On-board network control device

Abstract

This on-board network control device comprises: a relay device that connects together a storage device having a storage region including a first region and a second region, an arithmetic device, and another control device; and the arithmetic device connected to the storage device. The arithmetic device: recognizes an additional element with respect to the another control device; reads a request that has been written, via the relay device, in the first region by the additional element; transmits, to the additional element via the relay device, position information indicating the position of a write region selected from the second region; and writes data, that is the object of the request, to the write region.

Description

In-vehicle network control device

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle network control device.

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technique for preventing a communication line from being monopolized by a large amount of data communication when reading and writing data using a communication line, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a data transfer system in which a sending computer writes transfer data to a storage device in which a plurality of files are swapped sequentially, and a receiving computer reads the transfer data written by the sending computer in the order in which it was written, thereby transferring data between two computers.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-167112

[0004] The data transfer system described in Patent Document 1 does not assume that additional elements such as hardware and software will be added later, which poses a problem that when an additional element is present, the bandwidth of the communication path becomes insufficient, making it impossible to establish communication with the additional element.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to ensure communication with additional elements such as hardware and software even when the additional elements are added later.

[0006] An in-vehicle network control device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a storage device having a memory area including a first area and a second area, an arithmetic unit, and a relay device that interconnects other control devices, and the arithmetic unit connected to the storage device, wherein the arithmetic unit recognizes an additional element for the other control device, reads a request written to the first area by the additional element via the relay device, transmits location information indicating the location of a write area selected from the second area to the additional element via the relay device, and writes the data that is the subject of the request to the write area.

[0007] According to the present invention, even if an additional element such as hardware or software is added later, communication with the additional element can be reliably performed.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of an in-vehicle network control device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of an in-vehicle network control device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of control processing executed by a calculation device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of an in-vehicle network control device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of an in-vehicle network control device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of control processing executed by a calculation device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of an in-vehicle network control device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of control processing executed by a calculation device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of an in-vehicle network control device according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of control processing executed by a calculation device according to a fifth embodiment.

[0009] First Embodiment An in-vehicle network control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of an in-vehicle network control device according to a first embodiment. A vehicle 1 is equipped with an in-vehicle network control device 2, a storage device 3, and multiple control devices 4. The storage device 3 is a non-volatile storage device such as a flash memory or a hard disk drive. The control devices 4 are devices for controlling various parts of the vehicle 1. Each control device 4, for example, controls the driving of actuators in the vehicle 1 and collects information from sensors mounted at various locations on the vehicle 1. The in-vehicle network control device 2 includes a relay device 21, a computing device 22, a non-volatile memory 23, and a volatile memory 24.

[0011] The arithmetic device 22 is a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), etc. The non-volatile memory 23 is a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk drive, etc. The volatile memory 24 is what is called a random access memory (RAM). The in-vehicle network control device 2 is configured by a computer equipped with these pieces of hardware and other peripheral circuits. These pieces of hardware work together to run software and realize multiple functions. The in-vehicle network control device 2 may be configured by one computer or multiple computers. Furthermore, the arithmetic device 22 may be configured by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0012] The nonvolatile memory 23 stores programs capable of executing various calculations. That is, the nonvolatile memory 23 is a storage medium (storage device) from which the programs realizing the functions of this embodiment can be read. The volatile memory 24 is a storage medium (storage device) that temporarily stores the results of calculations performed by the processing device and signals input from the relay device 21. The calculation device 22 is a device that loads the programs stored in the nonvolatile memory 23 into the volatile memory 24 and executes calculations, and performs predetermined calculations on data taken from the relay device 21, the nonvolatile memory 23, and the volatile memory 24 in accordance with the programs.

[0013] The relay device 21 is a switching device that interconnects various devices provided inside the in-vehicle network control device 2 with various devices provided outside the in-vehicle network control device 2. The relay device 21 interconnects the arithmetic device 22, the storage device 3, and multiple control devices 4. For example, the arithmetic device 22 can transmit and receive data to and from the multiple control devices 4. Similarly, the multiple control devices 4 can transmit and receive data to and from the storage device 3 via the relay device 21, i.e., write data to and read data from the storage device 3. In this way, the relay device 21 builds an in-vehicle network in the vehicle 1 to which various devices are connected. Note that the arithmetic device 22 is directly connected to the storage device 3, and can write data to and read data from the storage device 3 without going through the relay device 21.

