Digital Tachograph Error Handling via Module Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In digital tachograph systems, restarting the entire program system to handle errors can impair functioning program modules and lead to data loss, and may not always result in predictable behavior.

Innovation Solution

A method where program modules send local error messages to the operating system, which determines the affected function group and calls specific error handling functions to isolate and reset affected modules without restarting the entire system, allowing for targeted error handling and minimizing data loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire program system is restarted to handle errors, then the error can be cleared and the system can return to defined states, but other properly functioning program modules are also reset which impairs their function and may lead to data loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror handling capabilityVSAvoiddata loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The program system is divided into multiple independent program modules that can be restarted individually rather than the entire system. Each module has its own error handling mechanism that can reset only the affected module to a defined state, leaving other modules unaffected and preserving their data and functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the entire program system is restarted to handle errors, then the error can be cleared, but the restart may cause unpredictable behavior and impair functioning program modules

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror handling capabilityVSAvoidsystem behavior predictability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The program system is segmented into independent modules with individual error handling capabilities. When an error occurs, only the affected module and its dependencies are restarted, not the entire system. This segmentation ensures that system behavior remains predictable by limiting the scope of restart operations to only what is necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the entire program system is restarted, then all errors can be cleared, but it increases the time required for error recovery and system unavailability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror clearanceVSAvoiderror recovery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The program system is divided into independent modules that can be restarted individually. This segmentation reduces error recovery time by limiting the restart operation to only the affected module rather than the entire system, thereby minimizing system unavailability and improving overall reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2101264B1Method for error treatment and tachography system
Publication Date: 2017.06.14 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP2101264B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2101264B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an error handling procedure within a program system of a digital tachograph system (TCO) with program modules (PM1 - PM6) and an operating system (OS), a local error message (ERR) is sent from the affected program module to the operating system (OS) when an error occurs. The operating system (OS) determines a function group (F1, F2) assigned to the affected program module and corresponding error handling functions for other program modules assigned to the same function group (F1, F2), based on the local error message (ERR). The operating system then calls the determined error handling functions for the other program modules, which are executed by the corresponding program modules (PM1 - PM6).