Vehicle Communication Gateway for Memory-Limited ECU Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle communication systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting messages between external communication apparatuses and vehicle electronic devices, particularly due to differences in message data sizes and memory capacities, which can hinder accurate malfunction diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an intermediate unit within the vehicle that mediates communication between the external apparatus and target units, capable of dividing messages based on the memory size of the destination target unit, ensuring proper transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If messages are transmitted directly from external communication apparatus to target units without intermediate processing, then transmission speed is improved, but message conveyance fails when message size exceeds target unit memory capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate unit that acts as a mediator between the external communication apparatus and target units. This intermediate unit receives messages from the external apparatus, determines whether division is needed based on target unit memory capacity, and either transmits the message directly or divides it into appropriate segments. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining fast direct transmission when possible while ensuring reliable delivery when message size exceeds target unit capacity.
2Reliability
If messages are divided and transmitted to target units with limited memory, then message conveyance reliability is improved, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate unit centralizes the message division logic and memory capacity management, so that target units with limited memory do not need complex division capabilities. The intermediate unit handles all division operations based on stored memory capacity information, simplifying the overall system architecture while ensuring reliable message delivery to constrained devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing memory capacity information in advance and using it to determine message division requirements before actual message transmission. This pre-planning approach allows the intermediate unit to optimize message segmentation strategies ahead of time, reducing runtime complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Device complexity
If uniform message transmission protocol is used for all target units, then system simplicity is maintained, but communication efficiency decreases due to unnecessary divisions for units with sufficient memory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by tailoring message transmission characteristics to each target unit's specific memory capacity. The intermediate unit queries or references stored information about each target unit's memory size and adjusts message division accordingly. This allows the system to maintain simple protocols while achieving high efficiency by avoiding unnecessary divisions for units with sufficient memory capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes transmission parameters (message size, division granularity) based on the destination target unit's memory capacity. The intermediate unit modifies message segmentation parameters adaptively, transmitting larger undivided messages to units with sufficient memory and dividing messages for units with limited capacity, thereby optimizing communication efficiency without complicating the overall protocol structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a target unit and an intermediate unit including a first unit and a target unit that mediates communication between a communication apparatus and the target unit. The first unit includes at least one first processor and at least one first memory. The second unit includes at least one second processor and at least one second memory. The intermediate unit includes at least one third processor and at least one third memory. The first memory includes a first receive memory. The second memory include a second receive memory smaller than the first receive memory. The third processor performs: transmitting a first message from the communication apparatus to the first unit without dividing the message when a destination is the first unit; and generating divided messages by dividing the first message and successively transmitting the messages to the second unit when the destination is the second unit.