JP2008099014A - In-vehicle communication method, in-vehicle communication system, relay device and on-vehicle communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an in-vehicle communication method, an in-vehicle communication system, a relay device and on-vehicle communication equipment by which costs are sharply reduced when the relay device such as a gateway is diverted to a different vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A diagnostic response frame including node identification information such as a node ID identifying itself is transmitted from the on-vehicle communication equipment 3 such as an ECU to the relay device 1 and the relay device 1 records the node identification information included in the received diagnostic response frame 1 in a port table by associating a communication port which receives the diagnostic response frame with port identification frame to be identified. Then, when the relay device 1 receives a communication frame, a type table in which type identification information such as a message ID is pre-recorded by being associated with the node identification information and the port table by associating the tables and the communication frame is transmitted from a communication port identified by port identification information corresponding to the type identification information included in the received communication frame. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle communication method in an in-vehicle network configured using a relay device such as a gateway disposed in a vehicle and an in-vehicle communication device such as an ECU connected to the relay device via a communication bus. An in-vehicle communication system to which the in-vehicle communication method is applied, and a relay device and an in-vehicle communication device used in the in-vehicle communication system, in particular, an in-vehicle communication method, an in-vehicle communication system that does not require a design change for each vehicle type, The present invention relates to a relay device and an in-vehicle communication device.

  In recent years, in the field of in-vehicle communication systems in automobiles, attempts have been made to multiplex communications in order to reduce wire harnesses and perform large-capacity data communication (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As a multiplex communication protocol for automobiles, CAN (Controller Area Network) developed by Robert Bosch is becoming a standard.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram conceptually showing a conventional in-vehicle communication system. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 100 denotes a gateway disposed in the vehicle, and the gateway 100 includes a plurality of communication ports 101, 101,..., Each of which uses a wire harness for communication. Buses 200, 200,... Are connected. A plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) 300, 300,... Are connected as nodes to the communication buses 200, 200,.

When a message is transmitted from one electronic control unit 300 connected to one communication bus 200 to another electronic control unit 300 connected to another communication bus 200, the message is transmitted in the form of a preset frame. Is done. In the frame, a message ID indicating the type of message is shown. The gateway 100 records a routing table 102 in which message IDs and port IDs for identifying communication ports 101, 101,. When the gateway 100 receives a frame, the gateway 100 refers to the routing table 102, selects the communication port 101 corresponding to the message ID indicated in the received frame, and the communication bus to which the selected communication port 101 is connected. The received frame is transmitted onto 200. When the electronic control unit 300 connected to the communication bus 200 reads the message ID of the frame transferred on the communication bus 100 and determines that the frame is to be received, the electronic control unit 300 captures the frame.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-204243

  By the way, for example, for the purpose of reducing costs such as design cost, development cost, and production cost, a gateway may be diverted to a vehicle having a different type such as vehicle type, type, class, or the like. However, if the network configuration is different even if the gateway is the same, the routing table needs to be rewritten.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram conceptually showing a change in the network configuration of the in-vehicle communication system. FIG. 11 shows an in-vehicle communication system using a gateway having four communication ports. Each communication port is connected to a communication bus, and the communication bus transmits a frame to the transmission electronic control unit. A (transmission ECU) and a reception electronic control unit (reception ECU) for receiving a frame are connected. FIG. 11A shows a mode in which the network configuration is changed by connecting the transmission electronic control unit to different communication buses. FIG. 11B shows a form in which the network configuration is changed by connecting the reception electronic control unit to a different communication bus. FIG. 11C shows a mode in which the network configuration is changed by adding, removing, or changing the electronic control unit.