[0014] An additional device 5, which is new hardware, can be connected to the multiple control devices 4 later. For example, after a vehicle 1 equipped with an in-vehicle network control device 2 and the like is sold, the additional device 5 can be installed in the vehicle 1 some time later. In other words, the additional device 5 is an additional element to the in-vehicle network. Note that in the following description, the additional device 5 is assumed to be realized as hardware, but the additional device 5 may also be realized as software in the multiple control devices 4. In other words, the additional device 5 may be a software program that realizes some function executed by the multiple control devices 4.

[0015] Possible additional devices 5 include, for example, a drive recorder that records images of the surroundings of vehicle 1, a driving assistance device that notifies the driver when vehicle 1 is approaching an obstacle, and a road-to-vehicle communication device that sends and receives various information between the vehicle and a communication unit installed on the road.

[0016] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of the in-vehicle network control device 2 according to the first embodiment. The storage device 3 has a storage area 31. The storage area 31 is provided with a first area 32 and a second area 33. The first area 32 and the second area 33 will be described in detail later.

[0017] The in-vehicle network control device 2 includes an additional recognition unit 25, a request reading unit 26, an area selection unit 27, and a data writing unit 28. Each of these functional units is functionally realized by the arithmetic unit 22 executing a predetermined program stored in the non-volatile memory 23.

[0018] The addition recognition unit 25 recognizes the addition of the additional device 5 to the control device 4. The request reading unit 26 reads the request written by the additional device 5 to the first area 32 via the relay device 21. The area selection unit 27 selects a write area 34 from the second area 33 and transmits location information indicating the location of the selected write area 34 to the additional device 5 via the relay device 21.

[0019] 3 is a flowchart of the control process executed by the calculation device 22 according to the first embodiment. In step S100, the addition recognition unit 25 recognizes that an additional device 5 has been added to the control device 4. For example, when the additional device 5 is added, the control device 4 notifies the calculation device 22 of the addition of the additional device 5 via the relay device 21. The calculation device 22 recognizes the addition of the additional device 5 by receiving this notification.

[0020] In step S110, the request reading unit 26 instructs the additional device 5 to write the request to the first area 32. For example, the calculation device 22 transmits a request write instruction to the control device 4 to which the additional device 5 is connected, via the relay device 21. Upon receiving the request write instruction, the control device 4 forwards it to the additional device 5. Upon receiving the request write instruction, the additional device 5 writes a request for data to be used by itself to the first area 32 via the control device 4 and the relay device 21. Note that in the following description, when describing transmission and reception of some data between the calculation device 22 and the additional device 5, the passage through the control device 4 and the relay device 21 may be omitted.

[0021] A request in the first embodiment is data indicating a request for some data to the in-vehicle network control device 2. For example, if the additional device 5 is a drive recorder, data indicating the speed of the vehicle 1, data indicating the position of the vehicle 1, etc. are requested. Furthermore, if the additional device 5 is a driving assistance device, data indicating the speed of the vehicle 1, data indicating the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal, etc. are requested. If the additional device 5 is a road-to-vehicle communication unit, data indicating the speed of the vehicle 1, etc. are requested.

[0022] In step S120, the request reading unit 26 reads the request from the first area 32. For example, when the additional device 5 completes writing the request, it notifies the calculation device 22 via the control device 4 and the relay device 21 that writing of the request has been completed. In response to the calculation device 22 receiving this notification, the request reading unit 26 executes the process of step S120.

[0023] In step S130, the area selection unit 27 selects a write area 34 in the second area 33. The write area 34 is a storage area for data transfer between the calculation device 22 and the additional device 5, and is part of the second area 33. In step S140, the area selection unit 27 transmits location information indicating the location of the write area 34 selected in step S130 to the additional device 5. In step S150, the data writing unit 28 writes the data specified by the request read in step S120 to the write area 34. If the specified data already exists in the second area 33, the data writing unit 28 writes that data to the write area 34. In step S160, the data writing unit 28 notifies the additional device 5 that the specified data has been written to the write area 34. Note that the processing of step S140 and the processing of steps S150 to S160 are independent of each other. Therefore, the execution order may be reversed, or they may be executed in parallel.

