EP3656070A1

EP3656070A1 - Timestamp unit and communication control unit for a subscriber station of a communication network

Info

Publication number: EP3656070A1
Application number: EP18743771.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Florian Hartwich; Christian Horst; Arthur Mutter
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2017-07-21
Filing date: 2018-07-19
Publication date: 2020-05-27
Also published as: JP2020527316A; US11258633B2; WO2019016299A1; US20200186386A1; DE202017104362U1; CN110892653A; KR20200028476A

Abstract

A timestamp unit (50) and a communication control unit (11) for a subscriber station (10) of a communication network are provided. The timestamp unit (50) comprises a memory (500) configured for the cyclical storage of a timestamp (501 to 50N) of a message (5; 4, 5) that is transmitted via the communication network, an address counter (5000) able to be incremented with each storage of a timestamp (501 to 50N) of a message (5; 4, 5) such that the value of the address counter (5000) corresponds to an address at which the timestamp (501 to 50N) is stored in the memory (500), a first interface (51) to a host control unit (71) via which the timestamp (501 to 50N) of a message (5; 4, 5) is able to be captured, and a second interface (55, 56, 57) to a communication control device (11) of the communication network configured to create or read at least one message (5; 4, 5) for/from the subscriber station (10), wherein the interface (55, 56, 57) has at least one connection (55; 56) for receiving a trigger signal (S_Rx, S_Tx, S_Tx_Rx) from the communication control device (11), which signal initiates the capturing of a timestamp (501 to 50N), and wherein the interface (55, 56, 57) has a connection (55; 56) for sending a signal (S_CNT) to the communication control device (11), which has the value of the address counter (5000).

Description

Description title

Timestamp unit and communication control unit for a subscriber station of a communication network

Technical area

The present invention relates to a time stamp unit and a

Communication control unit for a subscriber station of

Communication network, which allows a device of a global time base in the communication network.

State of the art

In serial communication networks or bus systems, such as CAN, FlexRay, Ethernet, etc., data is exchanged according to a special protocol between different participants of the communication network or the bus system. For example, in the CAN bus system

Messages transmitted via the CAN and / or CAN FD protocol, as described in the standard ISO11898-l: 2015 as CAN protocol specification with CAN FD. Today, the CAN bus system is widely used for communication between sensors and ECUs. For example, it will be in

Automobiles or automation systems, etc. used.

In such serial communication networks, it is necessary for the controllers connected to the network to synchronize their local time bases to arrive at a global time base. These

Synchronization is done, for example, by exchanging certain ones

Synchronization messages between the participants of the serial

Communication network. The ever increasing number of electronic control units (ECU) in vehicles or automation systems increases the number of subscriber stations of the serial communication network or bus system and thereby also increases the complexity of synchronizing the time bases of the subscriber stations. Therefore, as an open industry standard, AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture) has been developed which, with its standards, enables a modular development process in which, among other things, the execution of software tasks in the network between different electronic control units is divisible.

The AUTOSAR standard describes the method "Time Synchronization over CAN", CanTSyn. The CiA 603 "Frame Time-Stamping" standard of "CAN in Automation" describes how the AUTOSAR method can work with greater precision when using a CAN controller that controls the communication of a CAN Subscriber station is used in a CAN network, certain

Contains functions that go beyond the functions specified in the CAN protocol standard. These functions are the recognition of

Synchronization messages and storing timestamps or timestamps at specific times when sending and receiving these messages.

Depending on the number of time bases to be synchronized or electronic

Control Units (ECU) increases the hardware complexity for the CAN controller significantly. The reason for this is, for example, that changes would be necessary, which would also affect sub-level driver software and thus also force changes to this software. In addition, not all CAN controllers require the functions required for CiA603. In addition, many AUTOSAR systems are currently in operation, in which the CAN controllers do not provide any hardware support for synchronizing the time bases, as is available for CAN controllers, which is standard in accordance with the new CiA 603 standard.

Revelation of the invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a time stamp unit and a communication control unit for a subscriber station of a

To provide communication network, the aforementioned

Solves problems. In particular, a timestamp unit and a

Communication control unit for a subscriber station of

Communication network can be provided, which allows the use of an electronic control unit (ECU), which operates according to the CiA 603 standard, even in existing systems, preferably without the integration of an interruption of the existing system is required.

