Vehicle ECU Protocol Relay With Speed-Aware Address Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In-vehicle systems face inefficiencies in diagnostic communication due to the use of multiple protocols with different communication speeds, leading to prolonged waiting times when relaying data between electronic control units (ECUs) connected via Ethernet and CAN, as TCP connections are limited to one per logical address.
Innovation Solution
A relay device with a protocol conversion unit and address conversion unit that performs mutual conversion between different communication protocols and addresses, using a conversion table to associate external and internal addresses with speed-related information, allowing simultaneous communication over multiple connections based on protocol speed differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocols with different communication speeds are used for communication between relay device and ECUs, then protocol compatibility and versatility are improved, but communication efficiency deteriorates due to prolonged waiting times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the address space by creating two distinct address types: external addresses for Ethernet communication and internal addresses for CAN communication. This segmentation allows the relay device to handle different protocol types independently, with each protocol using its own address space, thereby eliminating the waiting time issue while maintaining multi-protocol support
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an address conversion unit as an intermediary between Ethernet and CAN protocols. This unit converts external addresses to internal addresses and vice versa, enabling seamless communication between the two protocols without requiring one protocol to wait for the other, thus resolving the efficiency problem while maintaining versatility
2Ease of operation
If TCP connections are limited to one per logical address, then connection management is simplified, but communication speed deteriorates due to inability to establish multiple simultaneous connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds another dimension to address management by introducing a second address space (internal addresses) parallel to the external address space. This allows multiple connections to be established simultaneously by using different address combinations, effectively bypassing the single-connection limitation while keeping connection management simple through the address conversion mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A relay device, a data relay method, or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program relays data between a plurality of electronic devices, performs mutual conversion between a first protocol used for communication with a first electronic device and a second protocol used for communication with a second electronic device, and converts an external address, and convert an internal address according to a conversion table. A plurality of external addresses are assigned to one first electronic device. The conversion table is set to associate a different external address with each type of a second protocol identified by speed-related information.