DE102012005589A1 - Method for waking up of control unit for bus system, involves associating partial devices of communication device with components of detection unit so that function of detecting unit is integrated in communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves connecting communication device (3) with time-controlled data communication system (4). The detection unit (6) is provided with several components (6-1-6-6). The control unit (1) is switched from rest state into operating state with respect to the function of detection unit. The partial devices (3-1-3-3), interface (3-4), overall time unit (3-6) and protocol monitoring unit (3-7) of communication device are associated with the components of the detection unit so that the function of the detecting unit is integrated in the communication device.

Description

The invention relates to a method for awakening a control unit connected to a time-controlled data communication system according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention relates to a further method for awaking a control unit connected to a time-controlled data communication system according to the preamble of patent claim 10.

In the prior art, control devices for bus systems, such as CAN or FlexRay, have long been known. Common to the control units that they have a microprocessor and a transceiver and are connected to corresponding bus lines. One problem with these controllers is their high energy requirements. In order to reduce this energy demand, control devices are known which can be switched to an energy-saving sleep state and are only switched back to a normal operating mode when a specific signal is present. However, this is particularly problematic in time-controlled bus systems, such as FlexRay, because in such bus systems, the control is a so-called time slot (Timeslot). In this case, all bus subscribers must always answer in their timeslot, for example to synchronize the system time. A controller in sleep mode could not ensure this.

One solution for timed bus systems is in the published patent application DE 10 2011 108 866 A1 which discloses a device for waking up a control device connected to a time-controlled bus system, wherein the control device is set up and provided to be switched to a sleep state and to be switched to an operating state by a control signal. In this case, an arranged between the bus system and the control device detecting means is provided which is adapted and provided to detect and evaluate transmitted data signals on the bus system and to switch the control unit upon detection of a predefinable data signal in the operating state. The detection means is integrated in an additional hardware module, which is connected to a controller disposed in the communication controller.

The invention has for its object to provide a comparison with the prior art improved method for waking a connected to a timed bus system control unit.

The object is achieved by a method which has the features specified in claim 1 and in claim 10.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

In a method for awakening a control unit connected to a time-controlled data communication system by means of a communication device. In this case, the communication device is extended by a detection means. The detection means includes a number of functionally designed components. These components are assigned to at least one of the components already present in the communication device in such a way that the function of the detection means is integrated in the communication device. By means of the functions of the detection means, the control unit is switched from a rest state to an operating state.

The communication device is already known from the prior art. It is a communication controller, in particular the so-called E-Ray module, which establishes a connection between a microcontroller of a control unit and a data communication system and thus, for. B. by means of protocol conversion, communication allows. The components for expanding the communication device are as detection means from the above-mentioned published patent application DE 10 2011 108 866 A1 known. By means of the inventive extension of the communication device is a significant resource savings compared to a separate implementation of the components, eg. B. by additional hardware modules possible. In this case, the components are preferably assigned to specific function modules present in the communication device, so that the method specifies an exact implementation instruction.

Furthermore, in a method for waking up a control unit connected to a time-controlled data communication system by means of a communication device, which comprises a state diagram with a number of state nodes, an eighth state node is added according to the invention which transmits a state ICOM_ON by filtering on the data communication system and for the Control unit forms as determined by at least one of the other state nodes relevant data.

The addition of another state node allows integration into the already existing control flow of the state diagram, whereby both installation space and costs can be saved since no coordination between the communication device and an additional hardware module is required.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

Showing:

1 a schematic representation of a connected to a data transmission system control unit and

2 a state diagram of a communication device according to the invention a control unit according to 1 ,

Corresponding parts are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.

1 schematically shows a control unit 1 with a microprocessor 2 and a communication device 3 , where the microprocessor 2 via the communication device 3 with a data transmission system 4 connected is.

At the control unit 1 it is preferably a control device, for. B. a modern motor vehicle, which by means of the data transmission system 4 with other participants of the data transmission system 4 can communicate.

