehicle ECU 111C includes application 100C, in-vehicle ECU 111D includes application 100D, in-vehicle ECU 111E includes application 100E, and relay device 112 includes application 100F.

[0033] The in-vehicle ECUs 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D, and 111E and the relay device 112 constitute a network 12.

[0034] The in-vehicle ECU 111 and the application 100 are examples of in-vehicle function units that are functional units, i.e., objects, installed in the vehicle 1, among the functional units in the network 12. The relay device 112 is an example of a management device.

[0035] The vehicle communication system 300 is not limited to a configuration including five in-vehicle ECUs 111, but may be a configuration including one, two, three, four, or six or more in-vehicle ECUs 111. Furthermore, the vehicle communication system 300 is not limited to a configuration in which one application 100 is provided in one in-vehicle ECU 111, but may be a configuration in which two or more applications 100 are provided in one in-vehicle ECU 111.

[0036] Furthermore, the vehicle communication system 300 is not limited to a configuration including one relay device 112, but may be a configuration including multiple relay devices 112. Furthermore, the vehicle communication system 300 is not limited to a configuration in which one application 100 is provided in one relay device 112, but may be a configuration in which two or more applications 100 are provided in one relay device 112.

[0037] Furthermore, the network 12 may include external devices outside the vehicle 1 and applications provided in the external devices as functional units, i.e., objects.

[0038] The in-vehicle ECU 111 is, for example, a TCU (Telematics Communication Unit), an automatic driving ECU, an engine ECU, a sensor, a navigation device, a human-machine interface, a camera, and the like.

[0039] In this example, the on-board ECUs 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D, and 111E are a TCU, an intake pressure sensor, an engine ECU, a temperature sensor, and a water temperature sensor, respectively.

[0040] Hereinafter, the on-board ECUs 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D, and 111E will also be referred to as the TCU 111A, the intake pressure sensor 111B, the engine ECU 111C, the temperature sensor 111D, and the water temperature sensor 111E, respectively.

[0041] In the network 12, the in-vehicle ECUs 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D, and 111E are connected to a relay device 112 via an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable 11.

[0042] The relay device 112 is, for example, a gateway device, and is capable of relaying data between a plurality of in-vehicle ECUs 111 connected thereto.

[0043] The relay device 112 relays Ethernet frames in accordance with the Ethernet communication standard. Specifically, the relay device 112 relays Ethernet frames exchanged between the in-vehicle ECUs 111. The Ethernet frames contain IP packets.

[0044] Vehicle communication system 300 is not limited to a configuration in which Ethernet frames are relayed in accordance with the Ethernet communication standard, but may be a configuration in which data is relayed in accordance with a communication standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network) (registered trademark), CAN FD (CAN with Flexible Data Rate), FlexRay (registered trademark), MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) (registered trademark), and LIN (Local Interconnect Network).

[0045] 1 and 2, TCU 111A is capable of communicating with server 180. In particular, TCU 111A is capable of communicating with server 180 via wireless base station device 161 using, for example, IP packets.

[0046] More specifically, the TCU 111A is capable of wireless communication with the wireless base station device 161 in accordance with a communication standard such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) or 5G.

[0047] Specifically, when the wireless base station device 161 receives an IP packet from the server 180 via the external network 170 such as the Internet, the wireless base station device 161 transmits the received IP packet in a wireless signal to the TCU 111A.

[0048] For example, when TCU 111A receives a radio signal including an IP packet from server 180 from radio base station device 161, it acquires the IP packet from the received radio signal, stores the acquired IP packet in an Ethernet frame, and transmits it to relay device 112.

[0049] Furthermore, when the TCU 111 A receives an Ethernet frame from the relay device 112 , it acquires an IP packet from the received Ethernet frame, includes the acquired IP packet in a radio signal, and transmits the signal to the radio base station device 161 .

[0050] When the wireless base station device 161 receives a wireless signal from the TCU 111 A, it acquires an IP packet from the received wireless signal and transmits the acquired IP packet to the server 180 via the external network 170 .

[0051] The intake pressure sensor 111B is capable of communicating with other in-vehicle ECUs 111 via a relay device 112, and periodically measures the intake pressure of the engine in the vehicle 1, for example.

[0052] The engine ECU 111C can communicate with other in-vehicle ECUs 111 via the relay device 112, and controls the engine of the vehicle 1, for example.

[0053] More specifically, the engine ECU 111C acquires information indicating, for example, the engine rotation speed, the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1, the engine torque, the state of the transmission, the state of the throttle valve, and the measurement values ​​of each sensor, and controls the engine based on the acquired information.

[0054] Furthermore, engine ECU 111C is capable of transmitting part or all of the acquired information to relay device 112 in response to a request from relay device 112, for example.

[0055] The temperature sensor 111D is capable of communicating with other in-vehicle ECUs 111 via the relay device 112, and measures the outside air temperature of the vehicle 1 periodically, for example.

[0056] The water temperature sensor 111E is capable of communicating with other in-vehicle ECUs 111 via the relay device 112, and periodically measures the temperature of the coolant circulating in the engine of the vehicle 1, for example.

[0057] Each application 100 performs, for example, application layer processing to perform predetermined processing in the in-vehicle ECU 111 or the relay device 112 in which the application 100 is installed. For example, the application 100D in the temperature sensor 111D generates temperature information indicating the outside air temperature of the vehicle 1 at a predetermined period.

[0058] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration in a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] 3, relay device 112 includes communication ports 120A, 120B, and 120C. Each of communication ports 120A, 120B, and 120C is also referred to as communication port 120. Communication port 120 is a terminal to which, for example, Ethernet cable 11 can be connected.

[0060] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the TCU 111A is connected to the communication port 120A, the intake pressure sensor 111B and the engine ECU 111C are connected to the communication port 120B, and the temperature sensor 111D and the water temperature sensor 111E are connected to the communication port 120C.

