JP2012108787A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain overall real-time processing of the system, prevent traffic from being increased, and flexibly respond to changes in specifications of an information processor constituting the system.SOLUTION: A plurality of information processors are configured to access a network without using other information processors, and are logically classified into a first information processor group including one or more information processors and a second information processor group including one or more information processors. The information processors belonging to the first information processor group transmit data specification information for specifying data to be acquired via the network, to the information processors belonging to the second information processor group, at a predetermined timing. The information processors belonging to the second information processor group acquire data via the network according to the data specification information to provide application software with the data on the basis of the acquired data.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses are communicably connected via a network realized by a bus or the like.

  Conventionally, a system having a configuration in which a control device is communicably connected via a bus has been put into practical use in a field such as an in-vehicle control system. In this type of system, each control device is a kind of information processing device called an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), for example.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 has a configuration in which ECUs are divided into a plurality of groups, and a parent ECU in which a child ECU belonging to each group is connected to a backbone network performs communication with a child ECU belonging to another group. A communication system is described.

  Also, in Patent Document 2, a plurality of nodes are connected to the same bus by an active star coupler to form a communication cluster, and at least two synchronization nodes in the communication cluster send a synchronization frame onto the bus and communicate with each other. A time-division multiplex communication system that establishes communication synchronization within a communication cluster by monitoring the synchronization frame is described.

  The system described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which connection modes to a network in a plurality of information processing apparatuses are physically divided into layers, and the plurality of information processing apparatuses are “physically divided into layers”. .

  On the other hand, in a configuration in which a plurality of information processing devices (communication nodes in Patent Literature 2) can access a network without going through other information processing devices, like the system described in Patent Literature 2, It can be said that the role of each information processing device is divided hierarchically is a configuration in which a plurality of information processing devices are “logically divided”.

  In recent years, research and practical use of an information processing system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses are logically divided has been advanced.

JP 2008-201386 A JP 2009-246483 A

  By the way, in an information processing system in which a plurality of information processing devices are divided into logical hierarchies, when a specification change occurs in a certain information processing device, the information processing device in which the specification has been changed becomes another information processing via a network. The contents and format of data provided to the device may be changed.

  In such a case, the other information processing device receiving the data needs to cope with a change in the content and format of the acquired data, and as a result, the specification change in one information processing device constituting the information processing system However, there is a problem that it is necessary to change the specifications of the entire system as it spreads to other information processing apparatuses.

  For such a problem, for example, an information processing device for data relay is set in advance, and the information provided by the information processing device whose specification is changed is converted into the original content / format by the information processing device for data relay, A configuration of re-providing to the network can be considered.

  However, with this configuration, there is a problem that the real-time property of the data provided is lost due to the processing time required for data conversion, and that the amount of communication increases due to data having the same content flowing through the network more than once. Problems can arise.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the handling of data when such a configuration is adopted, and is a diagram illustrating the configuration and processing of an information processing system of a comparative example. As illustrated, the system of the comparative example includes ECU_A, ECU_B, ECU_C, and ECU_D, which are directly connected to a network E such as a bus. The ECU_C functions as the data relay information processing apparatus described above.

  In this case, the ECU_A originally outputs the data {1234} (which schematically shows the contents of the data) to the network E every 20 [ms], and the ECU_B outputs the data {56} to the network E. , ECU_D reads these data and provides them to the application software.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the specification is changed so that ECU_A outputs data {12 * 34} to network E every 10 [ms] instead of the data {1234}. Here, {2 *} in the data schematically indicates that the data length or the like of the portion {2} has been formally changed.

  When such a specification change occurs, ECU_C converts data {12 * 34} into data {1234}, and outputs the converted data to network E every 20 [ms] (standard message).

  The ECU_D skips reading the data {12 * 34} output to the network E every 10 [ms], and reads the data {1234} as a standard message acquired conventionally.

  As described above, in such a configuration, there is a problem that the real-time property of the data provided to the ECU_D is impaired due to the processing time required for the data conversion of the ECU_C, and the data with the same content is transmitted more than once in the network E. There is a possibility that the amount of communication increases due to the flow through the network.