The object is achieved by a time stamp unit for a subscriber station of a communication network having the features of claim 1. The time stamp unit comprises a memory configured to cyclically store a time stamp of a message transmitted via the

Communication network is transmitted, an address counter which is incremented with each storage of a time stamp of a message, so that the value of the address counter corresponds to an address at which the time stamp is stored in the memory, a first interface to a host control unit over which the time stamp a second interface to a communication control device of the communication network, which is designed to create or read at least one message for / from the subscriber station, wherein the interface at least one terminal for receiving a trigger signal from the

A communication control device, which causes the capture of a time stamp, and wherein the interface has a terminal for sending a signal to the communication control device having the value of the address counter. With the time stamp unit is a separate unit ready, which depending on

Need can be used in the serial network. The time stamp unit is designed in such a way that a time base of the time stamp unit can be used for at least one further time stamp unit of the serial network. This is on the one hand in the serial network already existing

Communication control unit in such a way that it provides the functions of the time stamp unit. On the other hand, the separate time stamp unit can also be used by several communication control units of the serial network. These two options contribute to each

Cost reduction for the implementation of the serial network.

The communication control unit of the serial network needs to be extra configured or exchanged only in the case where the time stamp unit in the serial network is omitted.

Due to the separate time stamp unit can be in the

Communication control unit of the serial network Save silicon area. In addition, silicon area can be saved by using the separate

Time stamp unit and thus their functions are kept only if the functions of the separate time stamp unit are actually needed.

In addition, the execution of the time stamp unit as a separate unit simplifies the adaptation of the development to different interpretations of the functions of the time stamp unit. It is also an extension of a

Communication network to another communication control unit with or without timestamp unit without interrupting the communication in the network possible. Advantageous further embodiments of the time stamp unit are specified in the dependent claims.

According to one embodiment, the time stamp unit has its own time base. According to a further embodiment variant, the time stamp unit has a terminal for outputting a signal to a further time stamp unit, which is designed to use the signal instead of its own time base. In both variants, the own time base can be configured as a 32-bit wide counter, which can be incremented at adjustable time intervals, which are in a time range of at least 1 nanosecond to at most 1 microsecond. The time stamp unit may further comprise a terminal for receiving and processing a signal output from an external time base to use the signal in the time stamp unit instead of a separate time base, and wherein the external time base is configured as a 32-bit wide counter is incremented at adjustable intervals, which in a time range of at least 1 nanosecond to at most 1

Microsecond lie.

In the time stamp unit, the interface may have a port for receiving and processing a trigger signal from the

A communication controller that causes a time stamp to be captured for a message received from the communication controller, and wherein the interface has a port for receiving and processing a trigger signal from the communication controller that captures a time stamp for one of

Communications controller causes sent message.

It is also conceivable that the interface has a connection for receiving and processing a trigger signal from the communication control device, which captures a time stamp for one of the

Communications controller received and for one of the

Communications controller causes sent message.

In one embodiment variant, the trigger signal for messages received and / or transmitted by the communication control device only takes into account time synchronization messages. In a further embodiment variant, the trigger signal takes into account all messages received and / or sent by the communication control device.

According to a further embodiment, the time stamp unit also has a functional unit which is responsible for each memory address of a respective one

Registers 1 to N of the timestamp memory holds a bit which is set each time one of the timestamps is stored in the memory 500, and hold a bit which is set when one of the timestamps is stored in the memory for which the bit is still set.

The aforementioned object is also by a

Communication control device for a subscriber station of

Communication network with the features of claim 8 solved. The communication control device has a message memory configured for storing at least one message created or to be read by the communication control device for / from a subscriber station, and an interface to a time stamp unit configured to perform a time synchronization of the messages, wherein the interface comprises at least one A terminal for generating and transmitting a trigger signal, which causes the capture of a time stamp by the time stamp unit, which has a memory for cyclically storing a time stamp of a message that is transmitted via the communication network, and an address counter, each time a time stamp is stored a message is incremented so that the value of the address counter corresponds to an address at which the time stamp is stored in the memory, and wherein the interface has a port for receiving g is a signal from the time stamp unit having the value of the address counter, and for storing the signal in the

Message memory is configured.

The communication controller achieves the same advantages as mentioned above with respect to the time stamp unit.

