JP2015179888A - Communication system and repeating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system in which a plurality of networks are connected via a repeating device and power consumption for exchanging signals is reduced, and the repeating device utilized for the communication system.SOLUTION: In the case where control of a control target is not required, ECUs 311 to 333 are shifted to a sleep mode and save power consumption. When event frames are received from the ECUs 311 to 333, a repeating device 1 refers to a stored repeating table, transmits a wakeup frame designating ECUs 311 to 333 to be awakened to a network different from the network over which the event frame is received, and then repeats the received event frame to the network to which the wakeup frame is transmitted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system in which a plurality of networks are connected via a relay device, and a relay device provided in the communication system.

  In recent years, vehicles are equipped with a large number of electrical components and a large number of ECUs (Electronic Control Units) that control the electrical components. The ECUs are connected to each other via a communication line and constitute an in-vehicle network. The ECU transmits and receives a frame, which is a signal, via a communication line. Further, in order to increase the energy efficiency of the vehicle, each ECU transitions to a resting state with less power consumption when control is not performed. When the ECU in the dormant state detects an event or receives a wake-up frame that is a data frame that causes the ECU to transition from the dormant state to the operating state from another ECU, the ECU transits to the operating state and performs necessary control. .

  Furthermore, in order to perform control efficiently, each ECU corresponding to a node is divided into a plurality of node groups according to required communication speed differences, etc. to form a plurality of networks, and communication between nodes belonging to different networks is a relay device. There is a communication system performed via

  Patent Document 1 discloses a relay control method for relaying a wake-up frame between networks in a communication system in which a plurality of networks are connected via a relay device. Patent Document 2 discloses a method of transmitting a wakeup frame that selectively shifts a required node from a sleep state to an operation state among nodes connected to a network in order to reduce power consumption.

Japanese Patent No. 3578058 JP 2012-12453 A

  In the relay control method disclosed in Patent Document 1, all nodes connected to the network by the wake-up frame are shifted to the operation state, and thus there is a possibility that power consumption may be wasted. For example, when a node (ECU) that has received a request signal for unlocking a door transmits a frame for instructing unlocking of the door to the network, an ECU that is not involved in the door unlocking control is also in a suspended state. Since the transition to the operating state is made, the power consumption of such an ECU is wasted.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 does not disclose a method in which a relay device relays frames between different networks. Further, in the method of Patent Literature 2, the frame transmission source node holds information about the nodes in the network, but when applied to a configuration in which a plurality of networks are connected by a relay device, When the configuration is changed, it is necessary to rewrite information about nodes in all networks.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of power consumed in a communication system in which a plurality of networks are connected via a relay device, and the amount of information rewriting work related to nodes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system with less communication and a relay device that can reduce power consumption of the communication system.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, a plurality of nodes that transition between an operation state with high power consumption and a dormant state with low power consumption and that transmit event signals including different identification information for each detected event, In a communication system including a plurality of connected networks and a relay device that relays the event signal between the networks, the relay device relays an identification signal that differs for each event and an event signal that includes the identification information. Corresponding to the identification information included in the received event signal when the relay information storage unit that stores the associated node in association, the receiving unit that receives the event signal, and the receiving unit receives the event signal In addition, a transition instruction signal for transitioning the node to an operating state in a network to which the node stored in the relay information storage unit is connected A transition instruction signal transmitting unit that transmits, after the transition instruction signal transmitting unit transmits the transition instruction signal, characterized in that it comprises an event signal relay unit that relays the event signal to the network.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, a node connected to the network transits between an operating state with a high power consumption and a dormant state with a low power consumption. The node that detects the event transmits an event signal including different types of identification information for each detected event. The relay information storage unit of the relay apparatus stores the identification information different for each event in association with the node related to the relay destination of the event signal including the identification information. When the receiving unit receives the event signal, the transition instruction signal transmitting unit transmits a transition instruction signal for transitioning the node to the operation state to the network connected to the node read from the relay information storage unit based on the identification information. After the transmission, the event signal relay unit relays the event signal received by the reception unit to the network.