[0024] According to the above-described first embodiment, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0025] (1) The computing device 22 recognizes the additional device 5 (additional element) for the control device 4 (another control device), reads the request written by the additional device 5 (additional element) to the first area 32 via the relay device 21, transmits location information indicating the location of the write area 34 selected from the second area 33 to the additional device 5 (additional element) via the relay device 21, and writes the data that is the subject of the request to the write area 34. In this way, even if additional elements such as hardware and software are added later, the bandwidth of the relay device 21 can be secured, and communication with the additional element can be reliably performed.

[0026] Second Embodiment An in-vehicle network control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6. Note that components that are the same as or equivalent to those described in the first embodiment will be given the same reference symbols, and differences will be mainly described.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram similar to FIG. 1 and showing the hardware configuration of an in-vehicle network control device according to a second embodiment. The in-vehicle network control device 102 shown in FIG. 4 includes a processing device 29 in addition to the components shown in FIG. 1 . The processing device 29 is a device that executes some kind of processing related to the vehicle 1. Examples of the processing device 29 include a drive recorder that captures images of the surroundings of the vehicle 1, a driving assistance device that notifies the vehicle 1 of its approach to an obstacle, and a road-to-vehicle communication device that transmits and receives various information to and from a communication unit installed on a road. The processing device 29 is connected to a relay device 21. For example, the processing device 29 can transmit and receive data to and from the storage device 3 via the relay device 21, i.e., write data to and read data from the storage device 3.

[0028] 5 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2 and is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of the in-vehicle network control device 102 according to the second embodiment. The storage area 31 shown in FIG. 5 includes a first area 32, a second area 33, and a third area 35.

[0029] Fig. 6 is a flowchart of the control process executed by the arithmetic unit 22 according to the second embodiment, similar to Fig. 3. In the flowchart of Fig. 6, processes of steps S145 to S147 are added between the processes of steps S140 and S150 in the flowchart of Fig. 3.

[0030] In step S145, the area selection unit 27 determines whether data similar to that specified by the request has been written to the third area 35 and used (read) by the processing device 29. If the data has been written to the third area 35, the process proceeds to step S147. In step S147, the area selection unit 27 transmits location information indicating the location of the write area 34 selected in step S130 to the processing device 29. This enables the processing device 29 to find and read data required for its own processing from the write area 34 in the second area 33, rather than from the third area 35. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S150. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S145, the process proceeds to step S150.

[0031] According to the second embodiment described above, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0032] (1) When the calculation device 22 selects the write area 34, it transmits the location information to the processing device 29 (another calculation device) connected to the relay device 21 via the relay device 21. By doing so, even if another device is also using the same data stored in the storage device 3, it is possible to establish communication with the additional device 5 (additional element) without affecting the other device.

[0033] (2) When the calculation device 22 selects the write area 34, it transmits the location information via the relay device 21 to the processing device 29 (another calculation device) that reads the data in the second area 33. In this way, even if another device is also using the same data stored in the storage device 3, it is possible to establish communication with the additional device 5 (additional element) without affecting the other device.

[0034] 7 and 8, an in-vehicle network control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same reference symbols are used to designate components that are the same as or equivalent to those described in the first embodiment, and differences will be mainly described.

[0035] 7 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2 and is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of an in-vehicle network control device 202 according to a third embodiment. The storage area 31 shown in FIG. 7 includes a third area 35 in addition to a first area 32 and a second area 33. In the third embodiment, the write area 34 is selected from the third area 35.

[0036] Fig. 8 is a flowchart of the control process executed by the arithmetic unit 22 according to the third embodiment, similar to Fig. 3. In the flowchart of Fig. 8, step S300 is provided instead of step S100 in the flowchart of Fig. 3. Furthermore, the processes of step S110, step S140, and step S160 are not present.

[0037] In the third embodiment, the additional device 5 writes a request after it is added, without waiting for an instruction from the computing device 22. In step S300, the addition recognition unit 25 recognizes the addition of the additional device 5 by searching the first area 32 for a request written by the additional device 5. When the addition recognition unit 25 finds a request in the first area 32, the process proceeds to step S120. In step S120, the request reading unit 26 reads the request found by the addition recognition unit 25 from the first area 32.