  When the network configuration changes as illustrated in FIG. 11, the correspondence between the message ID and the port ID also changes. Therefore, it is necessary to rewrite the routing table, and a sufficient cost reduction is realized despite the diversion of the gateway. Leads to the problem of not being able to.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is included in a diagnostic response frame that transmits a diagnostic request frame from a relay device that uses a gateway to an in-vehicle communication device that uses an electronic control unit, and is returned. By recording the node identification information in association with the port identification information related to the received communication port, the table used for the routing table is automatically configured, and the in-vehicle communication method capable of greatly reducing the cost, An object is to provide an in-vehicle communication system to which an in-vehicle communication method is applied, and a relay device and an in-vehicle communication device used in the in-vehicle communication system.

  The in-vehicle communication method according to the first invention includes a plurality of communication ports, and connects from a relay device that transmits and receives a frame via the communication port to an in-vehicle communication device that is connected to the communication port via a communication bus. In the in-vehicle communication method of transmitting a request frame required for situation recognition and transmitting a response frame including node identification information for identifying a transmission source from the in-vehicle communication device that has received the request frame to the relay device, the relay device includes: The node identification information included in the received response frame and the port identification information for identifying the communication port that has received the response frame are recorded in association with each other.

  In the present invention, information used for the routing table can be automatically formed based on the node identification information such as the node ID included in the response frame and the port identification information such as the port ID identifying the received communication port. Therefore, even when the relay device is diverted to a different vehicle, the routing table need not be rewritten, and the cost can be greatly reduced.

  The in-vehicle communication system according to the second invention includes a plurality of communication ports, a relay device that transmits and receives frames via the communication ports, and a vehicle-mounted type that is connected to the communication port included in the relay device via a communication bus The relay apparatus transmits a request frame required for recognizing a connection status to the in-vehicle communication apparatus, and the in-vehicle communication apparatus transmits a response frame including node identification information for identifying a transmission source. In an in-vehicle communication system that transmits to a relay device, the relay device includes a port table that records node identification information included in a received response frame in association with port identification information that identifies a communication port that has received the response frame. It is characterized by that.

  In the present invention, a port table used for a routing table is automatically formed based on node identification information such as a node ID included in a diagnostic response frame and port identification information such as a port ID for identifying a received communication port. Therefore, even when the relay device is diverted to a different vehicle, it is not necessary to rewrite the routing table, which can greatly reduce the cost.

  The in-vehicle communication system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the in-vehicle communication system according to the second aspect, wherein the relay device further includes type identification information for identifying a type related to a communication frame, A type table to be recorded in association with information; a means for detecting type identification information included in a communication frame received via a communication port; and a port identification information corresponding to the detected type identification information. And means for transmitting the received communication frame from the communication port identified by the selected port identification information onto the communication bus.

  In the present invention, a routing table can be automatically formed by associating a type table in which type identification information such as a message ID is recorded in advance in association with node identification information with the formed routing table. Even when the relay device is diverted to a different vehicle, it is not necessary to rewrite the routing table, which can greatly reduce the cost.

  In the in-vehicle communication system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the in-vehicle communication device further includes node identification information for identifying itself and a response frame including type identification information for identifying a type of communication frame to be received. The relay apparatus further includes means for associating node identification information and type identification information included in the received response frame with each other and recording them in the type table.

  In the present invention, since the in-vehicle communication device transmits a response frame including node identification information and type identification information to the relay device, the relay device can automatically form a type table, It is possible to simplify or omit the process of recording data in the type table and to reduce the cost associated with the process.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a relay device includes a plurality of communication ports connected to a communication bus disposed in a vehicle and a request frame required for recognizing a connection status to another device connected via the communication bus. In a vehicle-mounted relay device comprising means for transmitting from a communication port and means for receiving a response frame including node identification information for identifying a transmission source transmitted for a transmitted request frame at the communication port A node is provided that records the node identification information included in the response frame in association with the port identification information that identifies the communication port that has received the response frame.

  In the present invention, the port table used for the routing table can be automatically formed based on the node identification information such as the node ID included in the response frame and the port identification information such as the port ID identifying the received communication port. Therefore, even when the relay device is diverted to a different vehicle, it is not necessary to rewrite the routing table, and a significant cost reduction can be achieved.

