Bus Communication Error Injection via Virtual Control Unit Gateway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for testing control unit bus communication are limited in realism, especially when testing early stages or using virtual control units, as they require series hardware and software environments and are complex to implement errors realistically.

Innovation Solution

A method that introduces transmission and reception influencing layers between or within the bus hardware-independent and dependent communication layers, allowing for error injection and testing without modifying the first communication layer's code, enabling realistic simulation of bus communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If residual bus simulation with virtual control units is used for testing, then testing can be performed without series hardware, but the realism of the test environment is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of testingVSAvoidrealism of test environment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an error gateway as an intermediary component between the virtual control unit and the bus simulation environment. This gateway enables realistic error injection and communication behavior modification without requiring changes to the virtual control unit code, thus maintaining test realism while using virtual units

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copied representation of the first communication layer within the error gateway that mirrors the structure and behavior of the original layer. This copying allows the virtual control unit to interact with a realistic simulation environment that replicates series hardware behavior without requiring the actual hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If error gateway is used to influence bus communication of real control units, then error injection is possible, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror injection capabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of test setup
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The error gateway is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a protocol translator between different communication layers and an error injection mechanism. This universal design consolidates multiple test functions into a single component, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested structure where the error gateway contains embedded instances of communication layers within its error injection units. These nested layers are embedded within the gateway structure, allowing complex error injection functionality to be contained within a manageable hierarchical framework

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If series hardware and software environment is used for testing, then test realism is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest realismVSAvoidease of testing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of series hardware and software environments that replicate the behavior and communication protocols of production systems. These virtual copies enable realistic testing without requiring access to actual series hardware, thus maintaining test realism while improving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2672660B1Method for influencing the bus communication of a electronical control unit
Publication Date: 2014.08.13 DSPACE DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING & CONTROL ENGINEERING GMBH
  • EP2672660B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2672660B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2672660B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves manipulating a protocol data unit (5) or additional protocol data unit (6) derived from the protocol data unit. The manipulated protocol data unit and additional protocol data unit are provided to a communication layer for processing, where a receive manipulation layer (9) manipulates the additional protocol data unit or the protocol data unit derived from the additional protocol data unit and provides the obtained manipulated protocol data unit or the manipulated additional protocol data unit to the communication layer for processing.