Vehicle Sensor Ring Buffer for Event Data Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles face challenges in efficiently processing large volumes of sensor data due to limited computing resources, leading to constrained operations and delayed user interactions, while flash memory deteriorates quickly with frequent writes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a ring buffer using random access memory (RAM) to continuously store sensor data, capturing subsets of data based on recording triggers, and recording event data in flash memory for efficient processing and transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor data is continuously stored in flash memory, then data retention is improved, but flash memory deteriorates with number of writes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into two segments: RAM for continuous high-speed data buffering and flash memory for selective event data storage. This segmentation allows continuous sensor data to be captured in RAM without write operations to flash memory, while only critical event data is transferred to flash storage, thereby reducing the number of write cycles and extending flash memory lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces RAM as an intermediary between sensors and flash memory. Sensor data first flows into the RAM ring buffer, and only selected event data is then transferred to flash memory. This intermediary approach eliminates direct continuous writing to flash memory, reducing wear while maintaining data retention capabilities.
2Loss of information
If all sensor data is processed and stored, then data completeness is improved, but computing resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary subset of sensor data related to specific events from the complete sensor data stream. Event triggers identify which data subsets need to be stored and transferred, allowing the system to maintain data completeness for relevant events while ignoring unnecessary data, thereby reducing processing and storage resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels of data processing to different portions of the data stream. Critical event-related data receives full processing and storage, while non-critical continuous data is buffered in RAM with minimal processing. This local quality approach ensures data completeness where needed while conserving computing resources.
3Loss of information
If data is uploaded continuously to external network, then data availability is improved, but network bandwidth and power are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic batch uploading of event data to the external network rather than continuous real-time transmission. Event data is collected and buffered locally, then uploaded in periodic batches when network conditions permit. This approach maintains data availability while significantly reducing network power consumption compared to continuous transmission.
4Speed
If flash memory is used for storage, then write speed is improved, but processor resources are consumed compared to external drives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flash memory for partial storage of only event-related data subsets rather than attempting to store all sensor data. This partial action approach leverages the fast write speed of flash memory where it provides the most benefit (event capture) while avoiding the excessive processor resource consumption that would occur if flash memory were used for continuous full-data storage.
Data Source
AI summary
Sensor data may be received from a plurality of sensors installed on a vehicle and characterizing driving conditions of the vehicle. The sensor data may be continuously stored in a ring buffer implemented using a random access memory (RAM). A recording trigger to record event data related to a driving event of the vehicle may be received. A subset of sensor data may be extracted from the ring buffer, based on the recording trigger. The subset of the sensor data may be recorded in an event file in a second memory.