The previously described time stamp unit and the previously described

Communication controllers may be part of a subscriber station for a communication network, the time stamp unit and the

Communication control device are integrated as separate modules to a semiconductor chip. Alternatively, the time stamp unit and the

Communication control device may be provided as separate modules on different semiconductor chips. The above-described time stamp unit and / or the above-described communication control unit may be part of a system which also has a communication line for serial transmission of messages in a communication network, and at least two subscriber stations which are interconnected via the communication line so that they can communicate with each other wherein at least one of the at least two subscriber stations is configured for connection to the time stamp unit and / or has the communication control device.

In this case, it is conceivable that the communication network is a network in which at least temporarily an exclusive, collision-free access of a subscriber station to a bus line of the communication network is ensured.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include not explicitly mentioned combinations of before or below with respect to the

Embodiments described features or embodiments. The skilled person will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

drawings

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and to exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a system with a

Communication network according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an interconnection of a first

Timestamp unit in the communication network according to the first

Embodiment;

3 is a simplified block diagram of an interconnection of a second time stamp unit in the communication network according to the first

Embodiment; Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram of an interconnection of a fourth

Timestamp unit in the communication network according to the first

Embodiment; and

Fig. 5 is a simplified block diagram of an interconnection of a

Timestamp unit according to a second embodiment.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals, unless stated otherwise.

Description of the embodiments

Fig. 1 shows as a specific example of a system 1 with a serial communication network, which may be, for example, a CAN bus system, a CAN FD bus system, an Ethernet communication network, a FlexRay communication network, etc. The system 1 can be in a

Vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, an aircraft, etc., or in the hospital, etc., or an automation system for the production or treatment or handling of objects, etc. find use.

In Fig. 1, the system 1 has, with respect to the communication network, a communication line 3 through which messages 4 or synchronization messages 5 between a plurality of subscriber stations 10, 20, 30, 40 are interchangeable. In the specific example of Fig. 1, there are four

Subscriber stations 10, 20, 30, 40 available. For the subscriber station 10, a time stamp unit 50 is provided. For the subscriber station 20, a time stamp unit 60 is provided. A time stamp unit 65 is provided for the subscriber stations 30. For the subscriber station 40 no time stamp unit is provided. The subscriber stations 10, 20, 30, 40 and the bus line 3 realize a communication of host processors or host control units 71, 72, 73, 74, which are assigned to the respective subscriber stations 10, 20, 30, 40, as shown in FIG Figure 1 illustrates. The messages 4, 5 are transmitted in the form of signals between the individual subscriber stations 10, 20, 30, 40. The host processors or host control units 71, 72, 73, 74 may, for example, control devices or

Electronic control units (ECU) or display devices, etc. of a motor vehicle, an automation system, etc. be.

As shown in Fig. 1, the subscriber station 10 has a

Communication control device 11 and a transmitting / receiving device 12. The subscriber station 20 has a communication control device 21 and a transmitting / receiving device 22. The subscriber station 30 has a

Communication control device 31 and a transceiver 32. The subscriber station 40 has a communication control device 41 and a transceiver 42. The transceivers 12, 22, 32, 42 of the subscriber stations 10, 20, 30, 40 are each directly on the bus line 3 is connected, even if this is not shown in Fig. 1.

The communication control device 11 is for controlling a

Communication of the subscriber station 10 via the bus line 3 with at least one other subscriber station connected to the bus line 3 subscriber stations 20, 30, 40. The communication control device 11, with the exception of the embodiments described below, in particular as a conventional CAN or CAN FD controller or TTCAN Controller with AUTOSAR function. The communication controllers 21, 31, 41 are implemented in the same manner as the communication controller 11 except for the embodiments described below.

The transmitting / receiving device 12 can be embodied in particular like a conventional CAN or CAN FD transceiver or TTCAN transceiver. The transceivers 22, 32, 42 are implemented in the same way as the transceiver 12.

The time stamp units 50, 60, 65 are shown in the example of FIG. 1 as modules separate from the respective associated subscriber station 10, 20, 30. It is possible that the time stamp units 50, 60, 65 and the respective associated subscriber station 10, 20, 30, more precisely their Communication control device 11, 21, 31, on separate integrated

Circuits or chips, in particular semiconductor chips, are arranged and / or provided. Alternatively, however, it is possible that the time stamp units 50, 60, 70 as a separate module on the same integrated circuit or the same chip, in particular semiconductor chip, as the respective associated

Subscriber station 10, 20, 30, more specifically their

Communication control device 11, 21, 31, provided and / or integrated.

