Vehicle Control Software Allocation Across Dual Processing Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control devices face challenges in updating software beyond the limits of their hardware resources, particularly when the available free capacity is exhausted over the system's long product life.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device with multiple arithmetic operation units that includes a first and second arithmetic operation unit, a resource monitoring unit, an update determination unit, and a software arrangement change mechanism to dynamically adjust software execution between these units based on resource usage and latency considerations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software is updated continuously in a vehicle control device with limited hardware resources, then the software functionality and control capability are improved, but the hardware resources (storage capacity, processor performance) are eventually exhausted, making further updates impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vehicle control system into multiple control devices (first vehicle control device and second vehicle control device), each with its own arithmetic operation unit and storage. Software is segmented and distributed across these devices, allowing updates to occur in one device while the other maintains operational software, thus overcoming the limitation of limited hardware resources in a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where backup software is stored in the storage unit of the first vehicle control device, and additional backup software is stored in the second vehicle control device. This nested backup arrangement allows multiple levels of software redundancy without requiring proportional increases in single-device hardware capacity.
2Productivity
If the free capacity of storage unit is used to store update modules, then software updates can be performed, but when the free capacity is exhausted, no further updates can be performed even though the vehicle is still operational
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension storage model (one storage unit in one control device) to a multi-dimensional storage model by distributing software and backup across multiple vehicle control devices. This dimensional expansion provides additional storage capacity without increasing the volume of any single storage unit, enabling continuous software updates over the vehicle's operational life.
3Stability of the object's composition
If software is arranged in a fixed order according to dependency, then the software can be updated systematically, but the flexibility to adapt to changing resource availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic software arrangement capability where the control devices can adjust the arrangement of software modules based on current resource availability and operational needs. The update determination unit evaluates whether to update existing software or arrange new software in the other device, allowing flexible adaptation to changing conditions while maintaining systematic update processes.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a first arithmetic operation unit and a second arithmetic operation unit. Here, it is determined as to whether the entire structure of new software can be updated in the first arithmetic operation unit or a part of the structure of the new software should be changed in arrangement to be in the second arithmetic operation unit, from information held by a resource information holding unit, based on the state of execution in the first arithmetic operation unit, and the structure of the new software to be newly implemented. When a part of the structure of the new software should be changed in arrangement to be in the second arithmetic operation unit, a part of the structure of the new software to be arranged in the second arithmetic operation unit is determined, in consideration of latencies in both the arithmetic operation units.