Microkernel Automotive Control Device for Infotainment Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
AUTOSAR does not adequately address multimedia and infotainment applications, lacks support for non-real-time communication protocols, and cannot integrate non-real-time capable transport protocols or guest operating systems, limiting its expandability and functionality.
Innovation Solution
Mapping the AUTOSAR architecture onto a microkernel-based architecture, allowing for the integration of virtualized guest operating systems and enabling the combination of time-controlled and event-controlled systems, thereby supporting multimedia and infotainment applications and additional communication channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If AUTOSAR basic software architecture is used, then real-time control functions are supported, but multimedia and infotainment applications cannot be adequately addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the software architecture into multiple virtual operating systems (real-time OS for control functions and non-real-time OS for multimedia/infotainment) that run concurrently on the same ECU. This segmentation allows each OS to be optimized for its specific requirements while sharing the underlying hardware platform, thereby supporting diverse applications without increasing overall architectural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal ECU platform capable of running multiple virtual operating systems simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows a single ECU to handle both real-time control tasks and non-real-time multimedia/infotainment applications, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware for each application type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If AUTOSAR basic software is used, then real-time communication protocols are supported, but non-real-time capable transport protocols cannot be added
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments communication protocols into real-time and non-real-time categories, assigning them to different virtual operating systems. The real-time OS handles time-critical communication protocols with guaranteed response times, while the non-real-time OS handles best-effort protocols like TCP/IP, preventing non-real-time protocols from interfering with real-time performance guarantees.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between the hardware and application layers. This virtualization layer enables protocol stacking and adaptation, allowing non-real-time protocols to operate through the real-time OS infrastructure without compromising real-time performance, effectively mediating between conflicting protocol requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If monolithic AUTOSAR implementation is used, then system integration is simplified, but guest operating systems cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested virtualization architecture where guest operating systems are nested within the host AUTOSAR environment. The virtualization layer creates virtual hardware abstractions that present a standardized interface to guest OSes, allowing them to run as if on dedicated hardware while actually sharing the physical platform through layered virtualization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization intermediary layer that sits between the physical hardware and the guest operating systems. This intermediary provides hardware abstraction, resource management, and isolation mechanisms, enabling guest OSes to run without direct hardware access while maintaining system integration through standardized interfaces.
4Adaptability or versatility
If additional communication channels are added to AUTOSAR, then multimedia functionality is improved, but the architecture becomes difficult to extend
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces communication channel adapters as intermediary components that translate between different communication protocols and the unified AUTOSAR interface. These adapters operate at the virtualization layer, allowing multiple communication channels (CAN, LIN, MOST, Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB) to be integrated without modifying the core AUTOSAR architecture, thereby reducing integration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal communication interface layer that provides standardized access to diverse communication channels. This multi-functional interface allows the same software components to communicate through different physical media without requiring channel-specific implementation details, simplifying the integration of additional communication channels.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle control device, comprising: a microkernel; a plurality of entities; and a software bus, by means of which the entities can communicate with each other and with the kernel, wherein one or more of the entities each represent one or more modules of the AUTOSAR base software. The present invention is based on the idea of representing AUTOSAR architecture in a micro-kernel-based architecture. The motor vehicle control device according to the invention is thereby enabled, for example, to link infotainment applications with AUTOSAR-based applications.