Method for checking program execution of a microcontroller, external device, system and non-transitory computer readable medium
A method for checking program execution of a microcontroller relating to a peripheral device in data communication with a microcontroller via a communication bus includes monitoring the microcontroller by an external device, identifying a failure status of the microcontroller by the external device based on the monitoring, disconnecting data communication between the peripheral device and the microcontroller by the external device, establishing a supplementary data communication between the external device and the peripheral device, and sending configuration information to the peripheral device by the external device via the supplementary data communication.
1. A method for checking program execution of a microcontroller relating to a peripheral device, wherein the peripheral device is in data communication with the microcontroller via a communication bus, the method comprising:
monitoring the microcontroller by an external device,
identifying a failure status of the microcontroller by the external device based on the monitoring,
disconnecting data communication between the peripheral device and the microcontroller by the external device,
establishing a supplementary data communication between the external device and the peripheral device, and
sending configuration information to the peripheral device by the external device via the supplementary data communication.
2. The method according claim 1 , wherein after sending the configuration information, the external device continues to monitor the microcontroller to detect an end of the failure status of the microcontroller.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein after the disconnecting the external device sends a reset and/or restart signal to the microcontroller.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein disconnecting the data communication and establishing the supplementary data communication are essentially carried out simultaneously and the established supplementary data communication at least partly uses the communication bus by communication bus switching.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the external device passes on information to a superordinate control system about at least one of
(i) a failure of the microcontroller and
(ii) carrying out one or more of the identifying, disconnecting, establishing and sending.
6. An external device for checking program execution of a microcontroller relating to a peripheral device, the external device comprising:
a device logic configured to perform the method of claim 1 ,
a backup memory for storing configuration information for the peripheral device,
a microcontroller interface for establishing a data communication between the external device and the microcontroller, and
a bus interface to disconnect a data communication between the microcontroller and the peripheral device and to establish a supplementary data communication between the external device and the peripheral device.
7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by at least one computing device to perform the method of claim 1 .
8. The method according claim 2 , wherein after detecting an end of the failure status of the microcontroller, the external device reestablishes the data communication between the peripheral device and the microcontroller.
9. The external device according to claim 6 , wherein the external device comprises a device bulk, the device bulk at least comprising the device logic, whereby the bus interface is arranged separately from the device bulk.
10. The external device according to claim 6 , wherein the external device comprises a device bulk, the device bulk at least comprising the device logic, whereby the device bulk also comprises the bus interface.
11. The external device according to claim 6 , wherein the backup memory is a non-volatile memory.
12. The external device according to claim 6 , wherein the external device comprises a device bulk, the device bulk at least comprising the device logic, whereby the backup memory is arranged separately from the device bulk.
13. The external device according to claim 6 , wherein the external device comprises a device bulk, the device bulk at least comprising the device logic, whereby the device bulk also comprises the backup memory.
14. The external device according to claim 6 , wherein the external device comprises a connection element providing an alerting data communication between the external device and a superordinate control system for passing on information about at least one of
(i) a failure of the microcontroller and
(ii) carrying out one or more of the identifying, disconnecting, establishing and sending.
15. A system comprising:
the external device of claim 6 ,
a microcontroller,
a peripheral device in data communication with the microcontroller via a communication bus,
wherein the external device is at least connected to the microcontroller and the communication bus.