For example, the control unit 1 formed as a control device for a parking assistant of a passenger car.

The data transmission system 4 In the present exemplary embodiment, a time-controlled bus system is particularly preferred, by means of which access and / or reception mechanisms as well as error handling are regulated via a specific protocol.

A well-known protocol is the so-called FlexRay protocol, which is currently based on the FlexRay protocol specification v2.1.

In a FlexRay bus system, a time division multiple access (TDMA) method is preferably used, wherein the participants, ie in this case the control unit 1 and other subscribers, not shown, are assigned to transmit data specific time slots in which they have exclusive access to the data transmission system 4 to have. The timeslots repeat themselves in a fixed cycle, so that the point in time, at which certain data over the data transmission system 4 be transmitted, can be accurately predicted and the access is deterministic.

Preferably, the FlexRay bus system divides the fixed cycle into static and dynamic segments. Static segments have a fixed time window in which data can be sent, but the time window must not be exceeded. The dynamic segments are suitable for subscribers who want to send longer and / or additional data for which the time window of the static segment is insufficient. For a short time, so-called minislots, the participants will have exclusive access to the data transmission system 4 allows. Preferably, the time slot is only extended by the time required when access to the data transmission system within a minislot 4 he follows. Thus, the bandwidth is used in an advantageous manner only when it is actually needed.

The data transfer in a FlexRay bus system usually takes place via two physically separate lines with a data rate of no more than 10 megabits per second. The two channels correspond to the physical layer, in particular the physical layer of the OSI layer model (Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model).

To implement the above-described protocol of the data transmission system 4 in the control unit 1 is the communication device 3 provided, which represents a known from the prior art so-called E-ray module in the present embodiment.

The communication device 3 comprises a first sub-device 3.1 for storing at least part of it to the control unit 1 transmitted data, a second sub-device 3.2 for connecting the first sub-device 3.1 with the microprocessor 2 , a third sub-facility 3.3 for connecting the first sub-device 3.1 with the data transmission system 4 as well as an interface 3.4 for easy connection of the microprocessor 2 with the second sub-device 3.2 and in particular for interfacing the microprocessor 2 to the entire communication device 3 , Furthermore, the communication device 3 a global time unit 3.6 and a protocol control unit 3.7 on.

By means of the interface 3.4 , are different microprocessors 2 to the communication device 3 customizable, allowing flexibility of the communication device 3 is high. This is indicated by the interface 3.4 in the present embodiment, a bidirectional data line 3.4.1 , an address line 3.4.2 , a control input 3.4.3 and an interrupt (interrupt) output 3.4.4 on.

As already described above, the first sub-device is used 3.1 the connection of the second partial device 3.2 to the microprocessor 2 , For this purpose, the first sub-device 3.1 an input buffer 3.1.1 and an output buffer 3.1.2 on. The second sub-facility 3.2 includes a data manager 3.2.1 as well as a data memory 3.2.2 The input buffer 3.1.1 is used to buffer data from the microprocessor 2 for transmission to the second sub-device 3.2 , in particular to the data manager 3.2.1 , The output buffer 3.1.2 serves the intermediate storage of data starting from the data manager 3.2.1 the second sub-facility 3.2 for transmission to the microprocessor 2 ,

In a profitable manner is either the input buffer memory 3.1.1 and / or the output buffer 3.1.2 formed of two parts (not shown), which are each only read and / or written alternately, whereby a data integrity is ensured.

The data manager 3.2.1 controls and controls the data transfer between the input buffer memory 3.1.1 and the output buffer memory 3.1.2 and the data store 3.2.2 , In addition, the data manager controls and controls 3.2.1 the data transfer between the data memory 3.2.2 and the third sub-facility 3.3 , The data store 3.2.2 is preferably designed as a FIFO (first in-first out) RAM memory which can store up to a maximum of 128 data objects. All functions concerning the management of the data itself are in the data manager 3.2.1 implemented. These are z. As the acceptance filtering, transfer of data between the third sub-device 3.3 and the data store 3.2.2 as well as between the first sub-device 3.1 and the data store 3.2.2 , the control of the transmission order and the provision of configuration data or status data.