  A vehicle-mounted communication device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a node identification for identifying itself when connected to a communication bus disposed in a vehicle and receiving a request frame required for recognizing a connection status from the communication bus. An in-vehicle communication apparatus that returns a response frame including information includes a means for transmitting a response frame including node identification information and type identification information for identifying a type of a frame to be received.

  In the present invention, by transmitting a response frame including node identification information such as a node ID and type identification information such as a message ID, for example, in a relay device such as a gateway as a transmission destination of the response frame, the node identification information and the type identification Since the routing table can be automatically formed by associating information and port identification information such as a port ID for identifying the communication port, it is not necessary to rewrite the routing table even when the relay device is diverted to a different vehicle. It is possible to reduce the cost.

  An in-vehicle communication method, an in-vehicle communication system, a relay device, and an in-vehicle communication device according to the present invention are connected via a communication bus to a relay device such as a gateway including a plurality of communication ports and a communication port included in the relay device. A request frame required for recognizing the connection status is transmitted from the relay device to the vehicle-mounted communication device, and the vehicle-mounted communication device transmits a node ID for identifying itself to the relay device. A response frame including node identification information is returned. The relay device records the node identification information included in the received response frame in the port table in association with the port identification information identifying the communication port that has received the response frame. Then, when the relay device receives the communication frame, the type table which records the type identification information such as the message ID prepared in advance in association with the node identification information is referred to in association with the formed port table and received. The communication port identified by the port identification information corresponding to the type identification information included in the communication frame is selected, and the communication frame is transmitted from the selected communication port.

  With this configuration, in the present invention, the routing table can be automatically formed, so that it is not necessary to rewrite the routing table even when the relay device developed for one vehicle is diverted to another vehicle having a different network configuration. In addition, it is possible to significantly reduce costs such as development cost and production cost related to the diversion of the relay device, and the like.

  Further, according to the present invention, the in-vehicle communication device transmits a response frame including node identification information for identifying itself and type identification information for identifying a type of communication frame to be received, and the relay device transmits the response frame to the received response frame. By associating and recording the included node identification information and type identification information in the type table, the relay device can automatically form the type table in the present invention. There are excellent effects such as simplification or omission of the recording process and reduction of the cost related to the process.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the in-vehicle communication system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a relay apparatus of the present invention, and the relay apparatus 1 is used as a gateway based on an in-vehicle LAN standard such as CAN (Control Area Network). A plurality of communication buses 2, 2,... Using wire harnesses are connected to the relay device 1, and various communication buses 2, 2,. Car-mounted communication devices 3, 3,... Using an electronic control unit (ECU) are connected. The relay device 1 receives a frame from one in-vehicle communication device 3 connected to one communication bus 2, and receives the received frame from another in-vehicle communication device 3 connected to another communication bus 2. Perform relay processing to send to.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the relay device 1 used in the in-vehicle communication system of the present invention. The relay device 1 includes a control unit 10 such as a CPU and an ASIC that controls the entire device, a first recording unit 11 such as a ROM that records various information such as programs and data, a RAM that records various information that needs to be updated, and the like. The second recording means 12 and a plurality of communication ports 13, 13,... Connected to the communication buses 2, 2,. Note that the second recording unit 12 may use any of a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, and both of them. The communication port 13 is connected to the communication bus 2 and includes a frame buffer (not shown) that executes a process of receiving a frame and a process of transmitting a frame, and temporarily stores the received frame and the frame to be transmitted. . A part of the recording area of the second recording means 12 may be used as a frame buffer. Further, port identification information such as a port ID for identifying the communication port 13 is assigned to each of the communication ports 13, 13,.

