Network Hub Protocol Conversion for Onboard Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing onboard network systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting messages between electronic control units (ECUs) using different communication protocols, such as CAN and Ethernet, leading to increased costs and complexity due to the need for ECUs with dual interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A network hub that receives frames from one protocol, determines the presence of specific information, and selectively routes them to the appropriate port for transmission over another protocol, eliminating the need for additional conversion devices by integrating a processor to assess and direct frames between Ethernet and CAN networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ECUs are equipped with dual interfaces to support multiple communication protocols, then communication versatility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network hub as an intermediary device that mediates communication between ECUs using different protocols. The hub receives frames from one protocol, determines whether they contain information suitable for the second protocol, and selectively forwards them. This eliminates the need for ECUs to have dual interfaces, as the protocol conversion and selection is handled by the hub instead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the protocol conversion functionality from individual ECUs and concentrates it in a dedicated network hub. By taking out this function from the ECUs, the system reduces ECU complexity while maintaining multi-protocol communication capability through the hub's frame reception, determination, and selective transmission mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If protocol conversion is performed at each ECU, then communication flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protocol conversion functions into a single network hub device. Instead of having protocol conversion capabilities distributed across multiple ECUs, the hub consolidates these functions by receiving frames from one network, determining their suitability for another protocol, and selectively forwarding them. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining communication flexibility.
3Loss of information
If all frames are transmitted between networks, then information completeness is improved, but transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively transmitting only those frames that contain information suitable for the target protocol. The hub determines whether received frames include such information and only forwards appropriate frames to the second network. This partial transmission approach maintains information completeness for relevant data while improving efficiency by avoiding unnecessary transmissions of incompatible frames.
Data Source
AI summary
A network hub is provided for an onboard network system. The onboard network system includes first and second networks for transmission of first-type and second-type frames following first and second communication protocols. The network hub includes a receiver that receives a first-type frame. A processor determines whether or not the first-type frame received by the receiver includes first information that is a base for a second-type frame to be transmitted to the second network, to obtain a determination result, and selects a port to send a frame based on the first-type frame based on the determination result. A transmitter sends the frame based on the first-type frame to a wired transmission path connected to the port selected by the processor based on the first-type frame received by the receiver.