SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ETHERNET COMMUNICATION NETWORK FOR USE IN VEHICLE

• US 20130159489A1
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: CHA, Sang Ho, KIM, Dong Ok, YUN, Jin Hwa, NOH, Yong Ho
• Granted Patent: US 9,450,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1045 Proxies, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A system and method for managing a vehicle Ethernet communication network are disclosed. More specifically, each unit in a vehicle Ethernet communication network is configured to initially enter a power-on (PowerOn) mode when is applied to each unit of the vehicle to initialize operational programs. Once powered on, each unit enters a normal mode in which a node for each unit participates in a network to request the network. Subsequently, each unit enters a sleep indication (SleepInd) mode where other nodes are not requested even though the network has already been requested by the other nodes. A communication mode is then terminated at each unit and each unit enters a wait bus sleep (WaitBusSleep) mode in which all nodes connected to the network are no longer in communication and are waiting to switch to sleep mode. Finally, each unit is powered off to prevent communication between units in the network.

Claims

1. A method for managing a vehicle Ethernet communication network in which a node for each internal unit of the vehicle performs Ethernet communication, the method comprising:

entering, by each unit in the network, a power-on (PowerOn) mode wherein power is provided to each unit in the network of the vehicle to initialize each operation in each unit;

entering, by each unit in the network, a normal mode wherein a node in each unit participates in the network and the network is then requested;

entering, by each unit in the network, a sleep indication (SleepInd) mode wherein other nodes are not requested even when the network is requested by the other nodes;

terminating, by each unit in the network, a communication mode;

entering, by each unit in the network, a wait bus sleep (WaitBusSleep) mode wherein all nodes connected to the network are not in communication and are awaiting; and

entering, by each unit in the network, a power-off mode in which each unit is powered off thereby preventing each unit from communicating with another unit in the network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein basic operations of the sleep indication (SleepInd) mode are identical to those of the normal mode, but the sleep indication (SleepInd) mode does not awaken the network any longer.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

entering the sleep indication (SleepInd) mode when a communication message occurs in the wait bus sleep (WaitBusSleep) mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

entering the sleep mode once the wait bus sleep (WaitBusSleep) is maintained for a predetermined time.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

in the sleep mode or the sleep indication (SleepInd) mode, once a corresponding node receives a predetermined wakeup signal, entering the normal mode.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined wakeup signal is implemented as a local wakeup signal caused by self-operations of each unit and a remote wakeup signal caused by Ethernet communication.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

in the power-on (PowerOn) mode or the normal mode, performing address allocation for Ethernet communication of each node constructing the network.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

when the address allocation is completed, entering the normal mode.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power-off (PowerOff) mode is activated when a battery is detached from the vehicle or when all units are powered off.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

when the battery is attached to the vehicle, sequentially entering the power-on (PowerOn) mode, the normal mode, the sleep indication (SleepInd) mode, and the sleep mode, thereby completing network initial setup.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

when all units contained in the network enter the sleep indication (SleepInd) mode, performing the wait bus sleep (WaitBusSleep) mode.

12. A system for managing a vehicle network wherein a node for each unit contained in the vehicle performs Ethernet communication based on at least one unit which includes a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server, the system comprising:

each unit of the network including;

a first operation program storage unit configured to store an operation program including an Ethernet communication protocol,

a first controller configured to provide overall control of a device based on a program stored in the first operation program storage unit,

a first Ethernet communication unit configured to communicate with at least one other unit or the DHCP server, and

a first self-address information storage unit configured to store self-address information allocated through communication with the DHCP server,

wherein the at least one unit including the DHCP server includes;

a second operation program storage unit configured to store an operation program including an Ethernet communication protocol,

a second controller configured to provide overall control of a device based on a program stored in the second operation program storage unit,

a second Ethernet communication unit configured to communicate with at least one other unit in the network,

a second self-address information storage unit configured to store self-address information,

a third storage unit configured to store address information of each unit so as to store address information of each unit constructing the network, and

a mode storage unit configured to store an operation mode indicating an operation state of the network as data.