[0061] In addition, in the network 12, the TCU 111A belongs to a virtual local area network (VLAN) 10. The intake pressure sensor 111B and the engine ECU 111C belong to a VLAN 20 different from the VLAN 10. The temperature sensor 111D and the water temperature sensor 111E belong to a VLAN 30 different from the VLANs 10 and 20.

[0062] The relay device 112 relays Ethernet frames between the in-vehicle ECUs 111 that belong to the same VLAN, for example. Specifically, the relay device 112 transmits the received Ethernet frame to the in-vehicle ECU 111 that is the destination, based on a source MAC (Media Access Control) address and a destination MAC address included in the received Ethernet frame.

[0063] The relay device 112 also relays IP packets between in-vehicle ECUs 111 that belong to different VLANs. Specifically, the relay device 112 acquires an IP packet from a received Ethernet frame and transmits the IP packet to the in-vehicle ECU 111 that is the destination based on the destination IP address of the IP packet.

[0064] [Management Unit] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0065] 4, management unit 200 includes detection unit 210, generation unit 220, setting processing unit 230, storage unit 240, notification unit 250, and acquisition unit 270. Some or all of detection unit 210, generation unit 220, setting processing unit 230, notification unit 250, and acquisition unit 270 are realized by, for example, a processing circuit including one or more processors. Storage unit 240 is, for example, a non-volatile memory included in the processing circuit.

[0066] [Detection Unit] The detection unit 210 detects a new function unit that is a function unit that is newly added to the network 12. That is, the detection unit 210 detects the addition of a new function unit to the network 12. More specifically, the detection unit 210 detects the addition of the in-vehicle ECU 111, an external device, an application 100, etc. to the network 12. As an example, the detection unit 210 detects the application 100 of the in-vehicle ECU 111 that is newly added to the network 12 as a new function unit.

[0067] For example, the new function unit transmits connection request information for requesting a communication connection in the network 12 to the detection unit 210 .

[0068] The detection unit 210 receives the connection request information and detects the new function unit that is the sender of the connection request information.

[0069] The detection unit 210 may be configured to periodically broadcast a search message to detect a new function unit. In this case, the new function unit receives the search message and transmits the connection request information in response to the received search message.

[0070] Hereinafter, the network 12 including the new functional unit will also be referred to as a new network, the network 12 before the new functional unit is added will also be referred to as an existing network, and the functional unit included in the existing network will also be referred to as an existing functional unit. The in-vehicle ECU 111 included in the existing network is an example of an existing functional unit.

[0071] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a new network in a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0072] 5, it is assumed that an in-vehicle ECU 111G is newly added to the network 12. In this example, the in-vehicle ECU 111G is an image sensor. Hereinafter, the in-vehicle ECU 111G will also be referred to as the image sensor 111G. The image sensor 111G includes an application 100G, which is a new functional unit.

[0073] When the image sensor 111G is supplied with power and connected to the communication port 120C of the relay device 112 via the Ethernet cable 11, for example, the image sensor 111G transmits connection request information for requesting a communication connection in the network 12 to the detection unit 210.

[0074] More specifically, the application 100G in the image sensor 111G generates an Ethernet frame including connection request information, its own ID, and the MAC address of the relay device 112 as the destination MAC address, and transmits the generated Ethernet frame to the relay device 112.

[0075] When the detection unit 210 in the relay device 112 receives the Ethernet frame transmitted from the application 100G, the detection unit 210 performs authentication processing for the application 100G using the ID and the like included in the received Ethernet frame.

[0076] When the detection unit 210 successfully authenticates the application 100G, it generates authentication success information indicating that the authentication was successful and an Ethernet frame including the MAC address of the image sensor 111G as the destination MAC address, and sends the generated Ethernet frame to the image sensor 111G.

[0077] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of a new network in a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0078] The new function unit detected by the detection unit 210 is not limited to the application 100 included in the in-vehicle ECU 111 that is newly connected to the relay device 112. For example, the detection unit 210 may be configured to detect, as a new function unit, the application 100 that is newly installed in the in-vehicle ECU 111 in the existing network.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 6, it is assumed that an application 100H is newly installed as a new functional unit in the network 12 in the engine ECU 111C, which is an existing functional unit.

[0080] When the application 100H is installed in the engine ECU 111C, it generates an Ethernet frame including connection request information, its own ID, and the MAC address of the relay device 112 as the destination MAC address, and transmits the generated Ethernet frame to the relay device 112.

[0081] When the detection unit 210 in the relay device 112 receives the Ethernet frame transmitted from the application 100H, the detection unit 210 performs authentication processing for the application 100H using the ID and the like included in the received Ethernet frame.

[0082] When the detection unit 210 successfully authenticates the application 100H, it generates an Ethernet frame including authentication success information indicating that the authentication was successful and the MAC address of the engine ECU 111C as the destination MAC address, and transmits the generated Ethernet frame to the engine ECU 111C.

[0083] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of a new network in a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0084] The new function unit detected by the detection unit 210 is not limited to the application 100 included in the in-vehicle ECU 111 newly connected to the relay device 112, or the application 100 installed in the in-vehicle ECU 111. For example, the detection unit 210 may be configured to detect, as a new function unit, the application 100 included in the external device 113 that is added to the network 12 outside the vehicle 1.

[0085] 7, it is assumed that an external device 113 is newly added to the network 12. The external device 113 is a device provided outside the vehicle 1. The external device 113 includes an application 100J which is a new functional unit.

[0086] The external device 113 is capable of communicating with the TCU 111A. More specifically, the external device 113 is capable of communicating with the TCU 111A via the wireless base station device 161 using, for example, IP packets.

[0087] The external device 113 transmits connection request information for requesting a communication connection on the network 12 to the detection unit 210 via the TCU 111A.

[0088] More specifically, the application 100 J in the external device 113 transmits an IP packet including connection request information, its own ID, and the MAC address of the relay device 112 to the wireless base station device 161 via the external network 170 .