  For example, when an in-vehicle ECU is connected to the in-vehicle network as a node, the ECU can reduce power consumption by transitioning to a dormant state when the control target is not controlled. When it is necessary to cause the ECU in the dormant state to perform control, the relay device transmits the transition instruction signal, so that the ECU in the dormant state can be shifted to the operating state as necessary. The ECU performs control according to the event signal by receiving the event signal while in the operating state. When relaying an event signal received from the ECU, the relay device can relay the event signal after transmitting a transition instruction signal that causes the ECU corresponding to the identification information included in the received event signal to transition to the operating state. Therefore, the relay apparatus transmits a transition instruction signal that causes the ECU to transition to the operating state only when necessary, to the ECU connected to a different network, thereby reducing the power consumption of the communication system. Further, since the relay apparatus holds information related to relaying, it is possible to reduce the amount of work for rewriting information related to nodes when the system configuration is changed.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, a plurality of nodes that transition between an operation state with high power consumption and a dormant state with low power consumption and that transmit event signals including different identification information for each detected event, In a communication system including a plurality of connected networks and a relay device that relays the event signal between the networks, the node transmits a status signal indicating whether the node is in an operating state or a dormant state. The relay device stores the identification information different for each event in association with a node related to a relay destination of the event signal including the identification information, and stores the event signal and the status signal. A receiving unit that receives the received signal; a node state storage unit that stores a state of a node indicated by the status signal received by the receiving unit; and relays the event signal And a transition instruction signal transmission unit that transmits a transition instruction signal for transitioning the node to an operation state, and the event signal relay unit receives the event signal when the reception unit receives the event signal. The node state stored in the relay information storage unit in association with the identification information included in the event signal is referred to from the node state storage unit, and when the node state is not in the dormant state, the node is connected When the event signal is relayed to a network that has been in a suspended state and the transition instruction signal transmission unit transmits a transition instruction signal that causes the node to transition to an operating state, the event signal is transmitted to the network. It is characterized by relaying.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, the node transmits a status signal indicating whether the node is in an operating state or a dormant state. The node state storage unit of the relay device stores the state signal received from each node. When the event signal is received, the event signal relay unit reads the state of the node related to the event signal relay destination from the node state storage unit. When the node is not in the dormant state, the event signal relay unit relays the received event signal. When the node is in a dormant state, the event signal relay unit relays the event signal received by the receiving unit after the transition command signal transmitting unit transmits a transition command signal for transitioning the node to the operating state. Therefore, when the node related to the relay destination is not in the dormant state, by omitting the operation of transmitting the transition instruction signal, it is possible to reduce the traffic and reduce the time related to the relay.

  The communication system according to the present invention is characterized in that the node transitions to a dormant state when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, when each node satisfies a predetermined condition, for example, after detecting an event or receiving an event signal, each node continuously detects the event and receives the event signal. If not, transition to a dormant state. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced.

  The communication system according to the present invention is characterized in that, when the node transits to a dormant state, the node transmits the state signal indicating that the node is in a dormant state.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, when each node transitions to a dormant state, the node transmits a state signal to that effect. The relay device receives the state signal from the node and stores it in the node state storage unit. Therefore, the relay device can store the node in the dormant state.

  The communication system according to the present invention is characterized in that the node transmits the status signal indicating that the node is in an operating state while the node is in an operating state.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, each node transmits a status signal indicating that the node is in an operating state. Therefore, the relay device can store the node in the operating state.

  The communication system according to the present invention is characterized in that the transition instruction signal includes node information related to the node to be changed to an operation state.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, the transition instruction signal includes node information designating a node to be transitioned to the operation state. Accordingly, a part of the nodes of the network can be selectively shifted to the operation state, so that power consumption can be reduced.

  In the relay device according to the present invention, a plurality of nodes that transition between an operation state with high power consumption and a dormant state with low power consumption, and that transmit event signals including different identification information for each detected event, In a relay device that relays the event signal between a plurality of connected networks, a relay information storage unit that stores each of the identification information and a node related to the relay destination of the event signal in association with each other, and the event signal And when the reception unit receives the event signal, the node is connected to a network in which the node stored in the relay information storage unit is associated with the identification information included in the received event signal. A transition instruction signal transmission unit that transmits a transition instruction signal for causing the transition instruction signal to transition to an operating state, and after the transition instruction signal transmission unit transmits the transition instruction signal, Characterized in that it comprises an event signal relay unit that relays the event signal to the network.

