Bus Communication Manipulation Layer for Control Device Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing bus communication of control devices are costly and unrealistic, requiring series hardware and software, and cannot easily inject errors between real control devices, limiting early testing and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A method involving send and receive manipulation layers between or within the bus hardware-independent and dependent communication layers to manipulate protocol data units, allowing for realistic testing without altering the underlying bus hardware-independent communication layer code, enabling error injection and testing across various protocol layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If series hardware and software are used for testing bus communication, then testing accuracy is improved, but testing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the control device that replicates its communication behavior without requiring physical series hardware. The virtual control device simulates protocol data unit generation, transmission, and reception across all communication layers, enabling accurate testing using standard PCs instead of expensive series control devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a manipulation layer as an intermediary between the virtual control device and the bus communication system. This layer enables error injection and communication manipulation without requiring modification of the underlying control device code or hardware, facilitating flexible testing scenarios
2Reliability
If error injection is performed between real control devices, then error detection capability is improved, but implementation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manipulation layer serves as an intermediary that intercepts protocol data units between the virtual control device and bus communication partners. It enables easy error injection by modifying protocol data units in memory before transmission, without requiring physical intervention or complex hardware modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical error injection methods (such as hardware fault injection or manual interference) with software-based manipulation of protocol data units. Errors are injected by modifying data in memory and re-encoding protocol data units, eliminating the need for complex mechanical or hardware intervention systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bus hardware-independent communication layer code is altered for testing, then testing flexibility is improved, but code integrity and reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the testing functionality from the production code by introducing a separate manipulation layer. This layer handles all testing operations including error injection and communication manipulation, while the underlying bus hardware-independent communication layer remains unchanged and intact for production use
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulation layer acts as an intermediary that provides testing capabilities without modifying the underlying communication layer code. It intercepts protocol data units, applies test manipulations, and passes modified units to the communication layer, preserving code integrity while enabling flexible testing
4Reliability
If real control devices are used in hardware-based simulation, then realism is improved, but cost and availability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the control device that replicates its communication behavior across all protocol layers. This virtual representation enables realistic testing scenarios using standard PCs, eliminating the need for expensive series control devices while maintaining communication realism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the control device from hardware-based to software-based virtualization. By representing the control device as executable code and data structures rather than physical hardware, it achieves cost reduction while maintaining communication behavior realism through accurate protocol implementation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manipulating the bus communication of an electronic control device is provided, wherein the bus communication includes a bus hardware-independent first communication layer and a bus hardware-dependent second communication layer. The first communication layer encodes at least one piece of information in a first protocol data unit and transmits it to the second communication layer and/or the first communication layer receives the first protocol data unit from the second communication layer and decodes the first information from the first protocol data unit. The second communication layer generates bus hardware-dependent bus information from the first protocol data unit or from an additional protocol data unit derived from the first protocol data unit for transmission via the bus and/or the second communication layer generates the first protocol data unit or an additional protocol data unit, from which the first protocol data unit can be derived.