Cloud Caching for ECU Function Mapping in Connected Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of vehicle control systems in connected vehicles requires more powerful computation units to solve mapping problems for Electronic Control Units (ECUs), but installing such units is economically infeasible, making it challenging to determine optimal ECU function distribution in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A mapping system that includes a mapping client in the vehicle and a mapping optimizer in a cloud server, allowing the vehicle to query the cloud for mapping solutions, which are cached and retrieved in real-time to determine how ECU functions should be executed, optimizing ECU utilization and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If more powerful computation units are installed in connected vehicles to solve mapping problems, then the ability to determine optimal ECU function distribution is improved, but the economic feasibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the computationally intensive mapping optimization function from the vehicle's onboard systems and relocates it to a cloud-based server. This allows the vehicle to perform lightweight local operations (generating and submitting mapping problems) while the heavy computational workload is handled remotely, resolving the contradiction between needing high computation power and maintaining economic feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a mapping client and a mapping server that mediates between the vehicle's ECU distribution needs and the cloud's computational resources. The mapping client prepares and submits mapping problems, while the mapping server performs the complex optimization calculations, acting as an intermediary that enables powerful computation without requiring expensive onboard hardware.
2Speed
If mapping solutions are computed in real-time using cloud resources, then the responsiveness to ECU distribution needs is improved, but the network dependency and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the mapping server pre-compute and cache mapping solutions for common mapping problems before they are requested by vehicles. When a vehicle submits a mapping problem, the system first checks the cache for an existing solution, returning it immediately if found. This preliminary preparation reduces real-time computation needs and network dependency while maintaining fast responsiveness.
3Manufacturing precision
If the mapping system processes complex mapping problems with many functions and ECUs, then the optimization quality is improved, but the computation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex mapping problem into manageable components: the mapping client segments the problem definition and submission, the network segments the data transmission, and the mapping server segments the solution process into cache lookup, new problem solving, and result generation. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex optimization problems by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable tasks that can be processed efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure includes implementations for a connected vehicle receiving cached electronic control unit (“ECU” if singular or “ECUs” if plural) mapping solutions via a network. Some implementations of a method for a vehicle may include identifying a presence of one or more functions associated with a vehicle control system. The method may include generating a query including a mapping problem describing one or more questions about which of one or more ECUs should execute the one or more functions. The method may include providing the query to a network. The method may include receiving a response from the network. The response may include a mapping solution that describes which of the one or more ECUs should execute the one or more functions. The method may include mapping the one or more functions to the one or more ECUs as described by the mapping solution.