  The present invention is for solving such a problem, and flexibly responds to a change in the specifications of information processing apparatuses constituting the system while maintaining real-time processing of the entire system and suppressing an increase in communication volume. The main purpose is to provide an information processing system capable of performing the above.

In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention provides:
An information processing system in which a plurality of information processing devices are communicably connected via a network,
The plurality of information processing devices are logically divided into a first information processing device group including one or more information processing devices and a second information processing device group including one or more information processing devices. ,
An information processing device belonging to the first information processing device group specifies data to be acquired via the network with respect to the information processing device belonging to the second information processing group at a predetermined timing. Send information,
Information processing devices belonging to the second information processing device group acquire data via the network according to the data specifying information, and provide data based on the acquired data to application software being executed by the information processing device It is characterized by
Information processing system.

  According to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to flexibly cope with a change in the specifications of the information processing devices constituting the system while maintaining real-time processing of the entire system and suppressing an increase in communication volume.

In one embodiment of the present invention,
The information processing apparatus belonging to the first information processing apparatus group acquires the information processing apparatus belonging to the second information processing group at the predetermined timing via the network in addition to the data specifying information. Data processing mode designation information for designating the data processing mode when providing the data to the application software,
The information processing apparatus belonging to the second information processing apparatus group performs data processing according to the data processing mode designation information on the data acquired via the network, and applies to the application software executed by itself. It is good also as what is characterized by providing.

In one embodiment of the present invention,
The data processing according to the data processing mode designation information may be a process of processing data acquired via the network to generate fixed format data having a predetermined data length.

In one embodiment of the present invention,
The plurality of information processing devices may be accessible to the network without passing through another information processing device.

In one embodiment of the present invention,
The predetermined timing is when the information processing system is activated or shut down.

  In this way, the transmission of the data specifying information and the data processing mode designation information is not performed in a state where the system is performing a steady operation, so that the processing delay and the increase in the communication amount due to the transmission / reception of these information are further effective. Can be suppressed.

In one embodiment of the present invention,
The information processing apparatus belonging to the first information processing apparatus group is configured to perform the processing when the information processing apparatus belonging to the second information processing group has an abnormality in a transmission source of data received via the network. Instructing an information processing apparatus belonging to the information processing group 2 to handle at least a part of data received via the network differently from the case where the abnormality has not occurred. It is good also as what to do.

in this case,
The information processing apparatus belonging to the first information processing apparatus group is configured to perform the processing when the information processing apparatus belonging to the second information processing group has an abnormality in a transmission source of data received via the network. Instructing an information processing apparatus belonging to the information processing group 2 to provide application software with data obtained by replacing at least a part of data received via the network with a fixed value It is good.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing system capable of flexibly responding to a change in specifications of information processing devices constituting the system while maintaining real-time processing of the entire system and suppressing an increase in communication volume. Can do.

It is a figure which shows the structure and process of the information processing system of a comparative example. 1 is a system configuration example of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the characteristic process which ECU10 # 3 which is parent ECU and ECU10 # 4 which is child ECU perform. In the information processing system 1 which concerns on a present Example, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the process performed when a specification change arises in a certain ECU10.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The information processing system of the present invention is preferably applied to, for example, an in-vehicle control system mounted on a vehicle, for example, while an information processing device such as an ECU constituting the system executes its own application software, This system provides data to each other via a network such as a bus.

[Constitution]
FIG. 2 is a system configuration example of the information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system 1 includes ECUs 10 # 1, 10 # 2, 10 # 3, 10 # 4 and a bus 20 as main components. Hereinafter, the ECUs are collectively referred to as the ECU 10 when necessary.

  The ECU 10 is, for example, a microcomputer in which a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like are connected to each other through an internal bus with a central processing unit (CPU) as a center. Drives, DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disk-Recordable) drives, CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable) drives, EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) storage devices, I / O ports, timers, counters, etc. Is provided. The storage device stores programs and data executed by the CPU.

