Relay Device Parallel ECU Update Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, updating multiple Electronic Control Units (ECUs) simultaneously requires significant time, during which the vehicle cannot be operated, as each ECU needs to receive and rewrite update programs sequentially, leading to prolonged 'required simultaneous-update time'.
Innovation Solution
A relay device and program update system that stores multiple update programs and topologies of on-vehicle networks, allowing parallel transmission of update programs to independent ECUs, with a control unit determining the transmission order based on scheduling conditions to minimize the required simultaneous-update time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If update programs are transmitted sequentially to each ECU, then transmission reliability is maintained, but the required simultaneous-update time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the update transmission process by identifying independent on-vehicle networks and ECUs within them. By dividing the update task into parallel segments across different networks, the system achieves both reliability (through controlled parallel transmission) and time efficiency (by eliminating sequential waiting). The gateway device manages multiple independent transmission channels simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional sequential transmission to multi-dimensional parallel transmission by utilizing multiple independent on-vehicle networks. This dimensional expansion allows update programs to be transmitted along different network paths simultaneously, reducing total update time while maintaining transmission reliability through the independent nature of each network.
2Loss of time
If update programs are transmitted in parallel to multiple ECUs, then the required simultaneous-update time is reduced, but network interference and transmission errors may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments ECUs into different groups based on their network affiliations. By assigning ECUs from different independent networks to parallel transmission groups, the system achieves time efficiency through parallelism while maintaining reliability by isolating potential interference to individual networks rather than affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating each on-vehicle network as an independent transmission domain with its own characteristics. The gateway device customizes transmission strategies for each network based on its independence status, allowing parallel transmission where networks are independent while avoiding interference in shared network segments.
3Productivity
If the gateway device manages complex parallel transmission scheduling, then update efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying independent on-vehicle networks and pre-grouping ECUs into parallel transmission groups before actual update transmission begins. This advance preparation simplifies the real-time scheduling complexity while maintaining high update efficiency, as the complex grouping logic is executed once rather than continuously.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a relay device communicating with a plurality of control devices that belong to on-vehicle networks. This relay device is provided with: a storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of update programs for simultaneous update required for the plurality of control devices, and topologies of the on-vehicle networks; an in-vehicle communication unit configured to transmit the plurality of update programs to the corresponding control devices, respectively; and a control unit configured to control the in-vehicle communication unit such that, as for control devices that belong to a plurality of on-vehicle networks that are individually connected to the relay device and are independent from each other, the plurality of update programs corresponding to the control devices are transmitted in parallel with each other.