Duplicated Processing Modules for Vehicle Bus Redundancy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle bus protocols are inadequate for non-safety communications due to low bandwidth and transmission speed, limiting information flow, safety, data security, and remote access while maintaining security against unauthorized parties.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with duplicated processing modules in active-active or active-standby modes, an arbitration module for hand-off conflicts, and a health check module for determining module health, enabling improved data management, interoperability, and secure remote access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If existing vehicle bus protocols are used, then device compatibility is maintained, but data transmission speed and bandwidth are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vehicle communication system into multiple network layers including a high-speed Ethernet network for data-intensive communications and traditional CAN/LIN buses for control functions. This segmentation allows different protocols to operate independently at optimal speeds without interfering with each other, thereby increasing overall transmission speed while maintaining system compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the high-speed Ethernet network and traditional vehicle buses. This gateway translates and routes data packets between different protocols, enabling fast data transmission on Ethernet while maintaining compatibility with existing CAN/LIN-based vehicle systems
2Reliability
If duplicated processing modules are implemented, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple processing functions into integrated processing modules that can operate in duplicated configurations. These modules consolidate data processing, communication handling, and control functions into unified units, allowing redundancy to be achieved without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hot-swappable duplicated module architecture where standby modules can be activated to replace failed modules without shutting down the system. The standby module remains in reserve (discarded from active duty) but can be recovered and activated immediately upon failure detection, maintaining reliability while managing complexity through controlled redundancy
3Reliability
If secure remote access is enabled, then data security is enhanced, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated authentication and authorization systems that perform security verification without requiring manual intervention. The system automatically manages cryptographic keys, certificates, and access permissions, providing secure remote access while eliminating the operational burden of manual security configuration for users
4Quantity of substance
If high-speed Ethernet network is implemented, then bandwidth is improved, but ease of manufacture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the high-speed Ethernet network infrastructure with multi-functionality to serve both data-intensive applications (entertainment, telemetry) and traditional vehicle communications. By creating a universal high-speed backbone that can handle various protocol types and data loads, the system achieves high bandwidth without requiring separate dedicated networks for each function, thereby simplifying manufacturing and integration
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a vehicle implementing one or more processing modules. These modules are configured to connect and interface with the various buses in the vehicle, where the various buses are connected with the various components of the vehicle to facilitate information transfer among the vehicle components. Each processing module is further modularized with the ability to add and replace other functional modules now or in the future. These functional modules can themselves act as distinct vehicle components. Each processing module may hand-off processing to other modules depending on its health, processing load, or by third-party control. Thus, the plurality of processing modules helps to implement a middleware point of control to the vehicle with redundancy in processing and safety and security awareness in their applications.