In a FlexRay protocol, data can be provided with a payload range of D to 254 bytes. Preferably, a number of the storable data is dependent on the size of the data areas of the individual data, so that the size of the memory required can be minimized without restricting the size of the data areas of the data. This is an optimal utilization of the data memory 3.2.2 possible.

The third sub-facility 3.3 indicates according to the two previously described channels of the data transmission system 4 a first channel block 3.3.1 and a second channel block 3.3.2 on which two data paths each 3.3.1.1 . 3.3.1.2 . 3.3.2.1 . 3.3.2.2 with opposite data directions.

The data path is used in detail 3.3.1.1 for receiving and the data path 3.3.1.2 for sending the first channel block 3.3.1 and the data path 3.3.2.1 for receiving and the data path 3.3.2.2 for sending the second channel block 3.3.1 , The bidirectional data line 5 describes an optional bidirectional control input.

The channel blocks 3.3.1 . 3.3.2 each comprise a buffer memory in a manner not shown, wherein one of the buffer memories for one of the channels and the other buffer memory for the other of the channels are assigned. The two buffer memories serve as temporary storage for the data transfer between the second partial device 3.2 and the third sub-facility 3.3 , According to the two channels, the two buffer memories are each coupled to an interface, also not shown, which preferably each comprise a transmit-receive shift register and a logic necessary for scanning and unpacking or packing and sending the data. Thus, the buffer memory serve in particular as a buffer for the data transfer between the shift registers of the interfaces of the third sub-device 3.3 and the data manager 3.2.1 the second sub-facility 3.2 ,

In order to realize synchronous functions and to optimize the bandwidth by small distances between two data, the participants need the data transmission system 4 a common time base, which is determined by the global time unit 3.6 is realized.

Here is the global time unit 3.6 in particular for the representation of the global time grid, so the microtick and the macrotick responsible. Likewise, by means of the global time unit 3.6 a fault-tolerant clock synchronization of the cycle counter and the control of the time sequences in the static and dynamic segment (slot counter) are regulated.

To manage the protocol states, in particular the FlexRay protocol states, is the protocol control unit 3.7 intended.

In the present embodiment, in the context of the invention, the communication device known and described in the prior art 3 around a number of components 6.1 to 6.6 extended, whose functions from the aforementioned patent application DE 10 2011 108 866 A1 are known. This from Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2011 108 866 A1 described detection means 6 can also be referred to as an intelligent communication controller.

The extension of the communication device 3 serves in particular to increase the energy efficiency of control units 1 wherein the software controlled communication to the communication device 3 is passed, if for the current state of the control unit 1 a static communication behavior (= idle state) is sufficient. A change of state is preferably detected via suitable wake-up conditions. The following is the assignment of the components 6.1 to 6.6 in the component already in the communication device 3 are present, described in more detail.

The first component 6.1 and the second component 6.2 of the detection means 6 become the protocol control unit 3.7 assigned. The first component 6.1 describes adding a state to an already in the protocol control unit 3.7 implemented state machine. The second component 6.2 includes means for generating and processing a wake-up event of the microprocessor 2 , Ie. in inactive state, the protocol control unit performs 3.7 No message filtering and does not send on its own. Ie. to communicate must be the microprocessor 2 be active yourself.

Starting from the inactive state becomes the protocol control unit 3.7 after configuration has been activated by means of an implemented program sequence. If no further local tasks are to be done, the microprocessor can 2 stopped or de-energized. In other words: the microprocessor 2 is in a sleep state. The data transmission system 4 is from the communication device 3 , in particular the protocol control device 3.7 , supervised.

By means of the first and second components 6.1 . 6.2 is it possible to use the protocol control unit 3.7 into different states, in particular three ground states, to switch. The basic states can be subdivided into "inactive", "active" and "waiting".

