System configuration management using encapsulation and discovery

• US 9,989,955 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Porembski, Joseph P., Galano, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Qing Yuan
• Application Number:
  US14/795,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20170010588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/414 Structure of the control system, e.g. common controller or multiprocessor systems, interface to servo, programmable interface controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4148 characterised by using several processors for different functions, distributed (real-time) systems G05B19/4141 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1204 Multiprocessing, several plc's, distributed logic control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25068 Check correct configuration of device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25072 Initialise each module during start up
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25229 Partition control software among distributed controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25232 DCS, distributed control system, decentralised control unit
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31418 NC program management, support, storage, distribution, version, update
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33273 DCS distributed, decentralised controlsystem, multiprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

System configuration management using encapsulation and discovery is provided. The configuration management may include requesting, by a first electronic control unit comprising a processor, feature information associated with a second electronic control unit. The feature information may include data related to a set of features implemented by the second electronic control unit. The configuration management may also include loading, by the first electronic control unit, an internal control for a first feature of the set of features based on a determination that the first feature is not loaded on the first electronic control unit.

Claims

1. A method for configuration management, comprising:

requesting, by a first electronic control unit comprising a processor, feature information associated with a second electronic control unit, wherein the feature information includes data related to a set of features implemented by the second electronic control unit; and

loading, by the first electronic control unit, an internal control for a first feature of the set of features based on a determination that at least one control for the first feature is not loaded on the first electronic control unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting comprises performing a discovery process during an initiation procedure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting comprises sending a request to obtain data related to encapsulated functions implemented by the second electronic control unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the loading comprises enabling the at least one control for the first feature.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the enabling the at least one control comprises loading a driver for the first feature.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

unloading, by the first electronic control unit, at least one control for the second feature based on a determination that the at least one control for the second feature is not included in the set of features implemented by the second electronic control unit and is loaded on the first electronic control unit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the unloading comprises deactivating the at least one control for the second feature.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the second electronic control unit, by the first electronic control unit, a request for feature data associated with the first electronic control unit; and

providing to the second electronic control unit, by the first electronic control unit, the feature data that includes another set of features implemented by the first electronic control unit.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein features of the set of features comprise respective behaviors implemented by the second electronic control unit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein features of the set of features are identified based on a predefined indicator.

11. A system for configuration management, comprising:

a processor that executes the following computer executable components stored in a memory;

a discovery manager component that identifies a set of features associated with a first electronic control unit, wherein features included in the set of features comprise encapsulated functions; and

a unit manager component that enables, on a second electronic control unit, a first control associated with a first feature included in the set of features based on a determination that at least one control for the first feature is not enabled on the second electronic control unit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the features included in the set of features comprise respective behaviors associated with operation of a vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the unit manager component disables, on the second electronic control unit, a second control associated with a second feature not included in the set of features.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the unit manager component uninstalls a driver associated with the second feature.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the discovery manager component identifies the set of features during a start-up discovery procedure.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the unit manager component deploys the second electronic control unit in a maximum dependency status prior to an identification of the set of features associated with the first electronic control unit by the discovery manager component.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the discovery manager component conveys feature data that includes another set of features implemented by the second electronic control unit in response to a request for the other set of features from the first electronic control unit.

18. A computer-readable storage device storing executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations for configuration management, the operations comprising:

initiating a discovery process;

requesting function information that includes functions implemented by a first electronic control unit during the discovery process;

determining a function included in the function information is not enabled on a second electronic control unit, wherein the second electronic control unit consumes the function implemented by the first electronic control unit; and

loading, on the second electronic control unit, a driver for the function.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 18, further comprising:

determining another function consumed by the second electronic control unit is not included in the function information; and

unloading, on the second electronic control unit, another driver for the other function.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting, to the first electronic control unit, a set of functions implemented by the second control unit in response to a request for the set of functions.