Vehicle-to-Cloud Connection Maintenance via Payload Messages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-to-cloud communication systems face challenges in maintaining network connections efficiently without generating non-useful traffic, as keep-alive messages without payloads are used to keep connections open, leading to unnecessary network usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a vehicle sets a shorter 'keep open' timer within the keep alive timer and sends messages with payloads to maintain connections, ensuring useful network usage by using messages with content to keep the connection open, which can be manually or automatically set and verified for feasibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ping request messages are sent to keep the connection open, then the connection is maintained, but network traffic is wasted without useful content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the connection maintenance function from the ping message mechanism and integrates it into the existing message queue system. By using the message queue's keep-alive capability with actual payload messages (vehicle state data, telemetry information), the system eliminates the need for separate ping requests while maintaining connection reliability and reducing unnecessary network traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the message queue system multi-functional by enabling it to serve both as a communication channel for actual data exchange and as a connection maintenance mechanism. The same message queue infrastructure that handles vehicle-to-cloud communication also performs keep-alive functionality, eliminating the need for dedicated ping messages and reducing network overhead.
2Reliability
If a longer keep alive timer is used, then connection stability is improved, but the vehicle cannot release the connection timely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic timeout management where the keep-alive timer is adjusted based on actual communication needs and vehicle state. The system can extend the timeout when connections are needed and reduce it when vehicles are offline or when connection release is desired, creating a flexible mechanism that balances connection stability with timely release capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces feedback mechanisms where the vehicle reports its operational status and connection needs to the cloud server. Based on this feedback, the server dynamically adjusts the keep-alive timeout parameter, extending it when the vehicle is active and reducing it when the vehicle is offline or requests connection release, thus optimizing both stability and release efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a communication between a vehicle (10) and at least one backend device (20) in a vehicle-to-cloud-system. The method comprises: establishing a connection (D) between the vehicle (10) and the at least one backend device (20) with a keep alive timer (Tkat), setting a timer (T) less than or equal to the keep alive timer (Tkat), and sending a message (m) containing a payload (pl) from the vehicle (10) to the at least one backend device (20), if no communication between the vehicle (10) and the at least one backend device (20) has occurred within the timer (T), in order to keep the connection (D) open.