Vehicle Control Device VM Activation Order Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems face delays when activating multiple software functions of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) due to the complexity of prioritizing and managing virtual machines (VMs) for vehicle control, leading to potential delays in critical vehicle operations.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device with a processor that judges the vehicle's state and dynamically switches the activation or stoppage order of multiple VMs, utilizing an activation order table and resource management to prioritize essential VMs, thereby minimizing delays and optimizing resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple VMs are structured to control vehicle equipment, then functional integration is improved, but activation delay occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional integrationVSAvoidactivation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic activation order switching based on vehicle state. The control device judges the current vehicle state and switches the activation order of VMs accordingly, making the system adaptable rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by allowing functional integration through multiple VMs while minimizing activation delay through state-dependent optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the activation order parameter based on vehicle state. By storing multiple activation orders in activation order tables and selecting appropriate orders based on judged vehicle states, the system optimizes activation sequences dynamically. This resolves the contradiction between maintaining multiple VMs for functional integration and reducing activation delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If VM activation order is fixed, then system simplicity is maintained, but critical functions may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidcritical function timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the activation order into multiple predefined sequences stored in activation order tables. Each table contains a specific activation order optimized for particular vehicle states. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity through predefined sequences while ensuring critical functions are activated timely by selecting the appropriate segment based on vehicle state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares multiple activation orders in advance and stores them in activation order tables before runtime. When the control device judges the vehicle state, it selects the pre-prepared appropriate activation order. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by having critical activation sequences ready beforehand, ensuring reliability without adding complex real-time decision logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11709697B2Vehicle control device, vehicle control method, and recording medium storing vehicle control program

Publication Date: 2023.07.25 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A vehicle control device that: judges a state of a vehicle; structures a plurality of VMs that control equipment installed in the vehicle; and in accordance with the state of the vehicle, switches an order of carrying out activation or stoppage of the plurality of VMs.