Vehicle-Trailer Communication Circuit for Accurate Trailer Message Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to effectively identify messages from trailers among multiple traffic participants for use in trailer assist systems.

Innovation Solution

Distinguish trailer messages by their content, time of reception, motion, and position correlation with the towing vehicle, and utilize a wired connection to confirm trailer attachment through request-response mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wireless messages are received from multiple traffic participants, then communication capability is improved, but message identification accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidmessage identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the message identification process into multiple independent verification stages: first checking wireless message content for trailer-specific data patterns, then verifying through wired connection status, and finally cross-referencing motion correlation. This multi-stage segmentation allows the system to handle messages from multiple traffic participants while accurately identifying trailer messages through progressive filtering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wired connection status and motion correlation data as intermediary verification layers between receiving wireless messages and identifying trailer messages. These intermediaries act as mediators that filter and validate messages, enabling accurate trailer message identification even when multiple traffic participants are communicating wirelessly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If trailer identification is performed using wireless messages only, then system simplicity is improved, but identification reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoididentification reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges three different identification approaches (wireless message content analysis, wired connection status detection, and motion correlation verification) into a unified trailer identification system. By combining these multiple verification methods, the system achieves high identification reliability while maintaining reasonable complexity through integrated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where wired connection status and motion sensor data continuously verify and validate wireless message identification. The system uses feedback from multiple sources to confirm trailer identity, ensuring high reliability by cross-checking information rather than relying on wireless messages alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If multiple verification methods are used for trailer message identification, then identification accuracy is improved, but processing complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of wireless message content to identify potential trailer messages before conducting more complex verification steps. By pre-filtering messages based on content patterns and only applying full verification (wired connection check, motion correlation) to promising candidates, the system maintains high identification accuracy while reducing overall processing complexity through selective verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4106363B1Computer program, communication circuit, and method for communication between a vehicle and a trailer
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4106363B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4106363B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Embodiments provide a computer program, a communication circuit (310, 320), a vehicle (302), a trailer (304), and methods (100, 200) a vehicle and a trailer and for communication between a vehicle and a trailer. The method (100) for the vehicle comprises receiving (110), from one or more traffic participants, a message. Further, the method (100) comprises determining (120), using the message, whether the respective traffic participant is attached to the vehicle. The method (100) further comprises associating (130) the message to the trailer if it is determined that the respective traffic participant is attached to the vehicle.