[0038] In step S130, the area selection unit 27 selects the write area 34 in the third area 35. In step S150, the data writing unit 28 writes the data specified by the request read in step S120 to the write area 34. If the specified data already exists in the second area 33, the data writing unit 28 writes the data to the write area 34 in the third area 35 and deletes the data from the second area 33. In the third embodiment, the adding device 5 repeatedly searches the third area 35 for the data specified by the request at regular intervals without waiting for notification from the computing device 22. When the adding device 5 finds the data, it reads the data from the third area 35 and uses it.

[0039] According to the above-described third embodiment, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0040] (1) The calculation device 22 selects the write area 34 from the third area 35 included in the storage area 31, and if the data that is the subject of the request is in the second area 33, writes the data to the write area 34. This makes it possible to accommodate the addition of an additional device 5 (additional element) without direct communication between the calculation device 22 and the additional device 5 (additional element).

[0041] (2) When the data that is the subject of the request is in the second area 33, the computing device 22 writes the data to the write area 34 and deletes the data from the second area 33. This prevents the same data from being stored in both the second area 33 and the third area 35, and enables effective use of the storage area 31.

[0042] <Fourth embodiment> An in-vehicle network control device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Note that components that are the same as or equivalent to those described in the first embodiment will be given the same reference symbols, and differences will be mainly described.

[0043] 9 is a schematic diagram similar to FIG. 1 showing the hardware configuration of an in-vehicle network control device according to a fourth embodiment. The in-vehicle network control device 302 and the additional device 5 shown in FIG. 9 use a storage device 403 provided outside the vehicle instead of the storage device 3 provided in the vehicle 1. The in-vehicle network control device 302, the additional device 5, and the storage device 403 have wireless communication functions. The in-vehicle network control device 302 and the additional device 5 can read data from the storage area of ​​the storage device 403 and write data to the storage area of ​​the storage device 403 via wireless communication.

[0044] According to the above-described fourth embodiment, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0045] (1) The in-vehicle network control device 302 and the control device 4 (another control device) are mounted on the same vehicle 1, and the storage device 403 is installed in a location different from the vehicle 1. The in-vehicle network control device 302 and the control device 4 (another control device) read and write data from and to the storage area 31 of the storage device 403 via wireless communication. This configuration allows for the addition of an additional device 5 (an additional element) while collecting data from the vehicle 1 to an external server or the like. Furthermore, the amount of communication by the relay device 21 can be significantly reduced, particularly when the additional device 5 (an additional element) requests large amounts of data. Furthermore, there is no need to mount a large-capacity storage device 3 on the vehicle 1, which reduces the cost of the in-vehicle system including the in-vehicle network control device.

[0046] Fifth Embodiment An in-vehicle network control device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Note that components that are the same as or equivalent to those described in the first embodiment will be given the same reference symbols, and differences will be mainly described.

[0047] The in-vehicle network control device according to the fifth embodiment switches the communication method with the additional device 5 depending on the driving conditions of the vehicle 1. In the first embodiment, when the additional device 5 needs some data, the procedure is as follows: the additional device 5 writes a request to the storage device 3, the in-vehicle network control device 2 reads the request from the storage device 3, the in-vehicle network control device 2 writes the data to the storage device 3, and the additional device 5 reads the data from the storage device 3. The in-vehicle network control device according to the fifth embodiment transmits the necessary data directly to the additional device 5 via the relay device 21 in driving conditions that do not increase the communication load on the relay device 21. In other words, the in-vehicle network control device according to the present embodiment switches between transmitting data to the storage device 3 and transmitting data to the additional device 5 based on the driving conditions of the vehicle 1.

[0048] Fig. 10 is a flowchart of the control process executed by the arithmetic unit 22 according to the fifth embodiment, similar to Fig. 3. In the flowchart of Fig. 10, steps S400 to S410 are added between steps S100 and S110 in the flowchart of Fig. 3.