  A program executed by the CPU in the ECU 10 is hierarchically divided into an upper layer 12 such as application software, a lower layer 14 such as a bus driver, and others. In the figure, the upper layer program executed by the CPU of the ECU 10 # 1 is described as the upper layer 12 # 1, the lower layer program as the lower layer 14 # 1, and the like.

  For example, the lower layer 14 performs control for transmitting and receiving data via the bus 20. Then, the data acquired via the bus 20 is processed and provided to the upper layer 12 such as application software executed by the CPU of the ECU 10. Data processing means that, for example, if two pieces of data to which signal IDs “001” and “003” are given via the bus 20 are acquired at different timings, these are “001” and “003”. It is a formal process such as arranging data in order and making data (fixed format data) having a predetermined data length (for example, 8 bits).

  In addition, the lower layer 14 outputs the data having a predetermined data length instructed to be transmitted from the upper layer 12 to the other ECU 10 via the bus 20 with a signal ID at a specific cycle and the like. Perform the process.

  The upper layer 12 uses the fixed format data provided from the lower layer 14 to perform various processes for realizing the essential functions executed by the ECU 10. When the information processing system 1 of this embodiment is an in-vehicle control system, the upper layer 12 executes engine control, steering control, brake control, various safe driving support controls, arithmetic processing for navigation control, and the like.

  The bus 20 is a multiplex communication line, for example. Communication between the ECUs 10 via the bus 20 is, for example, a low-speed body communication protocol represented by CAN (Controller Area Network), LIN (Local Interconnect Network), or multimedia represented by MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport). An appropriate communication protocol such as a system communication protocol or FlexRay is used. A signal flowing through the bus 20 can be acquired by each ECU 10 connected to the bus 20. That is, the communication via the bus 20 in this embodiment is not a communication in which the other party is specified but a kind of broadcast.

  Each signal flowing through the bus 20 is given a signal ID for identifying the signal. Each ECU 10 obtains a necessary signal via the bus 20 by recognizing the signal ID.

  The information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment may include other types of networks (both wired and wireless) in place of the bus 20.

[Logical hierarchy of ECUs]
In the information processing system according to the present invention, the ECU 10 is logically divided into at least two layers of a parent ECU and a child ECU. That is, the information processing system according to the present invention is logically divided into a parent ECU group including one or more ECUs 10 and a child ECU group including one or more ECUs 10. In this embodiment, it is assumed that ECU 10 # 3 is a parent ECU and ECU 10 # 4 is a child ECU. The ECUs 10 # 1 and 10 # 2 may be either a parent ECU or a child ECU. There may also be a logical hierarchy other than the parent ECU and the child ECU.

  The parent ECU and the child ECU perform the following specific processing.

  (1) When the parent ECU provides the child ECU with a signal ID for specifying data to be acquired via the bus 20 and data acquired via the bus 20 to the upper layer 12 at a predetermined timing. Data processing mode designation information for designating the data processing mode is transmitted.

  Here, it is preferable that the predetermined timing avoids a period in which the information processing system 1 performs a steady operation, for example, when the information processing system 1 is activated or shut down.

  Thereby, it is possible to suppress an increase in processing load and communication amount due to transmission of the signal ID and data processing mode designation information.

  Further, when compared with a configuration in which the data relay ECU converts the data into fixed format data and re-provides the data to the bus 20, there is no problem that the real-time property of the data is impaired due to the processing time required for the data conversion. . Therefore, real-time processing of the entire system can be maintained.

  (2) The lower layer 14 of the child ECU acquires data via the bus 20 in accordance with the signal ID acquired from the parent ECU via the bus 20, and the parent ECU via the bus 20 with respect to the acquired data. The data processing according to the data processing mode designation information acquired from the data is processed into fixed-format data and provided to the upper layer 12.

  Thereby, it is possible to flexibly cope with a change in specifications of the ECU 10 constituting the system. For example, when the format of data output from the ECU 10 # 1 to the bus 20 is changed due to a change in the internal software of the ECU 10 # 1 (specifically, the floating point, bit representation, etc. are changed). The other change in the system is that the signal ID output from the ECU 10 # 3 as the parent ECU to the ECU 10 # 4 as the child ECU via the bus 20 and the data processing mode designation information are sufficient. .

