JP3301206B2 - Information and communication network - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a token-passing type information communication network configured such that only a transmission right is circulated on a network connected by a line, and only a node having the transmission right is permitted to transmit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a device for controlling various devices in parallel, for example, a control device for a vehicle, has been subjected to precise and precise control with the digitization. Recently, microcomputers and the like have been further incorporated, and their intelligence has been promoted. In such a control device, not only the simple control of the control target is performed, but also data can be exchanged with another control device to perform more advanced control of the entire system.

For example, in a vehicle, various devices mounted on the vehicle are controlled by an electronic control unit.
A plurality of electronic control units are data-linked using a common signal line (communication line), and one electronic control unit intends to provide data and other control conditions input via a sensor or the like to other electronic control units. Attempts have been made to do so. This data link system uses LAN (Local Area Net)
In order to enable communication between other nodes even if some nodes fail, a multi-master type LAN such as SAE (American Society of Automotive Engineers) standard J1850 is preferable. And non-destructive CSMA / CD
(Carrier Sense Marutiple Access / Collision De
tection) method has been proposed and put into practical use.

[0004] However, with the recent increase and sophistication of electronic devices, the communication volume has increased and the communication speed has been required to be increased.
Communication over bps is extremely difficult. So, SAE
As in the papers 910463 and SAEJ2106, a token passing method for vehicles has been proposed as a method capable of higher-speed communication than in the past.

[0005]

However, since the conventional token passing method has a complicated communication procedure, it is difficult to realize an information communication network by using the conventional token passing method. There is a problem that it becomes large and it is difficult to reduce cost and size. To facilitate understanding of this point, a communication procedure of the token passing method will be briefly described.

In the token passing method, a plurality of nodes circulate a sole transmission right (hereinafter, also referred to as a "token") on a network connected by a LAN line, and only a node having the token is permitted to transmit. So, each node gets the token and the access right,
After the transmission of the own information is completed, the token is transmitted and the access right is delegated to the next node.

In order to realize such an information communication network of the token passing system, a general node needs to have the following four functions. That is, an acquisition function for acquiring a token that is a prerequisite for transmitting information possessed by itself, a delegation function for delegating a token to a predetermined partner after transmitting own information, a reproduction function at the time of disappearance that reproduces a token when the token expires And a start-time generation function for generating a token at the time of start-up.

Each node must be provided with a configuration for fulfilling such four functions, which complicates the configuration. As described above, the circuit scale becomes large when an IC is formed, and thus the chip size becomes large. This makes cost reduction and miniaturization difficult.

Therefore, the present invention focuses on the fact that the nodes constituting the network need not always be multi-master type, and applies the master / slave configuration even in the conventional token passing system. An object of the present invention is to provide an information communication network that realizes simplification of the configuration as a whole while maintaining the advantage that high-speed communication is possible.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information communication network in which a plurality of nodes circulate a sole transmission right on a network connected by a LAN line. In an information communication network of a token passing method configured so that only a node having a transmission right is permitted to transmit, an ordinary type of the node obtains the transmission right on the premise of transmitting information owned by the node. A delegation function of delegating the transmission right to a predetermined party after transmitting the self information, a reproduction function at the time of disappearance reproducing when the transmission right is extinguished, and a start-up generation of generating the transmission right at startup The slave type node has only the acquisition function among the above four functions, and has the master type. In addition to the above four functions, the slave node has a slave management function of delegating the transmission right on behalf of the slave node after the slave node transmits its own information. It comprises a master node and at least one slave node managed by the master node, and the other nodes are configured as the normal nodes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information communication network according to the first aspect, when the master type node acquires the transmission right, it determines whether or not the node has its own address. Address determining means for determining whether or not the address is a slave node managed by itself, and if the address determining means determines that the address is for a slave node managed by itself, After confirming that the slave node has transmitted its own information,
Predetermined that would have been output if it had a delegation function
Output command means for commanding the output of the transmission right having the address information.