Fig. 2 shows in a block diagram the communication control device 11 and its connection to the time stamp unit 50 in more detail. In the

Timestamp unit 50 incorporates the functions required for CiA603. Thus, the time stamp unit 50 provides hardware time stamping functions to the communication controller 11. For this purpose, the time stamp unit 50 provided separately from the communication control device 11 has the connections 51 to 58. In contrast, the communication control device 11 except for the terminals 111, 112, 113 with respect to the structure of a

conventional CAN controller or CAN FD controller or TTCAN controller with AUTOSAR function unchanged. The terminals 111, 112, 113 are provided for the signals S_TX, S_RX and S_CNT at the terminals 55 to 57 of the time stamp unit 50, which are explained in more detail below. As a result, an interface 115 of the communication control device 11 to the host control unit 71 can remain unchanged. The time stamp unit 50 has a separate CPU with the connection 51.

Interface CHI to a CPU of the host control unit 71. Here, CHI stands for interface of a host control unit (CHI = Controller Host Interface). CPU stands for Central Processing Unit (CPU). As a result, the time stamp unit 50 is connected to the CPU bus CB of the host control unit 71. Via the terminal 51 as the CPU interface CHI, a configuration and / or control and / or control of the time stamp unit 50 can be performed.

In operation of the subscriber station 10 and the time stamp unit 50, a time stamp memory 500 having N registers stores a number of 1 to N timestamps or timestamp, namely the timestamps 501 to 50N, which the

Timestamp unit 50 can read via port 51, as described in more detail below. Each of the timestamps 501 to 50N has a number of 32 bits, which is one half of a classic CAN data field. With respect to CAN, the timestamps 501 to 50N at the end of a message 5 become

Time of the last EOF bit stored, indicating the end of the message 5. The time stamp memory 500 is addressed by an address counter 5000. At port 52, the time stamp unit 50 optionally inputs

Interrupt signal SJN RP, which may also be referred to as interrupt signal SJNRP, to external units. The units may in particular comprise the communication control device 11. The units may in particular comprise the host control unit 71. The interrupt signal SJNRP may indicate the capture of a new timestamp. Alternatively, the interrupt signal SJN RP may indicate that a timestamp of the timestamps 501 to 50N has been overwritten before the timestamp has been read. The interrupt signal SJNRP is not needed for time base synchronization.

At the port 53, the time stamp unit 50 receives and processes a clock signal S_CL with which the digital circuit is operated. The clock period is at least 1 nanosecond and at most 1 microsecond. At port 54, the time stamp unit 50 receives and processes

Reset signal S_RS, which may also be referred to as reset signal S_RS and serves to reset the digital circuit and the time stamp memory 500 to zero. Thereafter, the normal operation of the

Start communication network.

The communication control device 11 provides a trigger S-Rx via the port 111 for the port 55 of the time stamp unit 50. Trigger S_Rx causes a signal every time a signal is received

Synchronization message 5, in particular according to the CiA603 standard, from the bus line 3 or via the transceiver 12 that a Timestamp is captured and stored in a register of the timestamp memory 500 as one of the timestamps 501 to 50N. Each time a capture of a time stamp 501 to 50N is triggered, the address counter 5000 of the register of the time stamp memory 500 is incremented. The value of the address counter 5000 thus corresponds to the register 1 to N in which the time stamp 501 to 50N has been stored in the time stamp memory 500.

The communication control device 11 activates the trigger S_Rx for relevant messages 4, 5. For example, a relevant message 4, 5 is when a message is received, which is recognized as a synchronization message 5 or SYNC message, as previously described. The detection of the relevant messages 4, 5 takes place in relation to a CAN

Communication control device 11 by a CAN acceptance filtering.

Alternatively, the trigger S_Rx is designed not only for the reception of signals according to a synchronization message 5, in particular according to the CiA603 standard, but for all of the

Communication controller 11 received messages 4, 5. However, this is not necessary for a time synchronization, since this is sufficient for capturing the synchronization messages.