  From the above points, according to the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment, the increase in communication volume is suppressed, the real-time processing of the entire system is maintained, and further, the specification change of the ECU 10 constituting the system can be flexibly dealt with. can do.

  In the in-vehicle control system, the specification change of the ECU 10 is downloaded, for example, by installing dedicated software at a repair shop or a dealer shop, or downloaded from a car manufacturer's server or the like via an in-vehicle internet facility. There may be cases.

  At this time, not only the ECU 10 whose specification is changed, but also all the parent ECUs included in the information processing system 1 are changed so that the signal ID and the data processing mode designation information that need to be changed due to the specification change are changed. Installed or downloaded.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining characteristic processes performed by the ECU 10 # 3 that is the parent ECU and the ECU 10 # 4 that is the child ECU.

  In this figure, the ECU 10 # 1 outputs data {4} to which the signal ID “001” is assigned (signal contents are schematically shown; the same applies hereinafter) to the bus 20 every 20 [ms] Data {123} to which the signal ID “002” is assigned is output to the bus 20 every 10 [ms].

  The ECU 10 # 2 outputs data {56} to which the signal ID “003” is assigned to the bus 20 every 2000 [ms].

  Then, the ECUs 10 # 3 to 10 # 4, which are the parent ECUs, acquire data with the signal IDs “001” and “003” from the bus 20, and obtain these data with the signal ID “001”. An instruction is given at a predetermined timing so as to be provided to the upper layer 12 # 4 after being processed into fixed format data having a predetermined data length (for example, 8 bits) arranged in the order of the data to which “003” is assigned. .

  As a result, the ECU 10 # 4, which is the child ECU, acquires and processes data according to the signal ID instructed from the ECU 10 # 3, which is the parent ECU, and the data processing mode designation information, and sends it to the upper layer 12 # 4. Fixed format data {456} is provided. The upper layer 12 # 4 performs arithmetic processing based on the provided fixed format data {456}, controls the control target device based on the arithmetic result, and outputs the arithmetic result etc. to the bus 20 as necessary. Instruct the lower layer 14 # 4 to do so.

  It is assumed that there is a certain number of blanks after data {456} processed in ECU 10 # 4.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process performed when a specification change occurs in a certain ECU 10 in the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment.

  In this figure, the specification change occurs in the ECU 10 # 1, and the ECU 10 # 1 outputs the data {7} newly given the signal ID “004” to the bus 20 every 5 [ms].

  Accordingly, the instruction from the ECU 10 # 3 as the parent ECU to the ECU 10 # 4 as the child ECU is also changed, and the data with the signal IDs “001”, “003”, and “004” is transferred to the bus 20 Are obtained in the order of the data with the signal ID “001”, the data with the “003”, and the data with the “004” in a fixed format having a predetermined data length (for example, 8 bits). An instruction is given at a predetermined timing so as to be provided to the upper layer 12 # 4 after being processed into data.

  As a result, the child ECU ECU 10 # 4 acquires and processes data according to the signal ID instructed from the parent ECU ECU 10 # 3 and the data processing mode designation information, and is fixed to the upper layer 12 # 4. Format data {4567} is provided.

  As described above, when the specification of the ECU 10 constituting the system is changed, the only other necessary changes in the system are the signal ID output from the parent ECU to the child ECU and the data processing mode designation information. Therefore, it is possible to flexibly cope with a change in specifications of the ECU 10 constituting the system.

  According to the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment described above, it is possible to flexibly cope with a change in the specifications of the ECU 10 constituting the system while maintaining the real-time processing of the entire system and suppressing an increase in communication volume.

[Application to fail-safe]
In the case where the ECU 10 has a logically divided configuration as in the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment, when any ECU 10 is in a failed state (a state in which an abnormality has occurred), it is easy to fail. Safe processing can be performed.