  In the relay device according to the present invention, the relay information storage unit stores the identification information included in the event signal that the node detects and transmits the event and the node related to the relay destination of the event signal in association with each other. . The receiving unit receives an event signal. When the reception unit receives an event signal, the transition instruction signal transmission unit reads a node corresponding to the received event signal from the storage unit based on the identification information, and operates the node on the network to which the read node is connected A transition instruction signal for transitioning to a state is transmitted. The event signal relay unit relays the event signal received by the receiving unit to the same network after the transition command signal transmitting unit transmits the transition command signal. Therefore, the power consumption of the node can be reduced by transmitting a transition instruction signal that causes the ECU to transition to the operating state only when necessary, to an ECU connected to a different network. Further, since the relay apparatus holds information related to relaying, it is possible to reduce the amount of work for rewriting information related to nodes when the system configuration is changed.

  The relay device according to the present invention transits between an operation state with a high power consumption and a sleep state with a low power consumption, and is in an event signal including a different identification information for each detected event and in an operation state or in a sleep state. In a relay apparatus that relays the event signal between a plurality of networks that are connected to a plurality of nodes that transmit state signals indicating the above, an event including the identification information that differs for each event A relay information storage unit that associates and stores a node related to a signal relay destination; a reception unit that receives the event signal and the state signal; a node state storage unit that stores a state signal received by the reception unit; An event signal relay section that relays the event signal; and a transition instruction signal transmission section that transmits a transition instruction signal for transitioning the node to an operating state, When the reception unit receives the event signal, the event signal relay unit displays the state of the node stored in the relay information storage unit in association with the identification information included in the received event signal. When the state of the node is not in the dormant state, the event signal is relayed to the network to which the node is connected. When the node is in the dormant state, the transition instruction signal transmission unit operates the node in the network. After transmitting a transition instruction signal for transitioning to, the event signal is relayed to the network.

  In the relay device according to the present invention, the node state storage unit stores the state signal received from each node. When the event signal is received, the event signal relay unit reads the state of the node related to the relay destination of the received event signal from the node state storage unit. When the node is not in the dormant state, the event signal relay unit relays the event signal received by the reception unit. When the node is in a dormant state, the event signal relay unit relays the event signal received by the receiving unit after the transition command signal transmitting unit transmits a transition command signal for transitioning the node to the operating state. Therefore, when the node related to the relay destination is not in the dormant state, by omitting the operation of transmitting the transition instruction signal, it is possible to reduce the traffic and reduce the time related to the relay.

  According to the present invention, power consumption can be reduced.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows a data frame. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a relay apparatus. It is a figure which shows a bus relay table. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmission / reception unit of the relay device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a chart which shows an ECU starting table. It is a figure which shows a wake-up frame. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of ECU. It is a flowchart which shows the process which ECU transmits an event frame. It is a flowchart which shows the process which a relay apparatus performs. It is a flowchart which shows the relay process which a relay part performs. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a frame transmission process performed by the transmission / reception unit of the relay apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a process when ECU receives a flame | frame. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmission / reception unit of a relay apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a frame transmission process performed by the transmission / reception unit of the relay apparatus according to the second embodiment. It is a chart which shows an ECU state table. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which an ECU according to Embodiment 2 transmits a sleep notification frame. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the transmission / reception unit of the relay apparatus according to the second embodiment receives a sleep notification frame. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which an ECU according to Embodiment 3 transmits a wake-up notification frame. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a transmission / reception unit of a relay apparatus according to Embodiment 3 receives a wake-up notification frame.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system 100 according to the present invention. The communication system 100 is preferably mounted on a vehicle, and includes networks 21, 22, 23, and a relay device 1 that relays frames between these networks. The relay device 1 includes a plurality of transmission / reception units 11, 12, and 13 connected to networks 21, 22, and 23, respectively.

  The network 21 is connected to ECUs 311, 312, and 313 via a bus 11 a. The configurations of the networks 22 and 23 are the same as those of the network 21. Each ECU is connected to a control target that is an in-vehicle device such as an air conditioner or a power window, and controls the control target.