[0089] When the wireless base station device 161 receives an IP packet from the external device 113 via the external network 170, the wireless base station device 161 transmits the received IP packet in a wireless signal to the TCU 111A.

[0090] When TCU 111A receives a wireless signal including an IP packet from application 100J from wireless base station device 161, it acquires the IP packet from the received wireless signal, generates an Ethernet frame including the acquired IP packet and the MAC address of relay device 112 as the destination MAC address, and transmits the generated Ethernet frame to relay device 112.

[0091] When the detection unit 210 in the relay device 112 receives the Ethernet frame from the TCU 111A, it performs authentication processing for the application 100J using the ID and the like included in the IP packet stored in the received Ethernet frame.

[0092] When the detection unit 210 successfully authenticates the application 100J, it generates an Ethernet frame including authentication success information indicating that the authentication was successful and the MAC address of the external device 113 as the destination MAC address, and sends the generated Ethernet frame to the TCU 111A.

[0093] When the TCU 111 A receives the Ethernet frame from the detection unit 210 , it acquires an IP packet from the received Ethernet frame, includes the acquired IP packet in a wireless signal, and transmits the signal to the external device 113 via the wireless base station device 161 .

[0094] When the detection unit 210 has successfully authenticated the new function unit as described above, it outputs detection information indicating the ID of the new function unit and the port number of the corresponding communication port 120 to the acquisition unit 270 .

[0095] In addition, when the vehicle communication system 300 includes a plurality of relay devices 112 and an in-vehicle ECU 111 is newly connected to a relay device 112 that does not include a management unit 200, the relay device 112 may be configured to detect the connection of the in-vehicle ECU 111 by, for example, Ethernet link-up or LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol), and transmit the detection information about the new functional unit to the management unit 200 in the other relay devices 112.

[0096] [Acquisition Unit] The acquisition unit 270 acquires functional unit information of existing functional units and functional unit information of new functional units. More specifically, upon receiving detection information from the detection unit 210, the acquisition unit 270 starts a process of acquiring functional unit information of each functional unit. The acquisition unit 270 acquires functional unit information of new functional units indicated by the detection information, and also acquires functional unit information of existing functional units, and outputs the information to the generation unit 220.

[0097] For example, the acquiring unit 270 acquires, as the functional unit information, information that allows for recognizing the topology of hardware devices in the new network, such as the in-vehicle ECU 111, the relay device 112, and the external device 113. Furthermore, for example, the acquiring unit 270 acquires, as the functional unit information, information that allows for recognizing constraints on the placement of the application 100 in the hardware devices in the new network. Furthermore, for example, the acquiring unit 270 acquires information that allows for recognizing constraints on the communication method between the applications 100.

[0098] The acquisition unit 270 acquires information that can be used to recognize the topology of the hardware devices, such as vehicle information indicating the manufacturer and model of the vehicle 1 in which the on-board ECU 111 and relay device 112 are installed, additional option information indicating additional options installed in the vehicle 1, an on-board device ID which is an identifier indicating the manufacturer and serial number of the on-board ECU 111, the port number of the communication port in the connection between the hardware devices, and information on the bandwidth of the communication path between the hardware devices.

[0099] The acquisition unit 270 acquires, for example, the ID of the application 100 as information that can identify constraints regarding the placement of the application 100 on a hardware device.

[0100] The acquisition unit 270 acquires information indicating the communication standard used for communication between the applications 100, such as Ethernet and CAN, as information that allows for recognizing restrictions on the communication method between the applications 100.

[0101] For example, the acquisition unit 270 transmits an information request notification indicating the type of function unit information to be transmitted from among the types of function unit information described above to the existing function unit and the new function unit.

[0102] In response to the information request notification received from the acquisition unit 270, the existing function unit and the new function unit transmit to the acquisition unit 270, for example, their own function unit information of the type specified in the information request notification.

[0103] The generation unit 220 generates configuration information for the new network based on the functional unit information of the existing functional units and the functional unit information of the new functional units acquired by the acquisition unit 270. The generation unit 220 generates the configuration information for the new network based on the functional unit information received from the acquisition unit 270, and outputs the information to the setting processing unit 230.

[0104] For example, the generation unit 220 generates, as the configuration information, information that can identify the vehicle 1 and the functional units in the new network. Here, as an example, the generation unit 220 generates the configuration information that indicates a combination of the vehicle information, the ID of the application 100 in the existing network, and the ID of the application 100 to be added.

[0105] The acquiring unit 270 may be configured to acquire configuration information of the existing network as functional unit information of each existing functional unit, and output the information to the generating unit 220 .

[0106] More specifically, the storage unit 240 may store configuration information of an existing network.

[0107] The acquisition unit 270 refers to the storage unit 240, and if configuration information of the existing network is registered in the storage unit 240, acquires the configuration information from the storage unit 240. In this case, the acquisition unit 270 transmits an information request notification to the new function unit but does not transmit it to the existing function unit.

[0108] The generation unit 220 generates configuration information for the new network based on the functional unit information of the new functional unit and the configuration information of the existing network received from the acquisition unit 270. Specifically, the generation unit 220 generates configuration information for the new network by using the functional unit information of the new functional unit to modify the configuration information of the existing network acquired from the storage unit 240. The generation unit 220 updates the configuration information in the storage unit 240 with the generated new configuration information.

[0109] [Configuration Processing Unit] The configuration processing unit 230 acquires feasibility information indicating the feasibility of the new network, which corresponds to the configuration information of the new network generated by the generating unit 220, from a database in the storage device.

[0110] More specifically, the setting processing unit 230 acquires, as the feasibility information, for example, success / failure information indicating the success / failure of the new network, and setting information indicating the setting contents for performing communication in the new network.

[0111] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0112] 8, server 180 includes a storage device 181 and a database processing unit 182. Database processing unit 182 is realized by, for example, a processing circuit including one or more processors. Storage device 181 is, for example, a non-volatile memory included in the processing circuit.