On the other hand, in the information communication network according to the third aspect, the LA between the plurality of electronic control units mounted on the vehicle is used.
An information communication network of a token passing system when connected by N lines, wherein electronic control of a vehicle control system such as brake control and four-wheel drive control among a plurality of electronic control devices mounted on the vehicle. The communication unit of the device is configured as the normal node, and the communication unit of the electronic control unit of the powertrain control system such as ignition control and fuel injection control is configured as the slave node.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the normal node in the information communication network has the four functions of the acquisition function, the delegation function, the reproduction function at the time of disappearance, and the generation function at the time of activation. After the access right is obtained, the token is transmitted after the transmission of the own information is completed, and the access right is transferred to the next node. If the token expires, no node can transmit. For example, when the token does not circulate for a certain period of time or more, the token is reproduced and circulated by the reproduction function at the time of extinction. Also,
Since it is necessary to circulate the token at the time of activation, the token is generated and circulated by the activation generation function.

On the other hand, since the slave node has only the acquisition function, it acquires the token and acquires the access right,
It is possible to transmit own information. However, since it does not have a token transfer function, the token is not transmitted as it is, and the access right to the next node is not transferred.

Therefore, the slave management function of the master node is exhibited. In other words, after the slave node to be managed sends its own information, it sends a token on behalf of the slave node and delegates the access right to the next node. Of course, the master node has all four functions that a normal node has,
Everything that can be done in a normal node is possible.

Therefore, as a whole network, the token can be circulated and transmitted only by the node that has acquired the token, as in the conventional token passing type network. Hereinafter, the specific operation will be described with reference to FIG. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the description will be made assuming that each of the normal node, the master node and the slave node is one.

In FIG. 5, signal 1 indicates a signal on a transmission line, and signal 2 indicates a transmission signal of a normal node. Signal 3 indicates a transmission signal of the master node, and signal 4 indicates a transmission signal of the slave node. It should be noted that the squares marked with data in FIG. 5 indicate data frames, and the squares with numbers written therein indicate token frames. The number in the token frame indicates the address number of each node. An address number is a number assigned to each node, and when that number appears on a transmission path, a transmission right is given to a node having a number that matches the number.

Here, it is assumed that "0" and "2" are assigned as address numbers to a normal node, and "1" is assigned as an address number to a master node. It is also assumed that "3" is assigned as an address number to the slave node, and that the number is registered in the master node. In this case, the address in the token frame is always incremented by one, and when the value reaches a certain value (3 in this case), the next operation starts from 0 again.

First, it is assumed that a normal node has a transmission right (token). In this case, like the signal 2 in FIG. 5, the normal node first transmits its own data, and then transmits a token whose address number is "1". When the token of the address 1 appears on the transmission path, the transmission right is given to the node to which the address 1 is assigned, that is, the master node. When the transmission right is given to the master node, the master node sends out its own data and the token of address number 2 in the same manner as the normal node.

Next, since the address is 2, the normal node sends out its own data and the token of address number 3.
Address number 3 is the number of the slave node. Therefore, the slave node transmits its own data but does not transmit the token. As described above, it cannot be transmitted because it does not have a delegation function. Then, instead, the master node sends a token having the address number “0”.

By operating in this manner, the signal on the transmission path looks like a normal node gathering and communicating. That is, by using a master node and a slave node in combination, it is possible to replace the network with a conventional token-passing network composed of all normal nodes, and the replacement of the network with the slave node can be simplified. In the description with reference to FIG.
Although one slave node has been described for simplicity, managing a plurality of slave nodes with one master node greatly increases the merits of circuit miniaturization.

For example, when a configuration in which ten slave nodes are managed by one master node is compared with a conventional case in which eleven normal nodes are configured, the master node has one slave management function. However, as for the ten slave nodes, a configuration for realizing the three functions of the delegation function, the reproduction function at the time of disappearance, and the generation function at the time of startup becomes unnecessary for the ten slave nodes.
As a whole, the configuration becomes very simple, and miniaturization of the circuit and the like can be realized. Then, the advantage that high-speed communication by the token passing method is possible is maintained.

As for the slave management function of the master node, for example, as described in claim 2, when the transmission right is acquired, the address determination means determines whether or not the address is its own address. It is determined whether or not it is the address of the slave node managed by the slave node. If it is determined that the address is the address of the slave node managed by itself, the slave node has finished transmitting its own information by the output command means. Confirm that the slave node
Would have been output if had the above delegation function
It is conceivable to instruct output of a transmission right having predetermined address information.

