Vehicle Driving Support Switching Between Edge and Local Server

Solution Overview

Problem

In driving support systems, vehicles face issues when they cannot connect to an edge server, leading to ineffective use of driving support information due to distance and communication delays, rendering installed driving support devices useless even with nearby sensors like cameras and LiDARs.

Innovation Solution

An on-vehicle device with a mini edge server that can process sensor data from nearby nodes, switching to use driving support information from a sub driving support server when connection to the primary edge server is lost, and reverting when connection is restored, ensuring continuous driving support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a vehicle connects to a distant edge server via wireless base station, then the server can process sensor data, but communication delay increases and connection reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the driving support information into multiple types (first type and second type). The first type contains critical safety information processed by the edge server, while the second type contains less critical information that can be generated locally by the on-vehicle device using onboard sensors. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable connection for essential data while reducing dependency on continuous communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The on-vehicle device performs preliminary action by generating second driving support information locally using onboard sensors (cameras, LiDAR, radar) before communication with the edge server is needed. This preliminary processing ensures that basic driving support functionality is maintained even when communication with the edge server is delayed or interrupted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the vehicle uses only driving support information from the edge server, then centralized processing is maintained, but the system becomes vulnerable to communication interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the driving support information into multiple types (first type and second type). The first type contains critical safety information processed by the edge server, while the second type contains less critical information that can be generated locally by the on-vehicle device using onboard sensors. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable connection for essential data while reducing dependency on continuous communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The switching device changes the operational parameter of the driving support device by switching between receiving first driving support information from the edge server and using second driving support information generated locally. This parameter change allows the system to adapt its information source based on communication availability, maintaining reliability without requiring permanent dual-system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the vehicle installs sensors like cameras and LiDARs, then local sensing capability is improved, but the processing load on the on-vehicle device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal sensing capabilityVSAvoidprocessing energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the driving support information into multiple types (first type and second type). The first type contains critical safety information processed by the edge server, while the second type contains less critical information that can be generated locally by the on-vehicle device using onboard sensors. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable connection for essential data while reducing dependency on continuous communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The on-vehicle device performs partial processing action by generating only the second driving support information locally using onboard sensors, while leaving the more complex first type information to be processed by the edge server. This partial action provides sufficient local capability for basic driving support without the excessive processing load of complete local analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12134398B2Vehicle-mounted device, control method therefor, and vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.11.05 SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

An on-vehicle device includes: a driving support device to receive driving support information from a driving support server and execute a predetermined process for driving support; a sub driving support server including a driving support server function subset and receives sensor data from an external sensor and output a subset of the driving support information; a first switching device giving the subset of the driving support information to the driving support device in response to interruption of reception of the driving support information from the driving support server; and a second switching device configured to give the driving support information from the driving support server, instead of the subset of the driving support information from the sub driving support server, to the driving support device in response to recovery of the reception of the driving support information from the driving support server.