In addition, in the example of FIG. 2, the communication control device 11 provides a trigger S-Tx via the port 112 for the port 56 of the time stamp unit 50. The trigger S_Tx causes each time a signal corresponding to a synchronization message 5, in particular according to the CiA603 standard, to the bus line 3 and via the transceiver 12 to the bus line 3 that a time stamp is captured and in the time stamp memory 500 is stored as one of the timestamps 501 to 50N. Here, too, every time capturing of a timestamp 501 to 50N is triggered, the address counter 5000 of the timestamp memory 500

incremented.

The communication control device 11 activates the trigger S_Tx for relevant messages 4, 5. The trigger S_Tx is activated, for example, when the relevant message 4, 5 is sent by a correspondingly configured transmit memory.

Alternatively, the trigger S Tx is not just for sending signals

according to a synchronization message 5, in particular according to the

CiA603 standard, designed but for all of the

Communication controller 11 sent messages 4, 5. However, this is not necessary for a time synchronization, since this is sufficient for the capture of the synchronization messages.

Alternatively, the signals S_Rx and S_Tx may also be in one signal

be summarized.

From the last register address, ie the address at which the Nth

Timestamp 50N is stored, the address counter 5000 goes to zero.

The time stamp memory 500 can thus be designed, for example, as a ring buffer. Via the terminal 57 of the time stamp unit 50 and the terminal 113 of the communication control unit 11, the count, ie the value S_CNT of the counter 5000 is reported to the communication control unit 11. The message may be configured as a 3 bit wide vector according to a specific example. In this particular example, the

Timestamp memory 500 is designed to store 8 timestamps. If the time stamp memory 500 is designed, for example, to store 16 time stamps, the message with the value S_CNT of the counter 5000 is designed in particular as a 4-bit wide vector. This combination of the width of the

Vector for the value S_CNT of the counter 5000 at the terminal 57 and the number N of addresses for the storage of timestamps 501 to 50N in the memory 500 can be arbitrarily adapted to the correspondingly required configuration.

The number N of timestamps stored in the timestamp memory 500 may be decided by a generic parameter. This determines the size of the time stamp unit 50. The configuration of the time stamp unit 50 thereby made may be carried out via the terminal 51 as the CPU interface CHI, as generally mentioned earlier. However, will thereby the signals S_Rx, S Tx at the interface between the

Communication control unit 11 and the time stamp unit 50 is not changed. With respect to the S_CNT signal of the counter 5000, only the address counter width is changed by the generic parameter as described above.

The value of the counter 5000 is stored in the communication control unit 11 in a message memory 117, in which messages to be sent 4, 5 and received messages 4, 5 are also stored.

At a port 58, the time stamp unit 50 receives from a external time base 80 a timer counter input signal S_CNT_I, also called

Timer counter input vector can be called. The timer counter input signal S_CNT_I is instead of an internal time base for the

Timestamp unit 50 available. The timer counter input signal S_CNT_I is stored as a timestamp value under the control of the signals S_Rx and S_Tx. In other words, the 32-bit signal S_CNT_I is the time base, which is stored as a timestamp.

As a result of the above-described configuration of the time stamp unit 50, unlike the conventional manner, only the value of the counter 5000 is stored as the 3-bit long vector, not the complete 32-bit long time stamp of the time stamps 501 to 50N. The trigger signals S_Rx, S_Tx, which cause one of the time stamps 501 to 50N to be stored, are supplied by the communication control device 11. The time stamp unit 50 supplies

Information about which timestamp belongs to which message 4, 5.

Via the connection 51 as the CPU interface CHI can also the individual elements of the memory 500, that is stored in the memory 500

Timestamps 501 to 50N are read.

Fig. 3 shows in more detail the time stamp unit 60 which is connected to the

Communication controller 21 with terminals 211, 212, 213 and their message memory 217 is connected. With a port 215, the communication controller 21 is to the host control unit 72 connected. The terminals 211, 212, 213, 215 have the same function as the terminals 111, 112, 113, 115 of the communication controller 11 except for the following described function of the terminals 211, 212. The message memory 217 has the same function as the message memory 117 of the communication controller 11 The time stamp unit 60 is constructed in much the same way as the time stamp unit 50.

However, unlike the timestamp unit 50, the timestamp unit 60 has its own timebase 5001. Thus, the port 58 to an external timebase 80 is not needed for a timer counter input signal S_CNT_I, although the port 58 may optionally be present. The timebase 5001 may be set via circuit 51 through a circuit synthesis. The timebase 5001 is configured, in particular in the case of a CAN communication network, as a 32-bit-wide counter which can be installed in the time-stamp unit 60. It is also a counter with a smaller width, for example a 16 bit wider

Counter, usable if this is sufficient for the required precision.

