Vehicle Controller Round-Robin Networking for Reliable Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern vehicles, the distribution of data between various systems and controllers is inefficient, leading to delays, resource bottlenecks, and increased network utilization, which can impair safety-relevant systems and reduce comfort.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a vehicle control system that temporarily links controllers via a network using a round-robin method, allowing for bidirectional communication. The method involves determining service offerings, transfer time, and utilization information to optimize the division of services into messages and their transmission during assigned slots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If switches are used to enable simultaneous data transmission between multiple controllers, then data transfer reliability is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the switching function from dedicated hardware switches and implements it through software-based virtual switches running on individual controllers. This eliminates the need for expensive physical switches while maintaining the ability to manage multiple data transmission channels simultaneously through virtualization techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a master controller that acts as an intermediary to coordinate data transmission between slave controllers. This master controller manages the transmission slots and data routing, replacing the need for multiple expensive switches with a single coordinating controller that uses time-division multiplexing.
2Device complexity
If a data bus-like round-robin method is used without switches, then system cost is reduced, but data transfer speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transmission slot allocation where the master controller can adjust the timing and duration of transmission slots for different slave controllers based on current network conditions and data priority. This dynamic approach allows critical data to be transmitted faster while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic transmission slots assigned to different slave controllers in a round-robin fashion, but enhances this by allowing variable slot durations and overlapping transmission periods for different data types, thereby improving overall data transfer speed while maintaining the cost benefits of avoiding physical switches.
3Quantity of substance
If transmission slots are extended to transfer more data, then data transfer volume is improved, but transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data transmissions into multiple smaller transmission slots rather than using one long transmission slot. This allows data to be transmitted in manageable chunks with interleaved acknowledgment and retransmission cycles, reducing overall transmission delay while maintaining efficient data transfer volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary data buffering and prioritization at the master controller before transmission. High-priority data is prepared and scheduled for transmission in advance during off-peak periods, reducing actual transmission delay while maintaining efficient use of transmission slots for overall data volume.
4Adaptability or versatility
If search messages are transmitted to find services, then service availability is improved, but network utilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary service registration and advertising by slave controllers to the master controller during system initialization. This allows the master controller to maintain an updated service directory, eliminating the need for frequent search messages while maintaining service availability through pre-established knowledge of available services.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the master controller actively queries slave controllers for service availability based on observed network conditions and data transmission patterns. This reduces unnecessary search messages by only requesting service information when actually needed, thereby lowering network utilization while maintaining service availability.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method for operating a control system of a vehicle that includes at least two controllers, wherein, for data transfer, the controllers are at least temporarily communicatively linked via a network, wherein the data transfer in the network takes place according to a round-robin method, so that all controllers are assigned temporally consecutive transmission slots for data transfer and wherein at least one controller is configured, at least temporarily, as a server controller and wherein at least one controller is configured, at least temporarily, as a client controller.