  Each ECU transmits and receives a frame in accordance with an in-vehicle communication protocol such as a CAN (Control Area Network) protocol. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a switch 332 a is connected to the ECU 332, and a load 311 a is connected to the ECU 311. Here, for example, the switch 332a is a power window switch, and the load 311a is a power window actuator. When the user operates the switch 332a, the ECU 332 detects an event and transmits an event frame corresponding to the event. The relay device 1 relays the event frame to the network 21. The ECU 311 receives the event frame, extracts data from the received event frame, and controls the load 311a to operate the load 311a according to the content of the extracted data. Here, the event frame corresponds to the event signal described in the claims.

  The ECUs 311 to 333 can take a wake-up mode in which control of a control target is performed and a sleep mode in which control is suspended and power consumption is suppressed. Further, the ECUs 311 to 333 automatically transition from the wake-up mode to the sleep mode when a predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, after detecting an event or receiving an event frame, the ECUs 311 to 333 transition from the wake-up mode to the sleep mode when no event is detected for a predetermined time or more and no event frame is received.

  For example, when the communication protocol used is the CAN protocol, the buses 11a, 12a, and 13a are twisted pair cables such as STP (Shield Twisted Pair) cables. The buses 11a... 13a transmit bit signals by the potential difference applied to the two electric wires.

  The frames transmitted and received by the ECUs 311 to 333 include data frames. Description of frames other than data frames is omitted. The data frame includes the aforementioned wakeup frame and event frame.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a data frame. The CAN protocol data frame is composed of SOF (Start of Frame), arbitration, control, data, CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check), ACK (ACKnowledgement), and EOF (End of Frame) fields from the top.

  The arbitration field includes an 11-bit identifier. Here, the identifier corresponds to the identification information described in the claims. The data field represents the content of the data. The identifier is used by the device that has received the data frame to interpret the contents of the data field. For example, an event frame transmitted by the ECU 332 when the user operates the power window switch 332a includes a unique identifier indicating that the frame data relates to the control of the actuator of the power window. All ECUs on the network to which the data frame is transmitted receive the transmitted data frame, and discard all frames other than those having an identifier that matches the identifier filter included in each data frame. For example, in the above example, only the ECU 311 reads an event frame related to the control of the actuator of the power window, and controls the actuator.

  Since the SOF, control field, CRC, ACK, and EOF fields are not directly related to the features of the present invention, description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the relay device 1. The relay device 1 includes transmission / reception units 11, 12, 13, a relay unit 14, a storage unit 15, and a temporary storage unit 16.

  The transmission / reception unit 11 receives a frame from the network 21 by detecting a bit signal from the bus 11a. The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits a frame to the network 21 by transmitting a bit signal to the bus 11a.

  The transmission / reception unit 11 receives a frame transmitted from the ECU 311, 312, or 313 via the bus 11 a and transfers the received frame to the relay unit 14. Further, the transmission / reception unit 11 transmits to the network 21 a wakeup frame that causes the ECU 311, 312, or 313 connected to the network 21 to transition to the wakeup mode by a method described later.

  Furthermore, the transmission / reception unit 11 transmits an event frame received by another transmission / reception unit 12 or 13 to the network 21 via the relay unit 14 as necessary. The ECU 311, 312, or 313 that has received the event frame performs predetermined control. The transmission / reception units 12 and 13 have the same configuration as the transmission / reception unit 11.

