CAN Device Ethernet Frame Bridging Metadata Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle communication systems, there is a challenge in maintaining uninterrupted Ethernet-enabled communication links, particularly when a portion of the communication link is designed as a CAN-only communication path, which can lead to inefficiencies and delays due to the need to embed Ethernet frames within CAN frames, resulting in increased data volume and bandwidth usage on the CAN bus.
Innovation Solution
A device with an Ethernet interface and a CAN BUS interface, coupled with a processing unit and memory unit, that acquires metadata from Ethernet frames, checks for reference tags, and either uses stored reference tags to generate CAN frames without redundant metadata or creates new reference tags for new metadata, thereby reducing data volume and optimizing transmission by embedding only the reference tag and payload data within the CAN frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Ethernet frames are embedded within CAN frames for communication over a CAN bus, then communication between Ethernet-enabled devices can be maintained, but the data volume and bandwidth usage on the CAN bus increases due to redundant metadata
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential payload data from Ethernet frames and transmits it via CAN frames, while excluding redundant metadata. A separate metadata repository stores complete Ethernet frame information, allowing receivers to reconstruct full frames using only the transmitted payload and retrieved metadata, thereby minimizing CAN bus data volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds CAN frames within Ethernet frames and vice versa in a nested structure. Ethernet frames contain CAN frames as payload, and CAN frames contain embedded references to metadata stored in the Ethernet frame header, creating a compact hierarchical structure that reduces overall data volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Ethernet frames are embedded within CAN frames, then communication links can be bridged, but transmission delays increase due to the additional processing and data volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-storing metadata from Ethernet frames in a metadata repository before CAN frame transmission. When a CAN frame needs to be transmitted, only the essential payload data is processed and sent, while metadata is retrieved from the pre-prepared repository, significantly reducing processing time and transmission delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and transmits only the critical payload data portion of Ethernet frames over the CAN bus, separating it from redundant metadata. This extraction approach minimizes the data volume that requires transmission and processing, directly reducing transmission delays while maintaining communication bridging capability.
3Loss of information
If complete Ethernet frames are transmitted over CAN bus, then all metadata information is preserved, but bandwidth usage on the CAN bus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary payload data from complete Ethernet frames for transmission over the CAN bus, while storing complete metadata information in a separate repository. The metadata includes Ethernet frame headers, source/destination addresses, and other control information that can be retrieved and reassembled at the receiving end, thereby preserving all information while minimizing bandwidth usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a metadata repository as an intermediary structure that stores complete Ethernet frame metadata. This intermediary allows the system to transmit minimal data over the CAN bus while maintaining access to complete information, effectively decoupling the transmission data volume from the information preservation requirement.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a Control Area Network, CAN, device, which is configured to receive an ethernet frame, extract payload of the ethernet frame, and determine a reference tag for the payload, wherein the CAN device is also configured to create an CAN frame, which comprises the reference tag and the payload of the ethernet frame, such that the CAN frame can be transmitted with reduced CAN BUS bandwidth. The present invention also relates to another device for reconstruction of the ethernet frame form the received CAN frame. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for the CAN device.