Vehicle Computing Unit External Data Query for Component Limits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle diagnostic systems fail to effectively assess and manage the functionality of vehicle components under extreme conditions such as temperature, weather, and legal restrictions, leading to potential operational impairments or safety issues.

Innovation Solution

A method where a vehicle's computing unit sends a request to an external processing unit for information on component functionality in a target area, considering dynamic conditions like weather, temperature, and legal provisions, allowing the vehicle to decide on component usage or route adjustments based on received data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle's computing unit checks component functionality using only internal diagnostic systems, then the system complexity is low, but the reliability of functionality assessment under extreme conditions is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctionality assessment reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an external computing unit as an intermediary between the vehicle's computing unit and the comprehensive data sources (weather services, geographic information systems, legal databases). This external unit receives component information and target area data from the vehicle, processes it against multiple external data sources, and returns functionality assessments. This mediator approach enhances reliability by incorporating external environmental and regulatory data while avoiding the complexity of directly integrating multiple disparate data sources into the vehicle's internal system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the vehicle obtains comprehensive environmental and regulatory data for component functionality checks, then the operational safety is improved, but the loss of time for data processing and communication increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational safetyVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by checking component functionality against environmental and regulatory constraints before the vehicle actually enters the target area or before the component is activated. The vehicle's computing unit queries the external computing unit with the intended target area and component information in advance, allowing the system to assess functionality limitations beforehand. This enables the driver to plan accordingly or adjust the route before encountering conditions that would impair component operation, thereby maintaining safety while minimizing real-time delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle's computing unit processes all functionality checks internally, then the ease of operation is high, but the adaptability to dynamic environmental conditions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to environmental conditionsVSAvoiddata processing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The external computing unit serves as a universal platform that handles multiple data processing functions: accessing weather data, geographic information, legal regulations, and traffic conditions. Instead of equipping each vehicle with separate systems for each data source, the external unit provides a multi-functional service that can adapt to various components (engine, brakes, sensors) and various environmental factors (temperature, precipitation, legal restrictions). This universal approach enhances adaptability while keeping individual vehicle systems relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2754141B1Method for operating a vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2754141B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a data processor, a computer programme product and a method for operating a vehicle comprising a data processor and at least one vehicle component. According to the invention, the data processor of the vehicle sends an information request to an external data processor, said request comprising a target region for the vehicle and information about the vehicle component. The data processor receives information concerning a limitation of the function of the component in the target region from the external data processor and the data processor takes the information into consideration during the operation of the vehicle and/or outputs said information to the driver. The invention also relates to a method for operating a data processor, according to which the data processor receives an information request from a data processor of a vehicle, said request comprising a target region for the vehicle and information about the vehicle component. The data processor verifies whether a limitation of the function of the component exists in the target region and the data processor transmits information concerning the existence of a limitation to the data processor of the vehicle.