[0113] For example, the storage device 181 stores a success / failure database in which configuration information of the network 12 is associated with success / failure information indicating whether the network 12 is successful or not.

[0114] Referring to Figures 4 and 8, when the configuration processing unit 230 receives configuration information for a new network from the generation unit 220, it communicates with the server 180 via the TCU 111A to obtain success / failure information corresponding to the configuration information from the success / failure database in the storage device 181.

[0115] More specifically, the setting processing unit 230 transmits the configuration information received from the generating unit 220 to the database processing unit 182 in the server 180 .

[0116] The database processing unit 182 acquires corresponding success / failure information from the success / failure database by using the configuration information received from the setting processing unit 230 as a search key. The database processing unit 182 transmits the acquired success / failure information to the setting processing unit 230.

[0117] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a success / failure database stored in a storage device in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0118] In the following, the IDs of applications 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, 100F, 100G, 100H, and 100J are assumed to be "ID-A," "ID-B," "ID-C," "ID-D," "ID-E," "ID-F," "ID-G," "ID-H," and "ID-J," respectively.

[0119] The feasibility information is information indicating a plurality of combinations of the functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional units and the functional unit information of the new functional units, and the feasibility of the new network.

[0120] Specifically, referring to Figure 9, the success / failure database in the storage device 181 stores, in association with each other, configuration information indicating a combination of a configuration ID, vehicle information, the ID of the application 100 in the existing network, and the ID of the application 100 to be added, and success / failure information of the new network represented by the configuration information.

[0121] In this example, for convenience, it is assumed that the topology of the hardware devices and the bandwidth of the communication paths between the hardware devices can be identified based on the vehicle information and the ID of the application 100.

[0122] In the success / failure database, the success / failure information indicates, for example, "success" or "failure."

[0123] In the success / failure database, if the success / failure information corresponding to the configuration information of a new network indicates "established," it means that the new network will be established; if the success / failure information indicates "not established," it means that the new network will not be established; and "unverified" in the success / failure database means that the success / failure of the new network has not been verified and no success / failure information exists.

[0124] For example, the database processing unit 182 receives configuration information from the setting processing unit 230 indicating that the manufacturer of the vehicle 1 is "Company A," the model is "aaaa," the IDs of the application 100 in the existing network are "IDA," "ID-B," and "ID-C," and the ID of the application 100 to be added is "ID-G."Then, the database processing unit 182 uses the received configuration information as a search key to obtain success / failure information indicating "success" from the success / failure database, and transmits the obtained success / failure information to the setting processing unit 230.

[0125] For example, when the setting processing unit 230 in the management unit 200 obtains feasibility information from the database in the storage device 181 as described above, it registers the configuration information generated by the generation unit 220 and the feasibility information corresponding to the configuration information in the storage unit 240.

[0126] Furthermore, for example, the setting processor 230 further acquires setting information indicating the setting contents for performing communication in the new network.

[0127] More specifically, the setting processor 230 acquires setting information indicating the setting contents of each functional unit in the new network for performing communication at layer 4 or below in the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model.

[0128] For example, the storage device 181 in the server 180 stores a setting database that associates configuration information of the network 12 with the setting contents of the functional units in the network 12 .

[0129] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting database stored in a storage device in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0130] In the following description, for convenience, the port numbers of communication ports 120A, 120B, and 120C of relay device 112 are respectively designated as "1," "2," and "3." Also, in-vehicle ECU 111 is assumed to include one communication port, and the port number of this communication port is designated as "1."

[0131] 10, the setting database in the storage device 181 stores, for example, a configuration ID and the setting contents of each functional unit in the network 12 indicated by the configuration ID, such as a VLAN ID for each communication port 120. Hereinafter, the VLAN ID is also referred to as a "VID."

[0132] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the database processing unit 182 obtains success / failure information indicating "established" from the success / failure database as success / failure information corresponding to the configuration information having the configuration ID of "00001", and then obtains the VID of each functional unit from the setting database as the setting information having the configuration ID of "00001".

[0133] For example, the success / failure information in the success / failure database and the setting information in the setting database are generated based on the results of prior verification taking into consideration the logical configuration and physical configuration of the network indicated by each piece of configuration information.

[0134] The database processing unit 182 transmits the acquired setting information to the setting processing unit 230 in the management unit 200 .

[0135] (Operation Example 1) When the setting processing unit 230 acquires the success / failure information and the setting information indicating “valid” as the validity information, the setting processing unit 230 outputs the acquired success / failure information and the setting information to the notification unit 250.

[0136] When the notification unit 250 receives the feasibility information from the setting processing unit 230, it notifies at least one of the functional units in the new network of the setting contents for communication in the new network based on the received feasibility information.

[0137] More specifically, the notification unit 250 identifies a functional unit from among one or more existing functional units and new functional units included in the existing network whose settings need to be changed in order to communicate in the new network, and notifies the identified functional unit of the settings.

[0138] For example, when the notification unit 250 receives setting information from the setting processing unit 230, it acquires setting information indicating the setting contents of each functional unit in the existing network from the storage unit 240. Then, the notification unit 250 compares the setting information received from the setting processing unit 230 with the setting information acquired from the storage unit 240, thereby identifying one or more functional units whose settings need to be changed in order to communicate in the new network. The notification unit 250 transmits the setting information received from the setting processing unit 230 to the identified functional units.

[0139] For example, if there is no functional unit in the new network that needs to have its settings changed, the notification unit 250 does not transmit the setting information to the functional unit.

[0140] When one or more functional units in the new network receive the setting information from the notification unit 250, they change the setting based on the received setting information. The functional units in the new network communicate with each other in accordance with the changed setting contents.