On the other hand, when a plurality of electronic control units mounted on the vehicle are connected by a LAN line to control an information communication network of a token passing system, the electronic control unit mounted on the vehicle is mounted on the vehicle. Among the plurality of electronic control units, the communication unit of the electronic control unit of the vehicle control system such as the brake control and the four-wheel drive control is configured as a normal node, and the electronic unit of the power train control system such as the ignition control and the fuel injection control. Preferably, the communication unit of the control device is configured as a slave node.

This is because a node added to an ignition control device or a fuel injection control device that operates according to an instruction from an electronic control device that performs all control calculations on a vehicle does not necessarily need to be a multi-master. . That is, if the communication unit of the electronic control unit breaks down, the communication partner is lost, and there is no need to perform communication thereafter. On the other hand, since the ABS control device and the 4WD control device communicate with a plurality of nodes, even if some of the nodes fail, some of the functions can be maintained by communicating with other nodes. The advantage of keeping it as a normal node is great.

[0026]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram when the information communication network of the present invention is applied between control devices in a vehicle. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a normal node in the present embodiment,
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of each type of a master node and a slave node.

First, an outline of the system will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the information communication network includes an electronic control unit (ECU) 1 that performs all control calculations on the vehicle.
0, an ABS (anti-lock brake system) control device 11, a four-wheel drive (4WD) control device 13, an ignition control device 15 that operates according to instructions from the electronic control device 10, and a fuel that operates according to instructions from the electronic control device 10 The injection control device 17 is connected by a transmission line 19 as a LAN line.

In the case of such a network, the functions of the communication units of the control devices 10, 11, 13, 15, and 17 are as follows. The 4WD control device 13 is of a normal node type, and the ignition control device 15 and the fuel injection control device 17 are of a slave node type. The reason why the ignition control device 15 and the fuel injection control device 17 are of a slave node type is that when the communication unit of the electronic control device 10 breaks down, the communication partner is lost, and there is no need to communicate thereafter.

Next, the configuration of each type of communication unit will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication unit of an ABS control device 11 and a 4WD control device 13 of a normal node type, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication unit of an electronic control device 10 of a master node type, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication unit of an ignition control device 15 and a fuel injection control device 17.

First, the configuration of a basic normal node type communication unit will be described with reference to FIG. The communication unit of the ordinary node type includes a decoder 21, a data / token frame determination unit 23, a reception data storage unit 25, a token disappearance determination / reproduction circuit 27, a startup token generation circuit 29, a self-address determination circuit 31, and a transmission data generation unit. It comprises a circuit 33, a token frame generation circuit 35, an encoder 37 and the like.

The decoder 21 is a part which receives a signal on the transmission line 19 and decodes an encoded input signal. The data token frame determination unit 23 is a unit that determines whether the input signal is data or a token. This determination is made based on the identification flag included in the normal frame.

The received data storage unit 25 stores the data
When the token frame determination unit 23 determines that the data is data, the unit stores the data. This data can be read from the microcomputer if necessary. Note that the microcomputer in this case is the microcomputer of the ABS control device 11 and the 4WD control device 13.

On the other hand, the token loss determination / reproduction circuit 27
Is a circuit that monitors the output from the decoder 21 and sends a token transmission command to the token frame generation circuit 35 when it is determined that the token has disappeared when neither the token nor the data has been decoded for a certain period of time or more.

The startup token generation circuit 29 is a circuit for sending a token frame transmission command to the token frame generation circuit 35 after confirming that no other node has been transmitting for a certain period of time at startup. The self address determination circuit 31
When the data token frame determination unit 23 determines that the input signal is a token, it determines whether the address is its own address, and transmits a data transmission instruction when the address matches the own address. This is a circuit for sending to the data generation circuit 33.

The transmission data generation circuit 33 holds the data written from the microcomputer and sends the data to the encoder 37 according to the transmission instruction. It is a circuit that sends a token sending signal to the token frame generating circuit 35 after data transmission. The token frame generation circuit 35 is a circuit that sends a token frame to the encoder 37 in response to a token transmission instruction.