The extension of the protocol control unit 3.7 In particular, adding a state to the state machine allows integration into the existing control flow of the protocol control unit 3.7 , whereby a vote between the protocol control unit 3.7 and an additional state machine or additional hardware module used in a separate implementation of the first component is not required. Through the generation and processing of wake-up events, operations become within the protocol control unit 3.7 versus a separate implementation of the second component 6.2 simplified.

The third component 6.3 and part of the fourth components 6.4 of the detection means 6 become the global time unit 3.6 assigned. This allows a so-called timeout monitoring of data. As a result, an important part of the AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture) network management mechanism is considered. A configuration of timeout conditions and the signaling of a timeout status are performed in the global time unit 3.6 , Since an additional time base (timer) is required for timeout monitoring, the integration is the third component 6.3 and the fourth components 6.4 in the global time unit 3.6 particularly advantageous because the time base available here can be used for timeout monitoring. Again, an additional hardware and / or software module is saved over a separate implementation.

Furthermore, a part of the fourth components 6.4 the data manager 3.2.1 assigned. The fourth component 6.4 defines a configuration interface and serves the configuration and the status display of the data filtering. In addition, a fifth component 6.5 the data manager 3.2.1 assigned, by means of which the filtering of a configurable data area in a received message is possible. For this purpose, the filter preferably comprises a comparison means as a decision means, wherein for the decision making various arithmetic comparison functions (such as <, <=, ==,! =,>,> =, As well as a comparison operation which is always "true") are predefined as decision criterion. As the data manager 3.2.1 the storage of data or on the in the communication device 3 Controlling incoming processing based on incoming data, the additional data filtering for the idle state of the control unit 1 be integrated into the existing processing flow of incoming messages. This becomes a resource overhead and processing complexity over a separate implementation of the fifth component 6.5 reduced.

Furthermore, a sixth component 6.6 the data store 3.2.2 assigned. In the data store 3.2.2 For this, filtered, received messages are stored, which were found to be "true" on the basis of the comparison means. Likewise, by means of the sixth component 6.6 a filter configuration possible.

As already described, are in the data memory 3.2.2 predefinable data signals, such. Configurable filter conditions. In the buffer memories of the channel blocks 3.3.1 . 3.3.2 be the over the data transmission system 4 received data cached. The im data manager 3.2.1 Implemented comparison means compares the cached data with the stored predefinable data signals.

If the filter condition is true, the active protocol control unit recognizes 3.7 a wake-up condition and awakens the microprocessor 2 , Furthermore, a wake-up condition can also be described by the absence of a message. This is due to the timeout monitoring of the global time unit 3.6 determined.

The program sequence for the communication of the control unit 1 is via a so-called interrupt (interrupt) process, triggered by the protocol control unit 3.7 , informed about it. To bridge the transitional period until the program is fully functional, the protocol control unit is located 3.7 in the waiting state until the program sequence switches this back to inactive.

The control unit 1 thus wakes up without an explicit external request when needed. Subsequently, the microprocessor 2 with the help of the communication device 3 again via the data transmission system 4 communicate. The microprocessor supports this 2 preferably at least three energy-saving states, which are referred to, for example, as PowerOff-Mode, PartialPowerOff-Mode and STOP-Mode. When switching to or from the modes PartialPowerOff and STOP, the communication by means of the communication device may 3 are not interrupted and data (eg wake-up reason, wake-up frame) are not lost. Both modes must be active with protocol control unit 3.7 can be requested by the program flow.

Preferably, the communication device is 3 even then capable of data on the data transmission system 4 to lay when the microprocessor 2 is at rest. The microprocessor 2 thus advantageously does not need to be active in situations where it would only send static data. This preservation of the limited transmit capability becomes the effect of the sleeping control unit 1 to other participants in the data transmission system 4 minimized.