[0141] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the setting processing unit 230 acquires setting information indicating that the ID of the VLAN to which the image sensor 111G, which includes the new function unit application 100G, belongs is "VLAN20," and the ID of the VLAN corresponding to the communication port 120C of the relay device 112, which includes application 100F, is "VLAN20, VLAN30."

[0142] The setting processing unit 230 outputs the acquired setting information to the notification unit 250. Based on the setting information received from the setting processing unit 230, the notification unit 250 notifies the image sensor 111G and other units (not shown) in the relay device 112 of the setting contents.

[0143] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of a configuration of a new network after a setting change in the vehicle communication system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0144] 11 , in the new network shown in FIG. 5 , the image sensor 111G and the relay device 112 change the settings based on the setting contents notified by the notifying unit 250. This enables the image sensor 111G to communicate in the VLAN 20.

[0145] (Operation Example 2) When the setting processing unit 230 acquires success / failure information indicating “failure” as the feasibility information, the setting processing unit 230 outputs the acquired success / failure information to the generating unit 220.

[0146] When the generation unit 220 receives success / failure information indicating "failure" as the feasibility information from the setting processing unit 230, it changes the generation conditions based on the received feasibility information and generates new configuration information according to the changed generation conditions.

[0147] For example, the generation unit 220 changes the current generation conditions to generation conditions that do not add some of the multiple new functional units to the network 12, and generates new configuration information for the new network according to the changed generation conditions.

[0148] Furthermore, for example, the generating unit 220 changes the generation conditions by changing the functional layout between the functional units under the current generation conditions, and generates new configuration information for a new network according to the changed generation conditions.

[0149] The generation unit 220 outputs the configuration information of the newly generated new network to the setting processing unit 230 .

[0150] When the configuration processing unit 230 receives the newly generated configuration information from the generating unit 220 , it obtains success / failure information corresponding to the received configuration information from the success / failure database in the storage device 181 .

[0151] [Acquisition of target information using candidate information] When the acquisition unit 270 cannot acquire, from the new functional unit, functional unit information (hereinafter also referred to as target information) of a new functional unit whose addition is detected by the detection unit 210, the acquisition unit 270 transmits candidate information indicating candidates for the target information, i.e., functional unit information of functional units that may be connected. Then, the acquisition unit 270 acquires the target information by receiving a selection result of the candidates indicated by the transmitted candidate information.

[0152] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of provisional network configuration information generated by the management unit according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0153] The acquisition unit 270 acquires candidate information based on the acquired function unit information of the in-vehicle function unit, that is, the function unit information of the existing function unit.

[0154] For example, the acquisition unit 270 generates provisional configuration information for the network 12 based on the acquired functional unit information of the existing functional units, and acquires candidate information based on the provisional configuration information and feasibility information indicating the feasibility of the new network.

[0155] More specifically, if the target information does not arrive from the new functional unit within a predetermined time after sending the information request notification, the acquisition unit 270 determines that the new functional unit does not have the function to send functional unit information, and generates provisional configuration information for the network 12 based on the acquired functional unit information of each of the existing functional units.

[0156] 12 , acquisition unit 270 generates configuration information of the existing network indicating, for example, that the manufacturer of vehicle 1 is “Company A,” the model is “aaaa,” and the IDs of application 100 in the existing network are “ID-A,” “ID-B,” and “ID-C.” Acquisition unit 270 then transmits the generated configuration information to database processing unit 182 in server 180.

[0157] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of candidate information generated by the management unit according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0158] For example, the acquiring unit 270 acquires candidate information based on the function unit information of the new function unit that corresponds to the provisional configuration information in the feasibility information.

[0159] 13, the database processing unit 182 uses the received configuration information of the existing network as a search key to extract, from the success / failure database, IDs of the application 100 to be added that correspond to the combination of the manufacturer "Company A" of the vehicle 1, the model "aaaa," and the IDs "ID-A," "ID-B," and "ID-C" of the application 100 in the existing network. Then, the database processing unit 182 transmits a candidate list CL indicating each of the extracted IDs to the acquisition unit 270.

[0160] The acquisition unit 270 transmits a candidate list CL, which is an example of candidate information, received from the database processing unit 182 to the input unit 290. The input unit 290 is, for example, an IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment), and one example is the in-vehicle ECU 111, which is a navigation device.

[0161] In addition, the acquisition unit 270 may be configured to generate candidate information indicating candidates such as the ID of the application 100 corresponding to the generated provisional configuration information by downloading and referencing the contents of the success / failure database from the server 180.

[0162] The acquisition unit 270 may also be configured to acquire candidate information further based on the addition position of the new functional unit to the network 12. The addition position is, for example, the port number of the communication port 120 of the relay device 112 to which the in-vehicle ECU 111 is newly connected. The acquisition unit 270 extracts, from the candidate list CL received from the database processing unit 182, the ID of an application that can be connected to the communication port 120 of the port number, and transmits candidate information indicating the extracted ID to the input unit 290.

[0163] The navigation device, which is the input unit 290, receives the candidate information from the acquisition unit 270 and performs processing to display on the screen the ID of the application indicated by the candidate information and a message prompting the user to make a selection.

[0164] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of selection information received by the management unit according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0165] Referring to FIG. 14, the acquiring unit 270 acquires target information based on the user's selection result for the candidate information.

[0166] More specifically, for example, a user who has newly connected the in-vehicle ECU 111 to the network 12 checks the above screen and performs an operation on the navigation device to select "ID-G", which is the ID of the application 100, as the target information.

[0167] The navigation device accepts a user's selection operation of target information, and transmits selection information indicating the selection result to the relay device 112 .

[0168] The acquisition unit 270 in the relay device 112 outputs the target information indicated by the selection information received from the navigation device to the generation unit 220 .

[0169] With this configuration, for example, more accurate target information can be obtained using input from a user who has added a functional unit.

[0170] The input unit 290 is not limited to a navigation device, but may be a mobile terminal of the user in the vehicle 1 or a device such as the server 180 outside the vehicle 1 .