[0049] In step S400, the arithmetic unit 22 determines whether the driving situation is such that the communication load on the relay device 21 is low. For example, as the number of targets around the vehicle 1 increases, the amount of data from the sensors installed in the vehicle 1 increases, thereby increasing the communication load on the relay device 21. Furthermore, when a so-called software update or the like is performed, data must be downloaded from an external server, which increases the communication load on the relay device 21. Thus, if the driving situation is such that the communication load on the relay device 21 is low, the process proceeds to step S410. In step S410, the arithmetic unit 22 executes the necessary data exchange by directly receiving a request from the additional device 5 or directly transmitting data requested by the additional device 5 to the additional device 5, and then ends the process of FIG. 10 . If a negative determination is made in step S400, the process proceeds to step S110. The subsequent processes are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0050] According to the above-described fifth embodiment, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0051] (1) The arithmetic device 22 detects the driving state of the vehicle 1 equipped with the in-vehicle network control device, and when the driving state is a predetermined state, transmits the data to the additional device 5 (additional element) via the relay device 21 instead of writing the data to the write area 34. In this way, high-latency communication is realized between the additional device 5 (additional element) and the arithmetic device 22 under normal circumstances, and when the communication load is high, slow but reliable communication can be realized using the storage device 3.

[0052] The following modified examples are also within the scope of the present invention, and it is possible to combine the configuration shown in the modified example with the configuration described in the above embodiment, to combine the configurations described in the different embodiments above, or to combine the configurations described in the different modified examples below.

[0053] <Modification 1> In the first embodiment and the like, the storage device 3 may be provided inside the in-vehicle network control device 2 .

[0054] 10 , the communication load of the relay device 21 may be directly observed, rather than determining the communication load of the relay device 21 from the traveling status of the vehicle 1. For example, it may be determined whether the time increase rate of the communication volume at the relay device 21 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, or whether a monotonically increasing state of the communication volume at the relay device 21 has continued for a predetermined time. Alternatively, it may be determined whether a state in which the time increase rate of the communication volume at the relay device 21 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold has continued for a predetermined time.

[0055] That is, the calculation device 22 may detect the communication load of the relay device 21, and if the communication load is less than a predetermined amount, transmit the data to the additional device 5 (additional element) via the relay device 21 instead of writing the data to the write area 34. In this way, high-latency communication can be realized between the additional device 5 (additional element) and the calculation device 22 under normal circumstances, and slow but reliable communication can be realized using the storage device 3 when the communication load is high.

[0056] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments merely illustrate some of the application examples of the present invention, and it is not intended that the technical scope of the present invention be limited to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.

[0057] 1...vehicle, 2, 102, 202, 302...vehicle network control device, 3, 403...storage device, 4...control device, 5...addition device, 21...relay device, 22...arithmetic device, 23...non-volatile memory, 24...volatile memory, 25...addition recognition unit, 26...request reading unit, 27...area selection unit, 28...data writing unit, 29...processing device, 31...storage area, 32...first area, 33...second area, 34...writing area, 35...third area

Claims

1. An in-vehicle network control device comprising: a storage device having a storage area including a first area and a second area, an arithmetic unit, and a relay device that interconnects other control devices; and the arithmetic unit connected to the storage device, wherein the arithmetic unit recognizes an additional element for the other control device, reads a request written to the first area by the additional element via the relay device, transmits location information indicating the location of a write area selected from the second area to the additional element via the relay device, and writes the data that is the subject of the request to the write area.

2. An in-vehicle network control device according to claim 1, wherein, when the calculation device selects the write area, the calculation device transmits the location information to another calculation device connected to the relay device via the relay device.

3. An in-vehicle network control device according to claim 2, wherein when the calculation device selects the write area, the calculation device transmits the location information via the relay device to the other calculation device that reads the data in the second area.

4. An in-vehicle network control device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic unit selects the write area from a third area included in the memory area, and if the data that is the subject of the request is in the second area, writes the data to the write area.

5. An in-vehicle network control device according to claim 4, wherein, when the data that is the subject of the previous request is in the second area, the arithmetic unit writes the data to the write area and deletes the data from the second area.

6. An in-vehicle network control device according to claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle network control device and the other control device are mounted on the same vehicle, and the storage device is installed in a location different from the vehicle, and the in-vehicle network control device and the other control device read and write the storage area of ​​the storage device via wireless communication.

7. An in-vehicle network control device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic device detects the driving state of the vehicle in which the in-vehicle network control device is installed, and when the driving state is a predetermined state, transmits the data to the additional element via the relay device instead of writing the data to the write area.

8. An in-vehicle network control device according to claim 1, wherein the computing device detects the communication load of the relay device, and if the communication load is less than a predetermined amount, transmits the data to the additional element via the relay device instead of writing the data to the write area.

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