In-Vehicle Middleware Mapping for ECU Data Exchange
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In existing in-vehicle equipment control systems, data transfer between ECUs requires dedicated software applications and source code changes for protocol and device connectivity changes, increasing software development man-hours.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle equipment control device with a control unit featuring an application layer, device driver, and middleware layer, utilizing rewritable internal and external mapping tables to define communication packet connections and routes, allowing data exchange without application intervention, thus reducing software development time and improving processing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data transfer between ECUs requires dedicated software applications and source code changes for protocol and device connectivity changes, then data exchange can be achieved, but software development man-hours increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a middleware layer with mapping tables that act as an intermediary between the application layer and device driver layer. The internal mapping table maps I/O identifiers to device driver identifiers, while the external mapping table maps communication protocol identifiers to device driver identifiers. This intermediary structure allows protocol and device connectivity changes to be handled by modifying mapping table entries rather than changing application source code, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and development time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the software architecture into distinct layers (application layer, middleware layer, device driver layer) with separate mapping tables for internal and external communications. This segmentation allows independent modification of protocol handling and device connectivity without affecting the application layer, enabling rapid adaptation to changes without increasing overall development time.
2Ease of operation
If application performs conversion processing and data transfer according to communication protocol, then data exchange between ECUs can be achieved, but processing speed decreases due to application intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The middleware layer with its mapping tables serves as an automated intermediary that handles protocol conversion and data routing without requiring application intervention. The system automatically looks up I/O identifiers in the internal mapping table and communication protocol identifiers in the external mapping table to perform conversions and transfers, significantly improving processing speed while maintaining ease of data exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping tables enable the system to perform protocol conversion and data routing automatically without application involvement. The middleware layer self-services the data exchange process by autonomously resolving identifier mappings and executing transfers based on pre-configured mapping relationships, thus eliminating the need for application intervention and improving processing speed.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
[Task] To reduce the man-hours of software development when vehicle types are deployed. [Solution] An in-vehicle equipment control device 100 includes a CPU 150 and a memory 160. The CPU 150 has an application layer 120, a middleware layer 130, and a device driver unit 141 as software components. First communication packets 131 on the application side and second communication packets 132 on the device driver side are implemented in the middleware layer 130. The memory 160 stores an internal mapping table 166a that defines the connection relationships between the first communication packets 131 and the second communication packets 132 and an external mapping table 166b that defines the direct communication routes between the first communication packets 131 or the second communication packets 132 and an in-vehicle network CNW.