[0171] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of configuration information of a new network generated by the management unit according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0172] 15 , generation unit 220 generates configuration information for a new network indicating a combination of vehicle information, the ID of application 100 in the existing network, and the ID of application 100 to be added. Specifically, generation unit 220 generates configuration information indicating that the manufacturer of vehicle 1 is "Company A," the model is "aaaa," the IDs of application 100 in the existing network are "ID-A," "ID-B," and "ID-C," and the ID of application 100 to be added is "ID-G."

[0173] [Operation Flow] FIG. 16 is a flowchart defining an operation procedure when the management unit in the communication system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure constructs a new network.

[0174] Referring to Figure 16, first, the management unit 200 waits for the addition of a new functional unit to the network 12 (NO in step S102), and when it detects a new functional unit (YES in step S102), it starts the process of acquiring functional unit information of the detected new functional unit and functional unit information of existing functional units (step S104).

[0175] Next, the management unit 200 acquires functional unit information of the existing functional unit by sending an information request notification (step S106), and if it is able to receive functional unit information from the new functional unit within a predetermined time after sending the information request notification (YES in step S108), it generates configuration information for the new network based on the acquired functional unit information of the new functional unit and the existing functional unit (step S118).

[0176] On the other hand, if the management unit 200 is unable to receive function unit information from the new function unit even after a predetermined time has elapsed since sending the information request notification (NO in step S108), it generates provisional configuration information for the network 12 based on the acquired function unit information for each existing function unit, and sends the generated configuration information to the database processing unit 182 in the server 180 (step S110).

[0177] Next, the management unit 200 receives from the database processing unit 182 a candidate list CL indicating each ID extracted from the success / failure database, and generates candidate information based on the candidate list CL (step S112).

[0178] Next, the management unit 200 transmits the generated candidate information to the input unit 290 (step S114).

[0179] Next, the management unit 200 receives selection information indicating the selection result of the candidate indicated by the candidate information from the input unit 290 (step S116).

[0180] Next, the management unit 200 generates configuration information for the new network based on the target information indicated by the received selection information and the functional unit information of the existing functional units (step S118).

[0181] Next, the management unit 200 acquires success / failure information corresponding to the generated configuration information from the success / failure database in the storage device 181 of the server 180 (step S120).

[0182] Next, if the acquired success / failure information indicates "success" (YES in step S122), the management unit 200 acquires setting information indicating the setting contents for communication in the new network from the setting database in the storage device 181 of the server 180 (step S124).

[0183] Next, the management unit 200 transmits the acquired setting information to one or more function units in the new network (step S126).

[0184] Next, the management unit 200 waits for the addition of a new function unit to the new network (NO in step S102).

[0185] On the other hand, if the acquired success / failure information indicates "failed" (NO in step S122), the management unit 200 changes the conditions for generating the configuration information and generates new configuration information according to the changed conditions (step S128).

[0186] Next, the management unit 200 acquires success / failure information corresponding to the newly generated configuration information from the success / failure database in the storage device 181 of the server 180 (step S120).

[0187] 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence of a process for establishing a new network in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 illustrates a process corresponding to the above-described first operation example.

[0188] Referring to FIG. 17, first, a new function unit newly added to network 12 transmits connection request information to management unit 200 (step S202).

[0189] Next, when the management unit 200 receives connection request information from the new function unit, it detects the new function unit and performs authentication processing for the new function unit (step S204).

[0190] Next, if the management unit 200 succeeds in authenticating the new function unit, it transmits an information request notification for requesting function unit information to the existing function unit and the new function unit (step S206).

[0191] Next, in response to the information request notification, the existing function unit transmits its own function unit information of the type specified in the information request notification to the management unit 200. On the other hand, the new function unit does not transmit function unit information because it does not have the function to transmit function unit information to the management unit 200 (step S208).

[0192] Next, since the management unit 200 is unable to receive functional unit information from the new functional unit even after a predetermined time has elapsed since sending the information request notification, it generates temporary configuration information for the network 12, for example, configuration information for the existing network, and sends it to the server 180 (step S210).

[0193] Next, the management unit 200 receives the candidate list CL from the server 180 (step S212), generates candidate information based on the candidate list CL, and transmits it to the input unit 290 (step S214).

[0194] Next, the input unit 290 accepts a selection operation of target information by the user who has confirmed the screen as described above (step S216), and transmits selection information indicating the operation result to the management unit 200 (step S218).

[0195] Next, the management unit 200 generates configuration information for the new network based on the function unit information received from the existing function unit and the target information indicated by the selection information received from the input unit 290 (step S220).

[0196] Next, the management unit 200 transmits the generated configuration information to the server 180 (step S222).

[0197] Next, the server 180 acquires feasibility information indicating the feasibility of the new network corresponding to the configuration information received from the management unit 200 from the database, and transmits the acquired feasibility information to the management unit 200 (step S224).

[0198] Next, the management unit 200 registers the generated configuration information and the feasibility information received from the server 180 in the storage unit 240 (step S226).

[0199] Next, when the management unit 200 receives the success / failure information indicating "success" and the setting information as the feasibility information, it transmits the setting information to the existing function unit and the new function unit (step S228).

[0200] Next, the new function unit changes its settings based on the setting information received from the management unit 200 (step S230). Also, the existing function unit changes its settings based on the setting information received from the management unit 200 (step S232).

[0201] Next, the new function unit and the existing function unit in the new network communicate with each other in accordance with the changed settings (step S234).

[0202] 18 is a diagram illustrating another example of a sequence of a process for establishing a new network in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 illustrates a process corresponding to the above-described first operation example.

[0203] Referring to FIG. 18, first, a new function unit newly added to network 12 transmits connection request information to management unit 200 (step S302).

[0204] Next, when the management unit 200 receives connection request information from the new function unit, it detects the new function unit and performs authentication processing for the new function unit (step S304).