Of course, if required, a width greater than 32 bits can be used. The time base 5001 is incremented in the same time value range as previously indicated with respect to the time stamping unit 50 for the external time base 80.

Optionally, the time stamp unit 60 has a prescaler or prescaler 5002, via which the speed at which the time base 5001 is incremented can be set by software. The time base 5001 is incremented in increments of at least 1 nanosecond and at most 1 microsecond.

As a further difference from the time stamp unit 50, the time stamp unit 60 has a port 59, via which the time stamp unit 60 enters

Timer counter output signal S_CNT_A, which may also be referred to as the timer counter output vector. The timer counter output signal

S_CNT_A is generated by the time base 5001 and may, for example, to the communication control device 31 or more

Communication control devices are issued. As a result, the communication control device needs 31 or more

Communication controllers do not have their own time base 5001. The Timer counter output signal S_CNT_A may optionally additionally or alternatively be used as signal S_M as a time base for a lower resolution timestamp, in particular for a timestamp with 16-bit width as used in time triggered CAN (TTCAN) as in international ISO 11898-1 and ISO 11898-4 standards.

In addition, the communication control device 21 is configured to output only a trigger signal S_Tx_Rx for transmitted messages 4, 5 and received messages 4, 5 at the port 211. Thus, instead of the separate trigger signals S_Rx, S_Tx for receiving and sending a synchronization message 5 or additionally a message 4, as described with respect to the timestamp unit 50 of FIG. 2, the timestamp unit 60 of FIG. 3 only has one trigger used for both events. This trigger for both events may be sent between any of the ports 211, 212 to any of the ports 55, 56 of the time stamp unit 60. The other terminal pair 211, 55, 212, 56 then remains unused.

The time stamp unit 65 can be designed largely like the time stamp unit 60. However, the time stamp unit 65 has no time base 5001 but receives at its terminal 58 the signal S_CNT_A from the time stamp unit 60 as signal S_CNT_I.

Fig. 4 shows in more detail the communication control unit 41 which does not use a time stamp unit. The communication control unit 41 has terminals 411, 412, 413, 415 and a message memory 417. The terminals 411, 412, 413, 415 are basically configured for the same function as the terminals 111, 112, 113, 115 of FIG

Communication controller 11 or the terminals 211, 212, 213, 215 of the communication controller 21. The message memory 417 has the same function as the message memories 117, 217 of

Communication control devices 11, 21.

However, in the communication control unit 41, the terminals 411, 412, 413 are set to fixed values (eg, all 0). This is an operation of Communication control unit 41 in the communication network possible without the operation of the communication network is disturbed.

The time stamp units 50, 60, 65, 600 lead together with the

Communication control units 11, 21, 31, 41 a method for synchronization of the time bases in the system 1 from.

According to a modification of the first embodiment, more than one communication control unit 11, 21, 31, 41 has a common one

Timestamp unit 50 or a common timestamp unit 60 or a common timestamp unit 65. In this case, only one of the communication control units 11, 21, 31, 41 has to output the trigger signals S_Rx, S_Tx, S_Tx_Rx. Alternatively, however, the time stamp unit 50, 60, 65 may be configured to distinguish, of which the

Communication control units 11, 21, 31, 41, the trigger signals S_Rx, S_Tx, S_Tx_Rx come. The signal S_CNT at the terminal 57, so the

Address value of the time stamp memory 500, on which the just

Trapped timestamp has been saved, can be sent to all

Communication control units 11, 21, 31, 41 are output. Alternatively, the signal S_CNT at the terminal 57, so the address value of

Timestamp memory 500, on which the just captured timestamp has been stored, are output to only the respective communication control unit 11, 21, 31, 41 concerned.

5 shows a time stamp unit 600 according to a second

Embodiment, which is used instead of the time stamp unit 60, for example. The timestamp unit 600 is constructed in much the same way as the timestamp unit 60.

In contrast to the time stamp unit 60, the time stamp unit 600 according to the present exemplary embodiment has an additional functional unit 601. The additional functional unit 601 provides additional functions for the time stamp unit 600, for example a software debug aid or software debugging aid. The software debug help contains two bits 6011, 6012 per memory address of the respective register 1 to N of the time stamp memory 500.

