Marine ECU Data Replication via Local Virtual Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data management systems for marine vessel electronic control units (ECUs) face challenges such as unreliable internet connectivity, high data transfer costs, network congestion, and inefficient data updates, leading to delayed and insecure updates that compromise vessel performance and safety.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that replicates data among ECUs via a centralized virtual data storage accessible through a backbone network, allowing efficient data management and updates without reliance on internet connectivity, using a first ECU to update the storage and other ECUs to identify and obtain necessary data parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If cloud-based data distribution is used for ECU updates, then data can be centrally managed, but internet connectivity reliability deteriorates in marine environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a local server as an intermediary component that mediates between the ECUs and the external cloud infrastructure. This local server caches configuration data locally, allowing ECUs to access updates without requiring continuous internet connectivity. The intermediary stores data locally and manages distribution among ECUs, resolving the contradiction between centralized management and connectivity reliability.
2Productivity
If direct cloud-to-node data transfer is used, then data updates can be performed, but transfer speed deteriorates due to limited bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the local server download and cache configuration data in advance before it is needed by the ECUs. Instead of transferring data directly from the cloud to each ECU when updates are required, the server pre-loads data into local storage, making it immediately available for fast distribution to multiple ECUs simultaneously, thus resolving the speed bottleneck.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ECUs individually download updates from the cloud, then each ECU can be updated independently, but network congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data distribution function by introducing a central local server that handles all update distributions. Instead of multiple ECUs independently downloading from the cloud (which causes congestion), they all access the single local server cache. This consolidates the data transfer path, eliminating redundant cloud connections and reducing network congestion while maintaining independent ECU update capability through the local distribution mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system for replicating data among a plurality of electronic control units, ECUs connected to the same backbone network of a marine vessel is described. The computer system has processing circuitry to control a first ECU to update a virtual data storage based on configuration data from a data carrier device. The virtual data storage is locally accessible by one or more other ECUs via the backbone network. The system controls other ECUs to identify data parts of the configuration data that would cause one or more updates to data stored by the other ECUs, and obtains one or more data parts of the configuration data responsive to a successful access request between said other ECUs and the virtual data storage.