Vehicle Network Logger Load Balancing Across TCP Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
As autonomous vehicle fleets expand, the volume of data logged by vehicle network logger systems (VNLS) increases, leading to onboard hardware and storage costs, as well as longer offload times, necessitating efficient load balancing across transmission control protocol (TCP) links between automated driving systems computers (ADSC) and loggers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques for load balancing in VNLS by assessing network utilization, logger disk utilization, current data rates, and expected data rates, and performing dynamic load balancing across multiple TCP links, optimizing data distribution across available connections to ensure efficient data offloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If data logging capacity is increased to accommodate expanding autonomous vehicle fleets, then data volume and information completeness are improved, but onboard hardware costs, storage costs, and offload time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data logging system into multiple independent logger units, each capable of storing data locally. This segmentation allows the system to handle large data volumes without requiring a single large storage system, reducing offload time by enabling parallel data transmission from multiple loggers simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a distributed architecture dimension to the data logging system, transitioning from a centralized storage model to a distributed network of loggers. This dimensional change enables concurrent data offloading through multiple TCP links, significantly reducing total offload time while maintaining complete data capture.
2Measurement precision
If more sensors and data collection capabilities are added to autonomous vehicles, then navigation and control accuracy are improved, but onboard hardware costs and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensing and logging functions into separate modular units. Each sensor system operates independently and feeds data to individual logger units, allowing high-precision sensors to be added without increasing overall system complexity. This modular approach enables independent optimization of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces logger units as intermediary components between sensors and the central processing system. These loggers buffer and manage data from multiple high-precision sensors, reducing the complexity burden on the main automated driving system while maintaining full data fidelity for navigation and control operations.
3Reliability
If data is transmitted continuously from automated driving systems computers to loggers, then data availability is improved, but network utilization and bandwidth consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic data transmission intervals instead of continuous streaming. Data is buffered at logger units and transmitted in periodic batches over TCP links, reducing instantaneous network bandwidth consumption while ensuring data availability. This periodic approach allows network resources to be efficiently utilized without compromising data reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary data buffering and local processing at logger units before transmission to the automated driving systems computer. This preliminary action reduces the volume and frequency of data requiring network transmission, conserving bandwidth while maintaining complete data availability for critical operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle network logging system (VNLS) is described and includes an automated driving systems computer (ADSC) installed on the vehicle, the ADSC comprising a load balancing module; and at least one logger installed on the vehicle, wherein the at least one logger is connected to the ADSC via a communications network comprising a plurality of communications links and wherein the at least one logger receives from the ADSC data for logging in at least one database of the at least one logger, wherein the data is received from the ADSC via the plurality of communications links; wherein the load balancing module performs load balancing of the data across the plurality of communications links, wherein the load balancing is performed based at least in part on disk utilization information for the at least one logger and network utilization of the communications network.