  A part of the recording area of the first recording means 11 is used as a type table 11a used for frame relay processing. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the recorded contents of the type table 11a provided in the relay apparatus 1 of the present invention. In the type table 11a, type identification information such as a message ID for identifying the type related to the frame and node identification information such as a node ID for identifying the in-vehicle communication device 3 that should receive the frame are recorded in association with each other. Yes. Various types of information are already recorded in the type table 11a when the relay device 1 is mounted on the vehicle. However, the type table 11a can be expanded to be updated after being mounted on the vehicle as described later. However, in that case, the type table is recorded in the second recording means 12 using a nonvolatile memory.

  A part of the recording area of the second recording means 12 is used as a port table 12a used for frame relay processing. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the recorded contents of the port table 12a provided in the relay apparatus 1 of the present invention. In the port table 12a, node identification information such as a node ID and port identification information such as a port ID for identifying the communication port 13 are recorded in association with each other. When the port table 12a is formed in the recording area of the second recording means 12 using a volatile memory, no information is recorded at the stage of being mounted on the vehicle, such as a transition to the accessory position of the ignition key. It is formed on the second recording means 12 every time the in-vehicle communication system is activated by the operation. Further, when forming in the recording area of the second recording means 12 using a non-volatile memory, it is formed on the second recording means 12 when the in-vehicle communication system is first operated after being mounted on the vehicle.

  Further, a part of the recording area of the second recording means 12 is used as a routing table 12b used for frame relay processing. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the recorded contents of the routing table 12b provided in the relay apparatus 1 of the present invention. In the routing table 12b, type identification information such as a message ID and port identification information such as a port ID are recorded in association with each other. The routing table 12b is formed by associating the recorded contents of the type table 11a and the port table 12a with node identification information as a key. However, it is also possible to perform relay processing without forming the routing table 12b.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the in-vehicle communication device 3 used in the in-vehicle communication system of the present invention. The in-vehicle communication device 3 includes a control means 30, a communication port 31 connected to the communication bus 2, and processing means 32 such as various processing modules for functioning as an ECU.

  Next, processing of various devices included in the in-vehicle communication system of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an initial process of the relay device 1 and the in-vehicle communication device 3 included in the in-vehicle communication system of the present invention. The initial process is an arbitration process for the relay device 1 to recognize the network configuration, and is a process that is executed whenever the in-vehicle communication system operates or when the in-vehicle communication system is first operated. The relay device 1 broadcasts a diagnosis request frame for diagnosing the connection status from the communication ports 13, 13,... To the communication buses 2, 2,. (S101). In step S101, the diagnostic request frame is transmitted from the relay device 1 to all the in-vehicle communication devices 3, 3,... Connected to the communication buses 2, 2,.

  The in-vehicle communication device 3 receives the diagnosis request frame from the communication bus 2 at the communication port 31 under the control of the control means 30 (S102), and sends the diagnosis response frame to the communication port 31 as a reply to the received diagnosis request frame. To the relay device 1 via the communication bus 2 (S103). The diagnosis response frame transmitted from the in-vehicle communication device 3 to the relay device 1 in step S103 includes node identification information for identifying itself. The diagnosis response frame includes type identification information for identifying the type of message.

  The relay device 1 receives a diagnostic response frame from the communication bus 2 at the communication port 13 under the control of the control means 10 (S104), and should relay based on the type identification information included in the received diagnostic response frame Recognize that it is a frame to be processed by itself rather than a frame, and associate the node identification information included in the received diagnostic response frame with the port identification information given to the communication port 13 that received the frame Is recorded in the port table 12a (S105).

  Further, the relay device 1 forms the routing table 12b based on the recorded contents of the type table 11a and the port table 12a (S106). Since the type table 11a and the port table 12a are associated with each other and can be regarded as the routing table 12b, it is not always necessary to form the routing table 12b at this stage.