  The relay unit 14 includes one or a plurality of CPUs or MPUs. The storage unit 15 is configured by a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory. The temporary storage unit 16 is configured by, for example, a RAM. For example, the relay unit 14 extracts an identifier from the event frame received by the transmission / reception unit 11, 12, or 13. The relay unit 14 temporarily stores data related to the operation such as an event frame or an identifier extracted from the event frame in the temporary storage unit 16. The relay unit 14 performs a relay operation of transferring the received event frame to a transmission / reception unit different from the received transmission / reception unit according to the bus relay table 15 a stored in the storage unit 15. More specifically, the relay unit 14 extracts the identifier from the event frame transferred from the transmission / reception unit 11, 12, or 13, and refers to the correspondence between the identifier of the bus relay table 15a and the ECU 313, etc. The received event frame is transferred to the corresponding one of 12 or 13.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the bus relay table 15a. As shown in FIG. 4, in the bus relay table 15a, a frame identifier and a relay destination bus number are associated with each other. In the example of FIG. 4, an event frame including an identifier 311b related to a device connected to the ECU 311 and transmitted from the ECU 311 is associated with the event frame so as to be transferred to the transmission / reception unit 13 to which the bus 13a is connected. The relay unit 14 transfers the event frame to the transmission / reception unit 13 according to the bus relay table a, and the transmission / reception unit 13 transmits the event frame to the network 23 via the bus 13a.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the transmission / reception unit 11 of the relay apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The transmission / reception unit 11 includes a storage unit 110 and a temporary storage unit 111. The storage unit 110 stores an ECU activation table 110a. The temporary storage unit 111 temporarily stores data related to the operation of the transmission / reception unit 11. The transmission / reception unit 11 refers to the ECU activation table 110a and transmits to the network 21 a wakeup frame that causes the ECUs 311 to 333 related to reception of the event frame to transition to the wakeup mode. Thereafter, the transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the event frame transferred from the relay unit 14 to the network 21.

  FIG. 6 is a chart showing the ECU activation table 110a. As shown in FIG. 6, in the ECU activation table 110a, the frame identifier and the identification numbers of the ECUs 311 to 333 to be shifted to the wake-up mode are associated with each other. The transmission / reception unit 11 temporarily stores the event frame transferred from the relay unit 14 in the temporary storage unit 111. The transmission / reception unit 11 reads the identifier of the transferred event frame, and reads the identification number of the associated ECU with reference to the ECU activation table 110a. The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits to the network 21 a wakeup frame that causes the ECUs 311 to 333 having the read identification numbers to transit to the wakeup mode.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a wake-up frame. Since the wake-up frame is a data frame, it is composed of the same fields as the data frame shown in FIG. Node information that designates the ECUs 311 to 333 to be shifted to the wake-up mode is written in the data field. Whether the data frame is an event frame or a wake-up frame is discriminated by the received ECU reading the identifier. As shown in FIG. 7, the node information written in the data field of the wake-up frame is composed of a bit string assigned bit by bit to each of the ECUs 311. For example, when each bit is “1”, when the ECU corresponding to the bit receives the wake-up frame, the mode transits from the sleep mode to the wake-up mode. When the bit is “0” and the ECU corresponding to the bit that has received the wakeup frame is in the sleep mode, the ECU remains in the sleep mode.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ECU 311. The ECU 311 includes a power supply IC 3110, a microcomputer (microcomputer) 3111, and a transceiver 3112. Further, the transceiver 3112 includes a power supply control unit 3113, a transmission / reception unit 3114, a storage unit 3115, and an input / output unit 3116.

  The power supply IC 3110 steps down the voltage supplied from a battery (not shown) to a voltage suitable for driving the microcomputer 3111, for example, 5.0 V, and supplies the voltage to each component of the ECU 311 including the microcomputer 3111. The power supply control unit 3113 controls power supply from the power supply IC 3110 to the microcomputer 3111.

  When the ECU 311 is in the wake-up mode, the power supply control unit 3113 transmits a signal that instructs the power supply IC 3110 to supply power to the microcomputer 3111. The power feeding control unit 3113 stops power feeding to the microcomputer 3111 when the ECU 311 is in the sleep mode. The microcomputer 3111 controls a control target (not shown) connected via the input / output unit 3116 while the voltage is supplied from the power supply IC 3110.

  The transceiver 3114 of the transceiver 3112 is connected to the bus 11a, receives a frame from another ECU or the relay device 1 via the bus 11a, and transmits the frame to the network 21. The storage unit 3115 stores an identifier filter 3115a. When the transmission / reception unit 3114 receives a frame, the transmission / reception unit 3114 identifies whether the received frame is a wake-up frame or an event frame by comparing the identifier of the received frame with the identifier filter 3115a. When the ECU 311 is in the sleep mode, the transmission / reception unit 3114 extracts node information from the received wakeup frame when the received frame is a wakeup frame. The transmission / reception unit 3114 transfers the extracted node information to the power supply control unit 3113. When the ECU 311 receives the wakeup frame when the ECU 311 is in the wakeup mode, the transmission / reception unit 3114 discards the received wakeup frame.

