Vehicle Rule Controller for Low-Latency Telematics Actions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle telematics systems face challenges in efficiently and reliably performing secondary tasks due to reliance on communication networks, leading to latency and unreliability in implementing user-defined actions and rules.
Innovation Solution
A control system with on-board and off-board controllers that store and evaluate user-defined rules, determining the optimal location for evaluation based on trigger conditions and actions, ensuring rapid and reliable execution of tasks without network dependency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If telematics services are used to enable remote monitoring and control of vehicle systems, then communication capabilities with vehicle systems are improved, but response time and reliability are worsened due to network losses and delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rule evaluation functionality into two locations: on-board the vehicle and off-board remotely. This segmentation allows critical rule evaluations to occur locally without depending on network communication, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving communication capabilities for other functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by evaluating rules on-board the vehicle before remote communication is needed. This ensures that critical responses can be generated immediately based on local sensor data without waiting for network communication, thus improving reliability and reducing response time.
2Speed
If rule evaluation is performed on-board the vehicle, then response time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The on-board controller is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a vehicle control unit and a rule evaluation system. This universality allows rule evaluation to occur on-board without adding separate dedicated hardware, thereby reducing the increase in system complexity while maintaining fast response times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the rule evaluation function with the existing on-board vehicle control system. By combining these functions, the system achieves fast local response without the complexity overhead of a completely separate rule evaluation subsystem, as the controller already possesses necessary processing and sensor access capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple trigger conditions and actions are associated with a single rule, then system flexibility is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-processing and storing individual trigger conditions and actions separately in data structures. When a rule is activated, these pre-processed elements are quickly combined and evaluated, allowing high flexibility in rule configuration without proportionally increasing processing complexity during execution.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a control system for controlling a system, the control system comprising one or more controllers, configured to: receive a rule configuration signal, the rule configuration signal specifying properties of a rule, the properties comprising an indicator of an action to be carried out and at least one associated trigger condition; store the indicator of the action and the at least one associated trigger condition at a storage location; determine whether the rule is to be evaluated by the control system; and if the determination indicates that the rule is to be evaluated by the control system, and upon the at least one associated trigger condition being met: generate at least one control signal in accordance with the indicated action; and output the at least one control signal to at least one vehicle system to be controlled.