Bit 6011 is a NewDat bit which is set each time the associated time stamp 501 to 50N is stored in memory 500. Bit 6011 is reset by host controller 72 when the associated timestamp of timestamps 501 to 50N has been read.

Bit 6012 is a DatLst bit which is set when one of the timestamps 501 to 50N is stored in memory 500 for which bit 6011 is still set. Bit 6012 indicates that a timestamp has been overwritten before the timestamp has been read from host controller 72.

Bits 6011, 6012 are merged with the storing of a new one

Timestamp in memory 500 is reset by host controller 72.

All of the above-described embodiments of the system 1, the

Subscriber stations 10, 20, 30, 40, the time stamp units 50, 60, 65, 600 and the method executed by them may be used individually or in all possible combinations. In particular, all the features of the previously described embodiments and / or their modifications can be combined as desired. In addition, in particular are the following

Modifications conceivable.

The previously described system 1 according to the exemplary embodiments is described on the basis of a bus system based on the CAN protocol. However, the system 1 according to the embodiments may alternatively or additionally comprise another type of serial communication network, as also previously indicated. It is advantageous, but not necessarily a prerequisite, that in the communication network of the system 1 an exclusive, collision-free access of a subscriber station 10, 20, 30 to a common channel is ensured, at least for certain periods of time. The communication network of the system 1 according to the embodiments is in particular a CAN network or a TTCAN network or a CAN FD network or an Ethernet or a FlexRay bus system.

The number and arrangement of the subscriber stations 10, 20, 30, 40 and / or time stamp units 50, 60, 65, 600 in the system 1 of the embodiments is arbitrary. In particular, only subscriber stations 10 or subscriber stations 20 or subscriber stations 40, etc. may be present in the system 1 of the embodiments.

The time stamp units 50, 60, 65, 600 can each be prepared in such a way that they can fulfill all the functions previously described for the individual time stamp units 50, 60, 65, 600. However, any other pre-equipment for at least one of the functions described is conceivable. In this case, however, only the connections 51 to 59 and time bases 80, 5001 or the additional ones are available for the individual time stamp units 50, 60, 65, 600

Function unit 601 available, which are needed for the particular application.

Claims

claims

1) Time stamp unit (50; 60; 65; 600) for a subscriber station (10; 20; 30) of a communication network, with

a memory (500) configured to cyclically store a time stamp (501 to 50N) of a message (5; 4, 5) transmitted via the

Communication network is transmitted,

an address counter (5000), each time a timestamp is stored

(501 to 50N) of a message (5; 4, 5) is incremented so that the value of the address counter (5000) corresponds to an address at which the

Timestamp (501 to 50N) is stored in the memory (500),

a first interface (51) to a host control unit (71; 72; 73) via which the time stamp (501 to 50N) of a message (5; 4, 5) can be captured, and

a second interface (55, 56, 57) to a

Communication control device (11; 21; 31) of the

A communications network configured to create or read at least one message (5; 4, 5) to / from the subscriber station (10; 20; 30), the interface (55,56,57) comprising at least one port (55; 56). for receiving a trigger signal (S_Rx, S_Tx, S_Tx_Rx) from the

Communication control means (11; 21; 31) causing the capture of a time stamp (501 to 50N), and

wherein the interface (55, 56, 57) has a port (55; 56) for sending a signal (S_CNT) to the communication control device (11; 21; 31) having the value of the address counter (5000).

2) time stamp unit (60; 600) according to claim 1,

wherein the time stamp unit (60; 600) has its own time base (5001), and / or

wherein the time stamp unit (60; 600) has a port for outputting a signal (S_CNT_A) to another time stamp unit (65) which is configured to use the signal (S_CNT_A) instead of its own time base (5001)

wherein the own time base (5001) is designed as a 32-bit wide counter, which is incrementable at adjustable intervals, which in one

Time range of at least 1 nanosecond to no more than 1 microsecond.

A time stamp unit (50; 65) according to claim 1 or 2,

further comprising a terminal (58) for receiving and processing a signal (S_CNT_I) output from an external time base (80; 5001) to use the signal (S_CNT_I) in the time stamp unit (50; 65) instead of its own time base (50; 5001), and

wherein the external time base (80; 5001) is configured as a 32-bit wide counter that is incrementable at adjustable time intervals that are in a time range of at least 1 nanosecond to at most 1 microsecond.

