CAN Braided Ring Network for Availability Without Duplication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAN implementations do not meet evolving safety and security requirements, particularly in terms of availability, often necessitating network duplication or triplication which is not conducive to low size, weight, and cost goals.
Innovation Solution
A braided ring availability integrity network (BRAIN) system that modifies the CAN protocol by incorporating BRAIN circuitry to alter CAN messages with BRAIN transmission information, ensuring dependability while maintaining compatibility with existing CAN components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network duplication or triplication is implemented to meet availability requirements, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into a primary CAN bus and a secondary BRAIN ring, where the BRAIN ring is divided into multiple segments connected by gateways. This segmentation allows fault isolation within segments while maintaining overall network availability without requiring complete network duplication.
Solution Approach 2:
Gateway interfaces act as intermediaries between the primary CAN bus and the secondary BRAIN ring, and between different BRAIN ring segments. These intermediaries enable protocol translation and data routing, allowing the system to achieve high availability through the braided ring structure without duplicating the entire network.
2Reliability
If network duplication or triplication is implemented to meet availability requirements, then reliability is improved, but size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the CAN protocol with the BRAIN ring topology by integrating BRAIN circuitry into existing CAN nodes. This combination allows the system to achieve the availability benefits of a redundant ring network while using the same physical infrastructure and node designs as standard CAN systems, thereby avoiding the size and weight penalty of complete network duplication.
Solution Approach 2:
The BRAIN ring infrastructure serves multiple functions: it provides fault detection, data routing, and availability monitoring while using the same physical network infrastructure as the primary CAN bus. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate redundant networks, reducing overall system size and weight.
3Reliability
If network duplication or triplication is implemented to meet availability requirements, then reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of copying the entire CAN network three times, the patent creates a single BRAIN ring that mirrors the topology of the primary CAN bus. This partial copying approach provides fault detection and availability benefits while using fewer components and less manufacturing complexity than full network duplication or triplication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the protocol parameters and message formats within the BRAIN ring to enable fault detection and availability monitoring without requiring additional physical network infrastructure. By modifying existing CAN messages to include BRAIN-specific identifiers and control words, the system achieves high availability at lower cost than physical duplication.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for a controller area network braided ring are provided. In certain embodiments, a node within a controller area network braided ring includes a controller area network (CAN) controller that transmits and receives CAN messages according to CAN protocol. The node also includes braided ring availability integrity network (BRAIN) circuitry coupled to the CAN controller, wherein the BRAIN circuitry alters the received CAN messages from the CAN controller for transmission to other nodes within a BRAIN network and alters BRAIN messages received from the other nodes into CAN messages for processing by the CAN controller.