IP Library Granted Patent US 11,764,997
Granted Patent B2
US 11,764,997 · App. 17/287,883 · Granted Sep 19, 2023

Apparatus for configuring and validating an intervention in a real-time ethernet data network

Inventors: Helge Zinner (Regensburg, DE); Daniel Hopf (Regensburg, DE)
Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
H04L12/40143B60R16/023H04L1/1809H04L12/40169H04L67/12H04L2012/40273
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,764,997
App. No.
17/287,883
Granted
Sep 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for configuring and validating an intervention in a real-time Ethernet data network for a motor vehicle includes: a vehicle diagnostic device, a first data storage device, a first data checking device, a second data storage device, and a second data checking device.

Claims (13)

1. An apparatus for configuring and validating an intervention in a real-time Ethernet data network having ECUs in a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a vehicle diagnostic device, which is configured to receive configuration change data and to transfer said configuration change data to a first data storage device;

the first data storage device, which is configured to receive and store the configuration change data from the vehicle diagnostic device;

a first data checking device, which is configured to check the configuration change data stored in the first data storage device by using a first integrity check and to transfer said configuration change data to a second data storage device in the event of a positive first integrity check;

the second data storage device, which is configured to receive and store the configuration change data from the first data checking device;

a second data checking device, which is configured to check the configuration change data stored in the second data storage device by using a second integrity check and to enable said configuration change data for the real-time Ethernet data network in the event of a positive second integrity check taking into consideration the overall affected network state, wherein the second integrity check involves checking whether and which effects the configuration on the network, this comprising a check on the ECUs for the configured configuration and a check on the associated communication relationship; and

a configuration master device, which is configured to receive the enabled configuration change data from the second data storage device and to transmit said configuration change data to a switch and/or a component of the real-time Ethernet data network in order to renew at least some of an Ethernet TSN configuration in the ECUs and switches.

2. The apparatus as claimed in patent claim 1 , wherein the first data checking device is configured to check the configuration change data to be stored in the first data storage device for a communication parameter, for example in the form of a maximum packet size and/or a transfer frequency and/or a transfer rate and/or a sender address and/or a receiving address and/or a protocol, on receipt by using the first integrity check.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an ARQ/TCP device, which is configured to monitor the transfer of the configuration change data to the switch and/or the component of the real-time Ethernet data network and the configuration process based thereon.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the apparatus is configured to monitor an individual configuration process for a switch and/or a component of the real-time Ethernet data network.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the apparatus is configured to monitor a multiplicity of configuration processes for a multiplicity of network switches and/or for a multiplicity of components of the real-time Ethernet data network.

6. The apparatus as claimed in patent claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is configured to prioritize the multiplicity of configuration processes for the multiplicity of network switches and/or for the multiplicity of components of the real-time Ethernet data network in terms of timing and/or to perform at least some of said multiplicity of configuration processes simultaneously.

7. The apparatus as claimed in patent claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is configured to activate at least some of the multiplicity of configuration processes for the multiplicity of network switches and/or for the multiplicity of components of the real-time Ethernet data network simultaneously on the network switches and/or the components.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 070441/0899 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2021
From: ZINNER, HELGE, DR.; HOPF, DANIEL
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 056112/0284 →