Vehicle Communication Path Switching for Protocol Loss Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle communication systems face challenges in maintaining communication paths when primary paths fail, leading to reduced performance or non-functionality, especially in distributed power vehicle systems where different subsystems use varying protocols, limiting the formation of vehicle consists and requiring operator intervention to manage communication losses.
Innovation Solution
A control system that detects changes in communication quality between vehicles and switches to alternative communication paths, restricting operations to ensure continuity while moving, and adapts message protocols to match receiving systems, ensuring at least one communication path remains operational.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wired communication path is used between vehicles, then communication reliability is improved, but the system complexity increases due to physical connections passing through multiple vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary path that bypasses the need for physical wired connections through multiple vehicles. The wireless communication system acts as a mediator that can establish direct communication between lead and remote vehicles without requiring the communication signal to pass through intermediate vehicles, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles use different communication protocols, then vehicle diversity and adaptability are improved, but communication compatibility between vehicles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal communication system that can handle multiple protocols simultaneously. The communication apparatus is designed with multi-functionality to translate and interoperate with different protocols (e.g., CAN bus, Ethernet, wireless protocols), allowing vehicles of diverse types to communicate effectively without requiring uniform protocol adoption across all vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system acts as a protocol intermediary that translates messages between different protocols. When a vehicle using one protocol needs to communicate with a vehicle using another protocol, the system mediates the interaction by converting messages to compatible formats, ensuring reliable communication despite protocol differences.
3Device complexity
If a single communication path is used for each subsystem, then system simplicity is improved, but redundancy and reliability deteriorate when the path fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple communication functions and paths into a unified communication system. Instead of having separate dedicated paths for different subsystems (which would increase complexity), the system combines wired and wireless communication capabilities into a single integrated apparatus that can dynamically select and switch between paths, achieving redundancy without proportional increases in structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is designed to be dynamic, automatically switching between available communication paths based on their operational status. When the primary wired path fails, the system dynamically transitions to wireless communication or alternative paths, providing automatic redundancy without requiring complex manual reconfiguration or permanent duplicate infrastructure.
4Device complexity
If operator intervention is required for communication loss, then system simplicity is improved, but operational efficiency and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system implements self-service capabilities by automatically detecting communication path failures and switching to alternative paths without requiring operator intervention. The system monitors its own communication status and autonomously reconfigures itself to maintain connectivity, thereby improving operational efficiency while keeping the control system relatively simple through automated routines.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor communication quality and path availability. This feedback enables the communication apparatus to automatically detect failures and trigger path switching operations, eliminating the need for operator awareness or intervention while maintaining high operational efficiency through real-time adaptive responses.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system includes a controller that communicates between a first vehicle and a second vehicle and/or a monitoring device in a vehicle system. The controller determines a communication loss and, responsive to determining the communication loss, switches to communicating via a different communication path. The controller also determines an operational restriction on movement of the vehicle system based on the communication loss that is determined, obtains a transitional plan that designates operational settings of the vehicle system at one or more different locations along a route being traveled by the vehicle system, different distances along the route being traveled by the vehicle system, and/or different times. The controller automatically changes the movement of the vehicle system according to the operational settings designated by the transitional plan to reduce the movement of the vehicle system to or below the operational restriction.