Method, data processing module, and data processing network for dual-condition controlled triggering for processing data

1 . A method for processing data in a vehicle with a data processing network, the data being sensor data, the data processing network including a plurality of data processing modules, each data processing module having a respective input data reception module with a respective input memory and a respective output data provisioning module, each data processing module further including at least one data processing component, each of the data processing components being configured for defined data processing tasks for processing the data, each of the data processing modules being configured to receive, as input data, data from a data source and/or output data from further ones of the data processing modules and to generate output data which are network output data of the data processing network and/or input data of further ones of the data processing modules, the method comprising the following steps for at least one individual one of the data processing modules:

a) receiving, by the respective input data reception module of the data processing module and into the respective input memory of the data processing module, a set of input data for performing the data processing tasks, the receiving including collecting incoming input data in the respective input memory until the set of input data is complete;

b) receiving a trigger control signal, wherein generation and issuance of the trigger control signal do not occur automatically upon, and are not coincident with, a time at which the set of input data of step a) first became available as complete, the trigger control signal being an activating signal for activating the at least one data processing component of the data processing module;

c) in an instance where step b) occurs with a delay after completion of step a), during a time period after the completion of step a) and before receipt of the trigger control signal in step b), maintaining the at least one data processing component in an inactive state, and only responsive to subsequent receipt of the trigger control signal after completion of step a), activating the at least one data processing component of the data processing module and performing the data processing tasks for which the data processing component is configured using the set of input data stored in the respective input memory to generate the output data, wherein the set of input data used in performing the data processing tasks does not change during the performing of the data processing tasks; and

d) providing the generated output data for further data processing and/or as network output data.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the following step is performed after step d):

e) providing a validation data set including the set of input data and/or the trigger control signal and/or the output data to validate the performance of the processing tasks with the at least one data processing component.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the validation data set additionally includes at least one piece of time information that allows a time of the trigger control signal and/or a piece of time information about processing of the data processing tasks.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger control signal of step b) is generated by a timer that specifies a time grid for regularly repeating the performance of the data processing tasks with the data processing components.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger control signal of step b) is generated based on an availability condition indicating availability of data in the data processing network.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the input data reception module of the data processing module performs a completeness check of the set of input data, which is buffered in the input memory as portions of the input data become available.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein step d) is performed with the respective output data provisioning module, portions of the output data being buffered in the output memory as the portions of the output data, which is not yet complete, becomes available.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the output data provided in step d) are used at least in part as input data for re-performing method steps a) to d) with the same data processing module.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the output data provided in step d) include data subsets generated by various ones of the data processing components of the data processing module during the performance of the data processing task, the providing of the output data in step d) taking place only when all data subsets forming the output data are available.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step d), an availability signal is additionally generated from which it can be seen that the output data have been provided for further processing.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein during the performance of the method, permanent recording of at least one of the following pieces of information takes place for later further processing:

sets of input data received in step a);

trigger control signals received in step b);

the output data provided in step d); and

availability signals provided in step d).

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein during the recording, storing of time information additionally takes place, which allows a time assignment of the method performance to a timeline.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the trigger control signal of step b) includes two control signals, (I) a first one of which is generated by a timer that specifies a time grid for regularly repeating the performance of the data processing tasks with the data processing components, and (I) a second one of which is generated based on an availability condition indicating availability of data in the data processing network; and

the activating is performed conditional upon satisfaction of a dual condition of receiving both of the two control signals.

14 . A data processing module, which is one of a plurality of data processing modules of a data processing network, the data processing module comprising:

an input data reception module, which is one of a plurality of input data reception modules that (a) are each respectively of a respective individual one of the plurality of data processing modules and (b) each includes a respective input memory;

an output data provisioning module, which is one of a plurality of output data provisioning modules that are each respectively assigned a respective output memory; and

at least one data processing component configured to perform a data processing task based on input data in the input memory and to output data for storage in the output memory;

wherein the data processing module is configured to:

a) receive, by the respective input data reception module of the data processing module and into the respective input memory of the data processing module, a set of input data for performing the data processing tasks, the receiving including collecting incoming input data in the respective input memory until the set of input data is complete;

b) receive a trigger control signal, wherein that is generation and issuance of the trigger control signal do not occur automatically upon, and are not coincident with, a time at which the set of input data of step a) first became available as complete, the trigger control signal being an activating signal for activating the at least one data processing component of the data processing module;

c) in an instance where step b) occurs with a delay after completion of step a), during a time period after the completion of step a) and before receipt of the trigger control signal in step b), maintain the at least one data processing component in an inactive state, and only responsive to subsequent receipt of the trigger control signal after completion of step a), activate the at least one data processing component of the data processing module and perform the data processing tasks for which the data processing component is configured using the set of input data stored in the respective input memory to generate the output data, wherein the set of input data used in performing the data processing tasks does not change during the performing of the data processing tasks; and

d) provide the generated output data for further data processing and/or as network output data.

15 . A data processing network, comprising:

a plurality of data processing modules, each data processing module of the data processing modules including:

a respectively assigned one of a plurality of input data reception modules that each includes a respective one of a plurality of input memories;

a respective output data provisioning module to which is assigned a respective output memory; and

at least one data processing component configured to perform a data processing task based on input data in the input memory and to generate output data for storage in the output memory;

wherein the data processing module is configured to:

a) receive, by the respective input data reception module of the data processing module and into the respective input memory of the data processing module, a set of input data for performing the data processing tasks, the receiving including collecting incoming input data in the respective input memory until the set of input data is complete;

b) receive a trigger control signal, wherein generation and issuance of the trigger control signal do not occur automatically upon, and are not coincident with, a time at which the set of input data of step a) first became available as complete, the trigger control signal being an activating signal for activating the at least one data processing component of the data processing module;

c) in an instance where step b) occurs with a delay after completion of step a), during a time period after the completion of step a) and before receipt of the trigger control signal in step b), maintain the at least one data processing component in an inactive state, and only responsive to subsequent receipt of the trigger control signal after completion of step a), activate the at least one data processing component of the data processing module and perform the data processing tasks for which the data processing component is configured using the set of input data stored in the respective input memory to generate the output data, wherein the set of input data used in performing the data processing tasks does not change during the performing of the data processing tasks; and

d) provide the generated output data for further data processing and/or as network output data.