  The power supply control unit 3113 causes the ECU 311 to transition to the wakeup mode by supplying power to the microcomputer 3111 based on the node information extracted and transferred from the wakeup frame by the transmission / reception unit 3114. More specifically, the power supply control unit 3113 outputs a signal instructing the power supply IC 3110 to supply power to the microcomputer 3111 when the bit assigned to the ECU 311 of the extracted node information is “1”. The power supply control unit 3113 communicates with the transmission / reception unit 3114 to determine whether the ECU 311 is in the wake-up mode or the sleep mode, and outputs the determination result to the transmission / reception unit 3114.

  When the ECU 311 is in the wake-up mode, the transmission / reception unit 3114 extracts data from the received event frame and sends it to the microcomputer 3111 when the received frame is an event frame and its identifier matches the identifier filter 3115a. Forward. If the identifier does not match the identifier filter 3115a, the transmission / reception unit 3114 discards the received frame. Further, when the ECU 311 receives the event frame when the ECU 311 is in the sleep mode, the transmission / reception unit 3114 discards the received event frame.

  The input / output unit 3116 is connected to a control target such as a load 311a via an external bus. The input / output unit 3116 outputs a signal related to control of the control target input from the microcomputer 3111 to the control target. The input / output unit 3116 outputs a signal input from the control target to the microcomputer 3111.

  When the input / output unit 3116 detects an event, that is, when a change in input from a connected control target is detected, the input / output unit 3116 outputs a signal notifying the power supply control unit 3113 that the event has been detected. When the signal indicating that the event has been detected is input from the input / output unit 3116, the power supply control unit 3113 outputs a signal instructing the power supply IC 3110 to supply power to the microcomputer 3111 when the ECU 311 is in the sleep mode. Is transferred to wake-up mode.

  Further, when the input / output unit 3116 detects an event, the input / output unit 3116 outputs the input signal to the microcomputer 3111. The microcomputer 3111 generates data and an identifier based on a signal input from the input / output unit 3116, and outputs the generated data and identifier to the transmission / reception unit 3114. The transmission / reception unit 3114 generates an event frame including data and an identifier input from the microcomputer and transmits them to the network 21.

  The power supply control unit 3113 outputs a signal instructing the power supply IC 3110 to stop power supply to the microcomputer 3111 when the activation factor such as event detection or frame reception does not occur for a predetermined time or longer, and causes the ECU 311 to sleep. Transition to mode.

  The ECUs 312 to 333 have the same configuration as the ECU 311.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process in which the ECU 311... 333 transmits an event frame. Hereinafter, the ECU 311 will be described as an example. First, the input / output unit 3116 of the ECU 311 determines whether or not an event has been detected (step S1). If it is determined that the input / output unit 3116 has not detected an event (S1: NO), step S1 is repeated until an event is detected. When the input / output unit 3116 detects an event (S1: YES), the power supply control unit 3113 determines whether the ECU 311 is in the sleep mode (step S2). When the power supply control unit 3113 determines that the ECU 311 is in the sleep mode (S2: YES), the power supply control unit 3113 transmits a signal for instructing the power supply to the microcomputer 3111 to the power supply IC 3110, and puts the ECU 311 into the wakeup mode. A transition is made (step S3). When the power supply control unit 3113 determines that the ECU 311 is not in the sleep mode (S2: NO), step S3 is skipped. After the power feeding control unit 3113 shifts the ECU 311 to the wake-up mode in step S3 or when it is determined in step S2 that the ECU 311 is not in the sleep mode, the transmission / reception unit 3114 transmits an event frame (step S4). After the transmission / reception unit 3114 transmits the event frame in step S4, the process returns to step S1.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the relay device 1. First, the transmission / reception unit 11, 12, or 13 of the relay apparatus 1 determines whether an event frame has been received from the connected network 21, 22, or 23 (step S10). When it is determined that none of the transmission / reception units 11, 12, or 13 has received an event frame (S10: NO), step S10 is repeated until an event frame is received. When any of the transmission / reception units 11, 12, or 13 receives an event frame (S10: YES), the received event frame is transferred to the relay unit 14 (step 11). After S11, the relay unit 14 performs the relay process P1 (step S12).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the relay process P1 performed by the relay unit 14. First, the relay unit 14 determines whether an event frame is received from the transmission / reception unit 11, 12, or 13 (step S20). When it is determined that the relay unit 14 has not received the event frame (S20: NO), step S20 is repeated until it is received. When the relay unit 14 receives the event frame (S20: YES), the relay unit 14 reads the bus relay table 15a from the storage unit 15 (step S21). The relay unit 14 determines whether the bus 12a or 13a is associated with the identifier of the received event frame as a relay destination in the bus relay table 15a (step S22). If the relay unit 14 does not determine that the bus 12a or the bus 13a is associated as the relay destination of the received event frame (S22: NO), the process returns to step S20. On the other hand, when the relay unit 14 determines that the relay destination bus of the received event frame is associated (S22: YES), the relay unit 14 transmits / receives the relay destination bus 12a or 13a to which the relay destination bus 12a is connected. Alternatively, the event frame is transferred to 13 (step S23). After transferring the event frame in step S23, the relay process P1 is terminated and the process returns to the main process.