  In this way, the initial processing is executed by recording information relating to frame relay in the port table 12a.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing frame relay processing of the relay device 1 and the in-vehicle communication device 3 included in the in-vehicle communication system of the present invention. Here, the in-vehicle communication device 3 serving as a frame transmission source is described as a first in-vehicle communication device 3a, and the in-vehicle communication device 3 serving as a frame transmission destination is described as a second in-vehicle communication device 3b. The first in-vehicle communication device 3a communicates a communication frame including information to be transmitted to the second in-vehicle communication device 3b connected to the communication bus 2 different from the communication bus 2 to which the first in-vehicle communication device 2 is connected from the communication port 31. It transmits to the relay apparatus 1 via the bus 2 (S201). The communication frame transmitted in step S201 includes type identification information that identifies the type of the message included in the frame.

  The relay device 1 receives the communication frame from the communication bus 2 through the communication port 13 under the control of the control means 10 (S202), detects the type identification information included in the received communication frame (S203), and detects it. Port identification information corresponding to the type identification information is selected based on the routing table 12b formed by associating the type table 11a and the port table 12a (S204), and the communication port 13 identified by the selected port identification information is selected. The received communication frame is transmitted onto the communication buses 2, 2,... Connected to the communication port 13 (S205). If the routing table 12b is not formed in step S204, the contents recorded in the type table 11a and the port table 12a are associated with the node identification information as a key, and the port identification information is based on the associated type table 11a and port table 12a. Is selected.

  The second in-vehicle communication device receives the communication frame from the communication bus 2 at the communication port 31 (S206), and operates the processing means 32 based on the contents included in the received communication frame.

  In this way, communication frame relay processing is executed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the type table 11a has previously recorded necessary information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and information may be recorded in the type table in the initial process. Here, the process of recording information in the type table in the initial process will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an initial process of the relay device 1 and the in-vehicle communication device 3 included in the in-vehicle communication system of the present invention. In the form of recording information in the type table as an initial process, the type table is secured in the second recording unit 12, and therefore, the description will be made assuming that the code of the type table is 12c. However, the recorded contents are the same as the type table 11a recorded in the first recording unit 11a.

  The relay device 1 broadcasts a diagnosis request frame for diagnosing the connection status from the communication ports 13, 13,... To the communication buses 2, 2,. (S301). In step S301, the diagnosis request frame is transmitted from the relay device 1 to all the in-vehicle communication devices 3, 3,... Connected to the communication buses 2, 2,.

  The in-vehicle communication device 3 receives the diagnosis request frame from the communication bus 2 at the communication port 31 under the control of the control means 30 (S302), and sends the diagnosis response frame to the communication port 31 as a reply to the received diagnosis request frame. To the relay device 1 via the communication bus 2 (S303). The diagnostic response frame transmitted from the in-vehicle communication device 3 to the relay device 1 in step S303 includes type identification information for identifying the type of the frame to be received together with node identification information for identifying itself. However, the diagnosis response frame includes not only the type identification information for identifying the type of the frame to be received but also the type identification information indicating the diagnosis response frame. Since these type identification information is indicated in different fields on the frame, the relay apparatus 1 is not confused.

  The relay apparatus 1 receives the diagnostic response frame from the communication bus 2 at the communication port 13 under the control of the control means 10 (S304), and should relay based on the type identification information included in the received diagnostic response frame. Recognize that it is a frame to be processed by itself rather than a frame, and record the node identification information included in the received diagnostic response frame and the type identification information indicating the type of the frame to be received in association with each other in the type table 12c Then, the node identification information included in the received diagnostic response frame is recorded in the port table 12a in association with the port identification information given to the communication port 13 that has received the frame (S306).

  Further, the relay device 1 forms the routing table 12b based on the recorded contents of the type table 12c and the port table 12a (S307). Since the type table 12c and the port table 12a are associated with each other and can be regarded as the routing table 12b, it is not always necessary to form the routing table 12b at this stage.

  In this way, the initial processing is executed by recording information relating to frame relay in the type table 12c and the port table 12a.