The extension of the data store 3.2.2 and thus one in the communication device 3 already arranged memory structure allows a space-saving and cost-efficient implementation of the sixth component 6.6 versus a separate implementation.

In summary, the above-described implementation allows the six components 6.1 to 6.6 a significant resource savings compared to a separate implementation of the individual components 6.1 to 6.6 in which, for example, additional hardware modules would be required.

2 shows a state diagram of in 1 described communication device 3 the control unit 1 ,

The component R describes a reset (= basic position, reset) of the hardware and the subsequent energization of the control unit 1 (= Power: On).

A first state node Z1 describes a state DEFAULT_CONFIG, which is a kind of start state, ie presetting of the program sequence of the communication device 3 , Are defined.

The communication device 3 enters the start state DEFAULT_CONFIG after the hardware reset or after leaving a state HALT according to a tenth state node Z10. The state transition T20 from the tenth state node Z10 to the first state node Z1 is from the program flow of the communication device 3 controlled.

The second state node Z2 describes a state CONFIG.

In state CONFIG the communication device is 3 inactive. This state is needed to configure the communication device 3 to initialize.

The communication device 3 enters the state CONFIG, if this state DEFAULT_CONFIG according to the first state node 1 , a state MONITOR according to a third state node 13 or leaves a state READY according to a fourth state node Z4. The corresponding state transitions T1, T3, T5 are from the program flow of the communication device 3 controlled.

To exit the CONFIG state, the microprocessor generates 2 a corresponding, unspecified data signal.

After the communication device 3 has left the state CONFIG, this enters the state MONITOR according to the third state node Z3. In this state, the communication device 3 Receive data and detect coding errors. A temporal integrity of the received data is not checked. This state can be used to search for errors when starting the control unit 1 be used. Subsequently, the communication device leaves 3 again the State MONITOR and returns to CONFIG state.

When the communication device 3 Leaves the state CONFIG a second time, this enters the state READY according to the fourth state node Z4.

Based on this state, the communication device 3 enter a state WAKEUP according to a fifth state node Z5 or a state STARTUP according to a sixth state node Z6. The corresponding state transitions T6, T8 are from the program flow of the communication device 3 controlled. In state WAKEUP becomes the microprocessor 2 aroused.

The communication device 3 enters the state READY when it leaves the state CONFIG or the state WAKEUP or a state NORMAL_ACTIVE according to a seventh state node Z7 or a state NORMAL_PASSIVE according to an eighth state node Z8. The state transitions T4, T14 are from the program flow of the communication device 3 controlled. The state transition T7 from the state WAKEUP to the state READY is either by internal state conditions or by the program flow of the communication device 3 controlled.

The communication device 3 enters the state NORMAL_ACTIVE when it leaves the state STARTUP or the state NORMAL_PASSIVE or a state ICOM_ON according to an eighth state node Z8. The state transitions T9, T16 are controlled by internal state conditions. The state transition T11 is either by internal state conditions or by the program flow of the communication device 3 controlled.

Starting from the state NORMAL_ACTIVE, the state device 3 enter the state ICOM_ON or the state NORMAL_PASSIVE or the state READY or the state HALT. The state transition T10 is from the program flow of the communication device 3 , the state transition T15 by internal state conditions and the state transition T17 is either by internal state conditions or by the program flow of the communication device 3 controlled.

In the state NORMAL_ACTIVE, the program flow of the communication device 3 Request a transition to state ICOM_ON. In the ICOM_ON state, incoming messages are processed according to an already in 1 described configuration filtered. In the case of a wake-up event (filter condition "true", timeout condition o. Ä) leaves the communication device 3 the state ICOM_ON and enters the state NORMAL_ACTIVE. The filtering of the data is stopped and an interrupt (= interrupt) is triggered.

Still while the communication device 3 is in the state ICOM ON, the program flow can also trigger a state transition T11 to the state NORMAL_ACTIVE or trigger a state transition T13 in the state HALT, wherein in both cases no interruption is triggered.

