Ethernet Network Sensor Configuration via Dynamic Node Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Ethernet technologies for automotive applications, particularly the 10 Mbit/s CSMA/CD-based multidrop mode, require manual configuration of control devices and nodes, which is error-prone, time-consuming, and inflexible, limiting their adaptability and efficiency in dynamic on-board electrical systems and partially automated driving scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatically configuring 10 Mbit/s Ethernet networks and control devices, allowing them to self-configure upon startup without ECU-specific software, using timers to ensure bus access within a short timeframe, and enabling platform-independent software development without additional hardware costs or financial expenditure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual configuration of control devices is used in 10 Mbit/s Ethernet networks, then configuration accuracy can be ensured, but configuration time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic configuration where control devices self-assign addresses and self-integrate into the network without manual intervention. The head node automatically detects new devices, assigns them addresses from a predefined pool, and configures them into appropriate groups, eliminating manual configuration steps while maintaining accuracy through systematic address assignment protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures address pools and group structures in advance at the head node before devices are actually connected. This preliminary preparation of configuration resources enables rapid automatic assignment when devices join the network, reducing configuration time while ensuring systematic and error-free address allocation
2Stability of the object's composition
If fixed network configurations are used, then system stability is maintained, but adaptability to dynamic on-board electrical systems decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration where the network topology, device addresses, and group memberships can change automatically as devices are added or removed from the on-board electrical system. The head node continuously monitors network status and reconfigures assignments in real-time, maintaining system stability through controlled adaptation rather than fixed configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The head node continuously receives status information from control devices and uses this feedback to automatically adjust network configuration. When devices are added, removed, or malfunction, the head node detects these changes and reconfigures address assignments and group structures accordingly, maintaining both stability and adaptability through closed-loop control
3Reliability
If ECUs with specific configuration software are used, then device functionality is ensured, but device complexity and development costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal configuration approach where a single head node handles configuration for all control devices in the network regardless of their specific functions. All devices use the same basic communication protocol and address assignment mechanism, eliminating the need for ECU-specific configuration software while maintaining reliable device functionality through standardized interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
Control devices are designed to be self-configuring with built-in capabilities to receive and apply configuration parameters from the head node. Devices automatically initialize, request addresses, and integrate into the network without requiring pre-installed proprietary configuration software, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable functionality through standardized self-configuration procedures
4Speed
If higher-bandwidth Ethernet technologies are used, then data transmission speed is improved, but system costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the 10 Mbit/s Ethernet system by changing operational parameters such as reducing unnecessary communication overhead, optimizing frame structures, and improving protocol efficiency. These parameter optimizations extract maximum performance from the lower-bandwidth technology, achieving acceptable data transmission speeds without incurring the costs of higher-bandwidth Ethernet hardware
Data Source
AI summary
A method for dynamically configuring devices in an Ethernet network, including: a head node a) determining the number of active nodes, b) classifying the identified nodes into two or more classifications of nodes to prioritize the Ethernet network communication, and c) receiving reservation requests from at least some of the multiplicity of nodes, and d) allocating time slots, in response to reservation requests, to one or more nodes in the upcoming communication window, the allocations based on a node priority and the priority being allocated to the nodes in accordance with their classification. After the active nodes have been determined, the nodes are dynamically configured, and a timer of the respective node is selected and started, with each active node respectively assigning the smallest possible ID to itself. This leads to a bus access of the respective node and, if there is bus activity, the other network nodes behave passively.