The encoder 37 is a circuit that encodes transmission data and a token frame and outputs the encoded data to the transmission line 19. These are components of the normal node type communication unit, but the configuration of the master node type communication unit is such that a slave address determination circuit 41 and a slave data transmission completion confirmation circuit 43 are further added as shown in FIG. It is.
The added two blocks will be described.

The slave address determination circuit 41 exists only in the master node, and holds the address of the slave node managed by itself. If the data token frame determination unit 23 determines that the address is a token, the address data is input. If the address data is determined to be the same as the held address, a predetermined It informs the slave data transmission completion confirmation circuit 43 that the slave node has the transmission right.

On the other hand, the slave data transmission completion confirmation circuit 4
The token frame generation circuit 3 confirms that the slave node managed by itself has finished transmitting data.
5 is a circuit for sending a token frame transmission command to the reference numeral 5. Note that the slave data transmission completion confirmation circuit 43
When the token frame determination unit 23 determines that the data is data, the data is input. When the data is applicable data, the EOF (End Of Flame) of the data is monitored. Thus, it is possible to confirm whether or not the slave node managed by itself has finished transmitting data.

Next, the configuration of the slave node will be described with reference to FIG. As can be seen from a comparison with FIG. 1, the token loss determination / reproduction circuit 2
7. The configuration is such that the startup token generation circuit 29 and the token frame generation circuit 35 are removed.

With the configuration as described above, the normal node has an acquisition function of acquiring a token which is a prerequisite for transmitting its own information, a delegation function of delegating the token to a predetermined partner after transmitting its own information, It has four functions: a reproduction function at the time of extinction that reproduces the token when the token is extinguished, and a generation function at the time of activation that generates the token at the time of activation.

On the other hand, the slave node has only the above acquisition function, but does not have the other three functions, namely, the transfer function, the reproduction function at the time of disappearance, and the generation function at the time of startup. The master node has a slave address determination circuit 41 and a slave data transmission completion confirmation circuit 43 in addition to the configuration of the normal node, so that the master node transmits data in addition to the above four functions. When the process is completed, a command to send a token frame can be issued.

Next, the operation of the information communication network of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. First, at the time of activation, when the power is turned on and each node is activated, the activation-time token generation circuit 29 (but not the slave node) of the earliest activated node instructs the token frame generation circuit 35 to transmit. And sends the token frame through the encoder 37.

Each node constantly monitors the signal on the transmission line 19, and determines the frame obtained through the decoder 21 by the data token frame determination unit 23. If the frame is data, the frame is stored in the reception data storage unit 25. . On the other hand, if it is a token, the self address determination circuit 31 checks whether or not it matches its own address. If they do not match, they are ignored, and if they match, the transmission data generation circuit 33
Then, the data is transmitted to the transmission path 19 through the encoder 37.

In the normal node and the master node, a token frame is further generated by a token frame generation circuit 35.
And to the transmission path 19 through the encoder 37.
Since the slave node does not have the token frame generation circuit 35, it cannot transmit this token frame.

Therefore, when the master node receives the token, the master address determination circuit 31 determines whether or not the address is its own address. Is also determined. If the address coincides with the address of the slave node managed by itself, it waits until the corresponding slave node has finished transmitting data, and instead of that slave node, sends a token frame to the token frame generation circuit 35 and the encoder 37.
To the transmission path 19 through

By operating each block of each node in this manner, a master / slave configuration can be mixed while the token-passing access mode is used. That is, since the slave node has only the acquisition function, it is possible to acquire the token and acquire the access right, and to transmit its own information. However, since it does not have a token transfer function, the token is not transmitted as it is, and the access right to the next node is not transferred.

Therefore, the slave management function of the master node is exhibited. In other words, after the slave node to be managed sends its own information, it sends a token on behalf of the slave node and delegates the access right to the next node. Of course, the master node has all four functions that a normal node has,
All operations that can be performed in a normal node can be performed.

Therefore, when viewed as a whole network, as in the conventional token-passing type network, tokens can be circulated and transmitted only by the node that has acquired the tokens. In other words, by using a master node and a slave node in combination, it becomes possible to replace the network with a conventional token passing system composed of all normal nodes,
The replacement by the slave node can be simplified.