In case of a communication-related error the communication device leaves 3 the state ICOM_ON and enters the state NORMAL_PASSIVE or the state HALT. The state transitions T12, T13 are triggered by an interruption.

In general, such errors may be due, for example, to malfunctions (eg voltage spikes) in the data transmission system 4 , in case of timing problems, occur with incorrect data.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

control unit

2

microprocessor

3

communicator

3.1

first sub-device

3.1.1

Input buffer

3.1.2

Output buffer

3.2

second sub-device

3.2.1

data manager

3.2.2

data storage

3.3

third sub-facility

3.3.1

first channel block

3.3.1.1, 3.3.1.2

data paths

3.3.2

second channel block

3.3.2.1, 3.3.2.2

data paths

3.4

interface

3.4.1

data line

3.4.2

address line

3.4.3

control input

3.4.4

Interrupt (Interrupt) output

3.6

global time unit

3.7

Protocol-control unit

4

Data transfer system

5

bidirectional data line

6

detection means

6.1

first component

6.2

second component

6.3

third component

6.4

fourth component

6.5

fifth component

6.6

sixth component

R

component

Z1

first state node

Z2

second state node

Z3

third state node

Z4

fourth state node

Z5

fifth state node

Z6

sixth state node

Z7

seventh state node

Z8

eighth state node

Z9

ninth state node

Z10

tenth state node

T9 to T20

State transitions

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102011108866 A1 [0003, 0008, 0037, 0037]

Claims (10)

Method for Awakening to a Timed Data Communication System ( 4 ) connected control unit ( 1 ) by means of a communication device ( 3 ), wherein - the communication device ( 3 ) to a detection means ( 6 ), and wherein - the detection means ( 6 ) a number of functionally designed components ( 6.1 to 6.6 ), and - by means of the functions of the detection means ( 6 ) the control unit ( 1 ) is put from an idle state into an operating state, characterized in that one of the components ( 6.1 to 6.6 ) of the detection means ( 6 ) one of the components ( 3.1 to 3.7 ) of the communication device ( 3 ) is assigned such that the function of the detection means ( 6 ) in the communication device ( 3 ) is integrated. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a first component ( 6.1 ) and a second component ( 6.2 ) of the detection means ( 6 ) one in the communication device ( 3 ) existing protocol control unit ( 3.7 ) be assigned. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the protocol control unit ( 3.7 ) by means of the first and second components ( 6.1 . 6.2 ) in different states, in particular three ground states, is switchable. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a third component ( 6.3 ) and at least part of a fourth component ( 6.4 ) of the detection means ( 6 ) one in the communication device ( 3 ) existing global time unit ( 3.6 ) be assigned. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that by means of the third component ( 6.3 ) and at least part of the fourth component ( 6.4 ) a runtime monitoring of the relevant data are performed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least part of a fourth component ( 6.4 ) and a fifth component ( 6.5 ) of the detection means ( 6 ) one in the communication device ( 3 ) existing data manager ( 3.2.1 ) be assigned. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that by means of the fourth component ( 6.4 ) a configuration of the filtering of the stored data and by means of the fifth component ( 6.5 ) a filtering of a configurable data area of the stored data is performed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sixth component ( 6.6 ) of the detection means ( 6 ) one in the communication device ( 3 ) and with the data manager ( 3.2.1 ) coupled data memory ( 3.2.2 ). Method according to claim 8, characterized in that by means of the sixth component ( 6.6 ) in the data memory ( 3.2.2 ) certain filtered data is stored. Method for Awakening to a Timed Data Communication System ( 4 ) connected control unit ( 1 ) by means of a communication device ( 3 ), comprising a state diagram with a number of state nodes (Z1 to Z10), characterized in that an eighth state node (Z8) is added, which detects a state (ICOM_ON) by filtering on the data communication system ( 4 ) and for the control unit ( 1 ) as relevant from at least one of the other state nodes (Z1 to Z10) determined data forms.

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