Vehicle I2C Data Index Protocol for Faster In-Vehicle Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

The Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) protocol in vehicles is associated with slow data exchange, lack of confidentiality, and insufficient robust error detection, limiting its effectiveness in vehicle communication.

Innovation Solution

An improved I2C protocol that utilizes a digital index indicator (DII) to efficiently transmit data frames, allowing slave controllers to retrieve registered values from onboard storage, enhancing data transmission efficiency and compatibility with existing I2C devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the traditional I2C protocol is used for vehicle communication, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but data exchange speed is slow due to protocol overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange speedVSAvoidprotocol overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing registry values in the slave controller's onboard storage. Instead of transmitting complete data sets, the system transmits compact index identifiers that reference pre-stored values, significantly reducing transmission overhead and improving data exchange speed while maintaining protocol simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by transmitting index identifiers that reference copies of registry values stored in the slave controller. The master controller sends compact index references instead of complete data, and the slave controller retrieves the actual values from its onboard storage, reducing communication overhead while maintaining data integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If the traditional I2C protocol is used, then compatibility with existing devices is maintained, but confidentiality and error detection capabilities are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection capabilityVSAvoidprotocol structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms by incorporating acknowledgment frames and error detection codes in the I2C communication protocol. The slave controller sends acknowledgment signals to confirm successful receipt of index identifiers, and the protocol includes error detection capabilities to verify data integrity, enhancing reliability without significantly increasing protocol complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the I2C protocol to include additional fields such as index identifiers, acknowledgment frames, and error detection codes. These parameter additions enhance confidentiality and error detection while maintaining backward compatibility with existing I2C devices through selective activation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If complete data frames are transmitted via I2C, then data completeness is ensured, but transmission time increases due to protocol overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidtransmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential index identifier information from complete data frames for transmission. Instead of sending entire registry values, the system transmits compact index references that point to pre-stored data in the slave controller, significantly reducing transmission time while ensuring data completeness through the indexing mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading registry values into the slave controller's onboard storage before communication occurs. This allows the system to transmit only index identifiers during operation, dramatically improving data transmission efficiency while ensuring complete data availability when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4711940A1Apparatus, system and/or method for providing a data index communication protocol for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYST GMBH
  • EP4711940A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4711940A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4711940A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An apparatus for performing in-vehicle communication, the vehicle comprising a memory device; and a master controller including the memory device, the master controller is operatively coupled to one or more slave controllers via a data communication bus, the master controller being programmed to transmit a message including a digital index indicator (DII), and one or more data frames to a slave controller of the one or more slave controllers via the data communication bus, and the slave controller including an onboard storage, is programmed to responsive to receiving the message, identify one of the data frames as including an index identification using the DII, load a registry value from the onboard storage using the index identification, and perform a vehicle operation using the registry value.