The time stamp unit (50; 60; 65; 600) of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interface (55,56,57) has a port (55) for receiving and processing a trigger signal (S_Rx) from the

Communication control means (11; 21; 31) for capturing a time stamp (501 to 50 N) for one of the

Communication control device (11; 21; 31) causes received message (5; 4, 5), and

wherein the interface (55, 56, 57) has a port (56) for receiving and processing a trigger signal (S_Tx) from the

Communication control means (11; 21; 31) for capturing a time stamp (501 to 50N) for one of the

Communication control device (11; 21; 31) sent message (5; 4, 5) causes.

The time stamp unit (50; 60; 65; 600) of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the interface (55,56,57) has a port (55; 56) for receiving and processing a trigger signal (S_Tx_Rx) from the

Communication control device (11; 21; 31), which the Trapping a timestamp (501 to 50 N) for one of the

Communication control means (11; 21; 31) for a message sent from the communication control means (11; 21; 31) (5; 4, 5).

The time stamp unit (50; 60; 65; 600) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the trigger signal (S_Rx, S_Tx, S_Tx_Rx) for from

Communication control means (11; 21; 31) received and / or sent messages (4, 5) only time synchronization messages (5) taken into account, or

wherein the trigger signal (S_Rx, S_Tx, S_Tx_Rx) all of the

Communication control device (11; 21; 31) received and / or sent messages (4, 5) taken into account.

A timestamp unit (60; 600) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a functional unit (601) which holds for each memory address of a respective register 1 to N of the timestamp memory (500) a bit (6011) which is set each time, when one of the time stamps (501 to 50N) is stored in the memory (500) and holds a bit (6012) which is set when one of the time stamps (501 to 50N) is stored in the memory (500) for which the bit (6011) is still set.

Communication control means (11; 21; 31; 41) for a subscriber station (10; 20; 30) of a communication network, the

Communication control means (11; 21; 31; 41)

a message memory (117; 217) adapted to store at least one message (5; 4, 5) created or to be read by the communication control device (11; 21; 31; 41) for / from a subscriber station (10; 20; 30) is and

an interface (111, 112, 113, 211, 212, 213) to a time stamp unit (50; 60; 65; 600) configured to perform a time synchronization of the messages (5; 4, 5),

wherein the interface (111, 112, 113; 211, 212, 213) comprises at least one port (111, 112, 211, 212) for generating and transmitting a trigger signal (S_Rx, S_Tx, S_Tx_Rx) which involves capturing a trigger signal Time stamp (501 to 50N) by the time stamp unit (50; 60; 65; 600) which has a memory (500) for cyclically storing a time stamp (501 to 50N) of a message (4, 5) transmitted via the

Communication network is transmitted, and an address counter (500), the with each storing a time stamp (501 to 50N) of a

Message (5; 4, 5) is incremented so that the value of the address counter (500) corresponds to an address at which the time stamp (501 to 50N) is stored in the memory (500), and

the interface (111, 112, 113; 211, 212, 213) having a port (113; 213) adapted to receive a signal (S_CNT) from the

Timestamp unit (50; 60; 65; 600) having the value of the address counter (500) and configured to store the signal (S_CNT) in the message memory (117; 217). 9) subscriber station (10; 20; 30) for a communication network, with

A time stamp unit (50, 60, 65) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and a communication control unit (11; 21; 31; 41) according to claim 8, wherein the time stamp unit (50, 60, 65) and the

Communication control means (11; 21; 31; 41) are integrated as separate modules on a semiconductor chip.

10) subscriber station (10; 20; 30) for a communication network, with

Communication control means (11; 21; 31; 41) are provided as separate modules on different semiconductor chips.

11) System (1), with

a communication line (3) for serial transmission of messages (4, 5) in a communication network, and

at least two subscriber stations (10, 20, 30, 40) which are connected to one another via the communication line (3) such that they can communicate with one another,

wherein at least one of the at least two subscriber stations (10, 20, 30) for connection to a time stamp unit (50; 60; 65; 600) after a of claims 1 to 7 is configured and / or a

A communication control device (11; 21; 31; 41) according to claim 8. 12) system (1) according to claim 11, wherein the communication network a

Network is, in which at least temporarily an exclusive, collision-free access of a subscriber station (10, 20, 30) is ensured on a bus line (3) of the communication network.