Vehicle ECU Restart Control for Software Version Mismatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems face challenges in enabling vehicle functions when software versions across electronic control units (ECUs) do not match, particularly during ECU restarts or resets, leading to potential system failures.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a master ECU that manages software versions and enables functions by disabling or restricting execution of software in slave ECUs when mismatches are detected, allowing continued operation by executing alternative software versions or disabling functions as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ECU disables software execution after restart to prevent version mismatch, then software version consistency is improved, but system functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely disabling software execution or completely trusting the restarted ECU, the system applies a partial action approach: the master ECU assesses version compatibility and issues selective permission or restriction instructions. This allows the restarted ECU to execute software when versions match while preventing execution when versions mismatch, achieving a balanced partial execution strategy.
2Reliability
If the master ECU checks version information from all slave ECUs, then software version consistency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master ECU serves multiple functions: it acts as a central version information collection point, performs compatibility assessment, generates control instructions, and manages overall software version consistency across the network. This multi-functional design consolidates version management complexity into a single universal controller rather than requiring distributed version checking across all ECUs.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control unit (ECU), a vehicle control system, and a vehicle control method are provided. The disabling process disables execution of the software stored in storage circuitry when execution circuitry is restarted during operation of the vehicle control system. In a function restricting process, when another ECU is restarted during the operation of the vehicle control system, the software stored in the storage circuitry is executed to enable one of the functions that is capable of being enabled when execution of software in the other ECU is disabled.