[0205] Next, if the management unit 200 successfully authenticates the new function unit, it obtains the configuration information of the existing network from the storage unit 240 (step S306) and sends an information request notification to the new function unit requesting the function unit information (step S308).

[0206] Next, since the new function unit does not have the function of transmitting function unit information to the management unit 200, the new function unit does not transmit the function unit information (step S310).

[0207] Next, since the management unit 200 is unable to receive functional unit information from the new functional unit even after a predetermined time has elapsed since sending the information request notification, it generates temporary configuration information for the network 12, for example, configuration information for the existing network, and sends it to the server 180 (step S312).

[0208] Next, the management unit 200 receives the candidate list CL from the server 180 (step S314), generates candidate information based on the candidate list CL, and transmits it to the input unit 290 (step S316).

[0209] Next, the input unit 290 accepts a selection operation of target information by the user who has confirmed the screen as described above (step S318), and transmits selection information indicating the operation result to the management unit 200 (step S320).

[0210] Next, the management unit 200 generates configuration information for the new network based on the target information indicated by the selection information received from the input unit 290 and the configuration information acquired from the storage unit 240 (step S322).

[0211] The processes from step S324 to step S336 are similar to steps S222 to S234 in FIG.

[0212] 19 is a diagram illustrating another example of a sequence of a process for establishing a new network in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 illustrates a process corresponding to the above-described second operation example.

[0213] The processing from step S402 to step S424 in FIG. 19 is the same as the processing from step S202 to step S224 in FIG.

[0214] Next, if the feasibility information includes success / failure information indicating "failure," the management unit 200 changes the conditions for generating the configuration information and generates new configuration information according to the changed conditions (step S426).

[0215] Next, the management unit 200 transmits the newly generated configuration information to the server 180 via the wireless base station device 161 (step S428).

[0216] Next, the server 180 obtains feasibility information indicating the feasibility of the new network corresponding to the configuration information received from the management unit 200 from the database, and transmits the obtained feasibility information to the management unit 200 via the wireless base station device 161 (step S430).

[0217] The processes from step S432 to step S440 are similar to those from step S226 to step S234 in FIG.

[0218] In the management unit 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the acquisition unit 270 is configured to acquire candidate information based on the acquired functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional units, but this is not limited to this. The acquisition unit 270 may be configured to transmit, for example, candidate information of fixed content to the input unit 290, instead of the acquired functional unit information of the existing functional units.

[0219] Furthermore, in the management unit 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the acquisition unit 270 is configured to acquire candidate information based on provisional configuration information and feasibility information indicating the feasibility of a new network, but this is not limited to this. The acquisition unit 270 may also be configured to acquire candidate information using some information other than the success / failure database.

[0220] Furthermore, in the management unit 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, when an in-vehicle ECU 111 or an external device is added to the network 12, the detection unit 210 is configured to detect the application 100 included in the in-vehicle ECU 111 or the external device as a new functional unit, but this is not limited to this. The detection unit 210 may also be configured to detect an in-vehicle ECU 111 or an external device that is added to the network 12 and does not include the application 100 as a new functional unit.

[0221] Furthermore, in the management unit 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, when the generation unit 220 receives success / failure information indicating "failure" from the setting processing unit 230, the generation unit 220 changes the generation conditions for the configuration information and generates new configuration information according to the changed generation conditions. However, this is not limited to this. The generation unit 220 may also be configured not to generate new configuration information even when it receives success / failure information indicating "failure." In this case, for example, the notification unit 250 notifies the new function unit that the new function unit will not be added to the network 12.

[0222] Furthermore, in the management unit 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the generation unit 220 is configured to generate configuration information for a new network based on functional unit information of a new functional unit and the acquired configuration information for the existing network when the generation unit 220 acquires configuration information for an existing network from the storage unit 240, but this is not limited to this. Even when the generation unit 220 acquires configuration information for an existing network from the storage unit 240, the generation unit 220 may be configured to acquire functional unit information from one or more existing functional units depending on the content of the functional unit information of the new functional unit, and generate configuration information for a new network based on the functional unit information of the new functional unit, the functional unit information of the existing functional unit, and the acquired configuration information for the existing network.

[0223] Furthermore, in the management unit 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the notification unit 250 is configured to identify a functional unit whose setting needs to be changed from one or more existing functional units and new functional units included in the existing network and notify the identified functional units of the setting content, but this is not limited thereto. The notification unit 250 may be configured to notify all functional units in the new network of the setting content without identifying a functional unit whose setting needs to be changed.

[0224] Furthermore, in the communication system 400 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the management unit 200 is configured to be included in the relay device 112 in the network 12, but this is not limiting. Some or all of the units in the management unit 200 may be included in a device other than the relay device 112 in the network 12, or may be provided outside the network 12. Note that a configuration in which the management unit 200 is included in the relay device 112 in a star topology such as that shown in FIG. 2 allows the management unit 200 to perform the above-described processes more efficiently.

[0225] Furthermore, management unit 200 may not include setting processing unit 230 and notification unit 250. Storage unit 240 may be provided outside relay device 112, which is an example of a management device.

[0226] Furthermore, the management unit 200 may be realized by the server 180. In this case, some or all of the functions of the management unit 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided by cloud computing. That is, the management unit 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured by a plurality of cloud servers or the like.

[0227] However, there is a demand for a technology that allows for flexible construction of networks with new configurations while maintaining stable operation in the network.

[0228] For example, when a new network is constructed by adding a new functional unit to a network, there are cases where the communication required by the upper layer cannot be realized due to the network configuration and restrictions of the lower layer.

[0229] One example of such a network configuration and constraints in the lower layer is a constraint on the communication bandwidth of the physical layer. In particular, in a network that requires low cost, such as a network including an in-vehicle functional unit such as an in-vehicle ECU, the above-mentioned communication bandwidth constraints may make it difficult to add a new functional unit to the network while maintaining stable operation of the network.