  In the above-described embodiment, the form applied to the in-vehicle communication system conforming to the CAN is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to in-vehicle communication systems of various standards. Further, the configuration of the communication network and various devices can be developed in various forms depending on the mounting situation. For example, instead of recording information in the port table based only on the information recorded in the diagnostic response frame, if the in-vehicle communication device connected to a specific communication port is fixed, some recorded contents May be built in the first recording means in advance.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the in-vehicle communication system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the relay apparatus used with the in-vehicle communication system of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the recording content of the classification table with which the relay apparatus of this invention is provided. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the recording content of the port table with which the relay apparatus of this invention is provided. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the recording content of the routing table with which the relay apparatus of this invention is provided. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted communication apparatus used with the in-vehicle communication system of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the initial process of the relay apparatus with which the in-vehicle communication system of this invention is equipped, and a vehicle-mounted communication apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the frame relay process of the relay apparatus with which the in-vehicle communication system of this invention is equipped, and a vehicle-mounted communication apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the initial process of the relay apparatus with which the in-vehicle communication system of this invention is equipped, and a vehicle-mounted communication apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the conventional in-vehicle communication system notionally. It is a block diagram which shows notionally the change of the network configuration of a communication system in a vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Relay apparatus 11 1st recording means 11a Type table 12 2nd recording means 12a Port table 13 Communication port 2 Communication bus 3 Car-mounted communication apparatus

Claims (6)

A request frame required for recognizing the connection status is transmitted from a relay device having a plurality of communication ports and transmitting / receiving frames via the communication port to an in-vehicle communication device connected to the communication port via a communication bus. In the in-vehicle communication method of transmitting a response frame including node identification information for identifying the transmission source from the in-vehicle communication device that has received the request frame to the relay device,
The relay apparatus records the node identification information included in the received response frame and the port identification information identifying the communication port that has received the response frame in association with each other. A relay device that includes a plurality of communication ports and transmits / receives a frame via the communication port; and an in-vehicle communication device that is connected to a communication port included in the relay device via a communication bus. In the in-vehicle communication system for transmitting a request frame required for connection status recognition to the in-vehicle communication device, the in-vehicle communication device transmits a response frame including node identification information for identifying a transmission source to the relay device.
The relay apparatus includes a port table that records node identification information included in a received response frame in association with port identification information that identifies a communication port that has received the response frame. The relay device further includes:
A type table for recording type identification information for identifying a type related to a communication frame in association with node identification information related to the in-vehicle communication device that should receive the communication frame;
Means for detecting type identification information included in a communication frame received via a communication port;
Means for selecting port identification information corresponding to the detected type identification information based on the port table and the type table;
The in-vehicle communication system according to claim 2, further comprising means for transmitting the received communication frame from the communication port identified by the selected port identification information onto the communication bus. The in-vehicle communication device further includes:
Means for transmitting a response frame including node identification information for identifying itself and type identification information for identifying a type of communication frame to be received;
The relay device further includes:
The in-vehicle communication system according to claim 3, further comprising means for associating node identification information and type identification information included in the received response frame with each other and recording them in the type table. A plurality of communication ports connected to a communication bus disposed in the vehicle, a means for transmitting a request frame required for recognizing the connection status to another device connected via the communication bus, and a transmission In a vehicle-mounted relay device comprising means for receiving at a communication port a response frame including node identification information for identifying a transmission source transmitted with respect to the requested frame,
A relay apparatus comprising: a table that records node identification information included in a received response frame in association with port identification information that identifies a communication port that has received the response frame. In-vehicle communication that connects to a communication bus arranged in a vehicle and returns a response frame including node identification information for identifying itself when a request frame required for recognition of connection status is received from the communication bus In the device
A vehicle-mounted communication device comprising means for transmitting a response frame including node identification information and type identification information for identifying a type of a frame to be received.

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