More specifically, in this embodiment, as can be seen by comparing FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the slave node has a token loss determination / regeneration circuit 27 and a startup token generation circuit, as compared with the normal node. 29 and the token frame generation circuit 35 are unnecessary, and simplification of the configuration is realized in each slave node. Therefore, the greater the number of slave nodes, the greater the merits of circuit miniaturization.

The important point is that the structure is simplified while the advantage of the token passing method that high-speed communication is possible is secured. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the number of master nodes is one. However, if a plurality of master nodes are prepared in one network, the master node normally operates in the same manner as the conventional token passing method, and each master node Operates in the same manner as the master / slave method with the slave node attached to the slave node. In this way, an extremely complicated network configuration can be realized, and it can be easily realized to operate as a master and a sub-master according to the demand for reliability.

Further, the application of the information communication network of the present invention is not limited to vehicles, but can be applied to, for example, the field of factory automation (FA). For example, a predetermined robot determined in consideration of a work process is set as a slave node, and a main arithmetic and control unit that gives control values to them is set as a master node. A related system such as the ignition control device 15 and the fuel injection control device 17 that operate according to the instruction from the electronic control device 10 may be constructed and applied.

[0052]

As described above in detail, according to the information communication network of the present invention, a slave node can acquire a token and transmit its own information, but does not have a token transfer function. In this case, the token is not sent, and the access right to the next node is not transferred. However, the master node's slave management function sends a token on behalf of the slave node after sending its own information, and delegates the access right to the next node. Like the token-passing type network, the token can be circulated and transmitted only by the node that has acquired the token. In other words, by using a master node and a slave node in combination, it becomes possible to replace the network with a conventional token passing system composed of all normal nodes,
The replacement by the slave node can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a normal node.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a master node.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a slave node.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram when the information communication network of the present invention is applied between control devices in a vehicle.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram in the case where one normal node, one master node, and one slave node are used to explain the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: electronic control unit, 11: ABS control unit,
13 ... 4WD control device, 15 ... Ignition control device, 17
... Fuel injection control device, 19 ... Transmission path, 21 ... Decoder, 23 ... Data token frame determination unit, 25 ... Received data storage unit, 27 ... Token disappearance determination / regeneration circuit, 29 ... Start-up token generation circuit, 31 ... Self address determination circuit, 33: transmission data generation circuit, 35: token frame generation circuit, 3
7 ... Encoder, 41 ... Slave address determination circuit, 43 ... Slave data transmission completion confirmation circuit

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-189044 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04Q 9/00-9/16 B60R 16/02 H04L 12 / 40

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A token-passing type information communication network in which a plurality of nodes circulate a sole transmission right on a network connected by a LAN line, and only a node having the transmission right is permitted to transmit. In the normal type of the node, an acquisition function for acquiring the transmission right that is premised on transmitting information owned by itself, a delegation function for delegating the transmission right to a predetermined partner after transmitting the own information, It has four functions of a reproduction function at the time of disappearance when the transmission right is extinguished, and a generation function at the time of activation that generates the transmission right at the time of activation. The node of the slave type has the following four functions. The master type node has only the above acquisition function. In addition to the above four functions, the master type node transmits the slave information after the slave node transmits its own information. And a slave management function for delegating the transmission right on behalf of the master node, wherein the network includes at least one master node and at least one slave node managed by the master node, and the other nodes include: An information communication network configured as the normal node. 2. When the master type node acquires the transmission right, it determines whether or not it is an address of a slave node managed by itself, in addition to determining whether or not the address is its own address. address determining means, when it is determined that the address of the slave node to self-management in the address determination means confirms that the slave node has finished transmitting its own information, the sley
Output if the node has the above delegation function.
2. The information communication network according to claim 1, further comprising output command means for commanding output of the transmission right having predetermined address information. 3. The token-passing type information communication network according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of electronic control devices mounted on the vehicle are connected by a LAN line, wherein the brake control and the four-wheel drive control are performed. The communication unit of the electronic control unit of the vehicle control system such as the above is configured as the normal node, and the communication unit of the electronic control unit of the power train control system such as the ignition control and the fuel injection control is configured as the slave node. Information communication network.