[0230] In contrast, with the relay device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the above-described configuration allows a new network to be constructed using the previously generated results of network feasibility verification. This allows a new network to be constructed with guaranteed feasibility taking into account, for example, the logical configuration and the physical configuration, thereby suppressing delays in important communications due to, for example, adding a new functional unit to the network.

[0231] Each process (each function) in the above-described embodiments is realized by a processing circuit (circuitry) including one or more processors. The processing circuit may be configured as an integrated circuit or the like that combines one or more memories, various analog circuits, and various digital circuits in addition to the one or more processors. The one or more memories store programs (instructions) that cause the one or more processors to execute each of the processes. The one or more processors may execute each of the processes according to the program read from the one or more memories, or may execute each of the processes according to a logic circuit designed in advance to execute each of the processes. The processor may be any of various processors suitable for computer control, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Note that the physically separated processors may cooperate with each other to execute the processes. For example, the processors installed in the physically separated computers may cooperate with each other via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the Internet to execute the processes. The program may be installed into the memory from an external server device or the like via the network, or may be distributed in a state stored on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), or a semiconductor memory, and then installed into the memory from the recording medium.

[0232] The above-described embodiments should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0233] The above description includes the features noted below: [Supplementary Note 1] A management device comprising: a detection unit that detects the addition of a functional unit to a network that includes one or more in-vehicle functional units; an acquisition unit that acquires functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional units, and, if target information that is functional unit information of a new functional unit that is the functional unit whose addition is detected by the detection unit cannot be acquired from the new functional unit, transmits candidate information that indicates candidates for the target information and receives a selection result of the candidates indicated by the candidate information to acquire the target information; and a generation unit that generates configuration information of a new network that is the network further including the new functional unit, based on the functional unit information acquired by the acquisition unit, wherein the acquisition unit transmits the candidate information to a navigation device in the network, and receives the selection result based on a user's operation on the navigation device.

[0234] [Supplementary Note 2] A management device comprising a processing circuit, which detects the addition of a functional unit to a network including one or more in-vehicle functional units, acquires functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional units, and if target information which is functional unit information of the new functional unit which is the functional unit whose addition is detected by the detection unit cannot be acquired from the new functional unit, transmits candidate information which indicates candidates for the target information, and acquires the target information by receiving a selection result of the candidates indicated by the candidate information, and generates configuration information of the new network which is the network further including the new functional unit based on the acquired functional unit information of each functional unit.

[0235] 1 Vehicle 11 Ethernet cable 12 Network 100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, 100F, 100G, 100H, 100J Application 111, 111A In-vehicle ECU 111B In-vehicle ECU (intake pressure sensor) 111C In-vehicle ECU (engine ECU) 111D In-vehicle ECU (temperature sensor) 111E In-vehicle ECU (water temperature sensor) 111G In-vehicle ECU (image sensor) 112 Relay device 113 External device 120, 120A, 120B, 120C Communication port 161 Wireless base station device 170 External network 180 Server 181 Storage device 182 Database processing unit 200 Management unit 210 Detection unit 220 Generation unit 230 Setting processing unit 240 Storage unit 250 Notification unit 270 Acquisition unit 290 Input unit 300 Vehicle communication system 400 Communication system

Claims

1. A detection unit that detects the addition of a functional unit to a network including one or more in-vehicle functional units; an acquisition unit that acquires functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional unit, and when target information, which is functional unit information of a new functional unit that is the functional unit whose addition has been detected by the detection unit, cannot be acquired from the new functional unit, transmits candidate information indicating candidates for the target information, and acquires the target information by receiving a selection result of the candidates indicated by the candidate information; a generation unit that generates configuration information of a new network, which is the network further including the new functional unit, based on the functional unit information acquired by the acquisition unit.

2. The management device according to claim 1 , wherein the acquisition unit acquires the candidate information based on functional unit information of the acquired in-vehicle functional unit.

3. The management device of claim 2, wherein the acquisition unit generates provisional configuration information of the network based on functional part information of the in-vehicle functional part acquired by the acquisition unit, and acquires the candidate information based on the provisional configuration information and feasibility information indicating the feasibility of the new network.

4. the feasibility information is information indicating a plurality of combinations of the functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional unit and the functional unit information of the new functional unit and the feasibility of the new network, The management device according to claim 3 , wherein the acquisition unit acquires the candidate information based on function unit information of the new function unit that corresponds to the provisional configuration information in the feasibility information.

5. The management device according to claim 2 , wherein the acquisition unit acquires the candidate information based further on a location where the new function unit is to be added to the network.

6. The management device further comprises:

5. The management device according to claim 1, further comprising a configuration processing unit that acquires feasibility information indicating the feasibility of the new network, corresponding to the configuration information of the new network generated by the generation unit, from a database in a storage device.

7. A vehicle communication management method in a management device, comprising: Detecting the addition of a functional unit to a network including one or more in-vehicle functional units; acquiring functional part information of the in-vehicle functional part, and if target information, which is functional part information of a new functional part that is the functional part that has been detected as being added, cannot be acquired from the new functional part, transmitting candidate information indicating candidates for the target information, and acquiring the target information by receiving a selection result of the candidates indicated by the candidate information; generating configuration information for a new network, the network further including the new functional unit, based on the acquired information about each functional unit.

8. A vehicle communication management program for use in a management device, Computer, A detection unit that detects the addition of a functional unit to a network including one or more in-vehicle functional units; an acquisition unit that acquires functional unit information of the in-vehicle functional unit, and when target information, which is functional unit information of a new functional unit that is the functional unit whose addition has been detected by the detection unit, cannot be acquired from the new functional unit, transmits candidate information indicating candidates for the target information, and acquires the target information by receiving a selection result of the candidates indicated by the candidate information; A vehicle communication management program that functions as a generation unit that generates configuration information for a new network, which is the network further including the new functional unit, based on the information on each functional unit acquired by the acquisition unit.