  In this case, when an abnormality occurs in the transmission source of the data received by the ECU 10 # 4, which is the child ECU via the bus 20, the ECU 10 # 3, which is the parent ECU, the ECU 10 # 4, which is the child ECU, It is preferable to instruct that at least a part of the data received via the bus 20 be handled differently from the case where no abnormality has occurred.

Specifically, it instructs the ECU 10 # 4, which is the child ECU, to provide the upper layer 12 # 4 with data obtained by replacing at least part of the data received via the bus 20 with a fixed value. Here, the fixed value may be a general value (average value or the like) of a portion supplied from the ECU 10 where the abnormality occurs in the data, or may be zero.
As a result, the ECU 10 # 4, which is the child ECU, can avoid the inconvenience of acquiring an abnormal value via the bus 20 and causing an abnormality in the processing of the upper layer 12 # 4.

  Since various methods are known for monitoring whether or not an abnormality has occurred, detailed description thereof is omitted. However, the operating state may be monitored by polling, or output only in a normal state. It may be determined that an abnormality has occurred due to the interruption of the predetermined confirmation signal. Alternatively, the data transmission source may embed an error correction code or the like in the data, and the parent ECU may determine whether an abnormality has occurred based on this.

[Modifications, etc.]
The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. And substitutions can be added.

  For example, the information processing device included in the information processing system is not limited to the above-described ECU, but may be a device of another mode called MCU (Micro Control Unit), PE (Processor Element), or a general single core. / A multi-core processor, a multi-processor device or the like may be used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which each ECU 10 is directly connected to the bus 20 is shown, but an information processing apparatus connected to only one of the ECUs 10 connected to the bus 20 through a dedicated line or the like is additionally provided. The information processing apparatus may be accessible to the bus 20 via the ECU 10 connected to the information processing apparatus (the information processing apparatus does not correspond to a parent ECU or a child ECU).

1 Information processing system 10 # 1, 10 # 2, 10 # 3, 10 # 4 ECU
12 # 1, 12 # 2, 12 # 3, 12 # 4 Upper layer 14 # 1, 14 # 2, 14 # 3, 14 # 4 Lower layer 20 bus

Claims (7)

An information processing system in which a plurality of information processing devices are communicably connected via a network,
The plurality of information processing devices are logically divided into a first information processing device group including one or more information processing devices and a second information processing device group including one or more information processing devices. ,
An information processing device belonging to the first information processing device group specifies data to be acquired via the network with respect to the information processing device belonging to the second information processing group at a predetermined timing. Send information,
Information processing devices belonging to the second information processing device group acquire data via the network according to the data specifying information, and provide data based on the acquired data to application software being executed by the information processing device It is characterized by
Information processing system. The information processing system according to claim 1,
The information processing apparatus belonging to the first information processing apparatus group acquires the information processing apparatus belonging to the second information processing group at the predetermined timing via the network in addition to the data specifying information. Data processing mode designation information for designating the data processing mode when providing the data to the application software,
The information processing apparatus belonging to the second information processing apparatus group performs data processing according to the data processing mode designation information on the data acquired via the network, and applies to the application software executed by itself. Characterized by providing,
Information processing system. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2,
The data processing according to the data processing mode designation information is a process of processing data acquired via the network to generate fixed format data having a predetermined data length,
Information processing system. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The plurality of information processing devices can access the network without going through another information processing device.
Information processing system. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The predetermined timing is when the information processing system is activated or shut down.
Information processing system. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The information processing apparatus belonging to the first information processing apparatus group is configured to perform the processing when the information processing apparatus belonging to the second information processing group has an abnormality in a transmission source of data received via the network. Instructing an information processing apparatus belonging to the information processing group 2 to handle at least a part of data received via the network differently from the case where the abnormality has not occurred. To
Information processing system. The information processing system according to claim 6,
The information processing apparatus belonging to the first information processing apparatus group is configured to perform the processing when the information processing apparatus belonging to the second information processing group has an abnormality in a transmission source of data received via the network. Instructing an information processing device belonging to the information processing group 2 to provide application software with data obtained by replacing at least a part of data received via the network with a fixed value,
Information processing system.

Images