  After the relay unit 14 ends the relay process P1 in step S12, the transmission / reception unit 11, 12, or 13 to which the event frame is transferred from the relay unit 14 performs the frame transmission process P2 (step S13).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the frame transmission process P2 performed by the transmission / reception unit 11, 12, or 13 of the relay apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the transmission / reception unit 11 will be described as an example. First, the transmission / reception unit 11 determines whether an event frame is received from the relay unit 14 (step S30). When it is determined that the transmission / reception unit 11 has not received an event frame from the relay unit 14 (S30: NO), step S30 is repeated until an event frame is received. When the transmission / reception unit 11 receives an event frame from the relay unit 14 (S30: YES), the transmission / reception unit 11 reads the ECU activation table 110a from the storage unit 110 (step S31). The transmission / reception unit 11 determines whether the ECU 311, 312, or 313 is associated with the identifier of the received event frame in the ECU activation table 110 a (step S <b> 32).

  When the transmission / reception unit 11 determines that the ECU 311, 312, or 313 is not associated with the received event frame identifier (S <b> 32: NO), the process returns to step S <b> 30. On the other hand, when it is determined that the ECU 311, 312, or 313 is associated with the identifier of the event frame received by the transmission / reception unit 11 (S 32: YES), the transmission / reception unit 11 is associated with the ECU 311, 312, or A wakeup frame for selectively shifting 313 to the wakeup mode is generated and transmitted to the network 21 (S33). The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the event frame transferred from the relay unit 14 to the network 21 after transmitting the wakeup frame in step S33 (step S34). After the transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the event frame in step S34, the frame transmission process P2 is terminated, and the process returns to the main process.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing when the ECUs 311 to 333 receive a frame. Hereinafter, the ECU 311 will be described as an example. First, the transmission / reception unit 3114 communicates with the power supply control unit 3113 to acquire a determination result as to whether or not the ECU 311 is in the sleep mode (step S40). When the transmission / reception unit 3114 acquires the determination result that the ECU 311 is in the sleep mode (S40: YES), the transmission / reception unit 3114 determines whether a wake-up frame has been received (step S41). Here, whether or not a wakeup frame has been received is determined by comparing the identifier of the received data frame with the identifier filter 3115a. When it is determined that the transmission / reception unit 3114 has not received the wakeup frame (S41: NO), the process returns to step S40.

  When the transmission / reception unit 3114 receives the wakeup frame (S41: YES), the transmission / reception unit 3114 extracts data from the received wakeup frame, and transmits the extracted data to the power supply control unit 3113. The power supply control unit 3113 determines whether or not the data extracted from the wakeup frame specifies that the ECU 311 is to transition to the wakeup mode (step S42). When the power supply control unit 3113 determines that the extracted data does not specify that the ECU 311 should transition to the wake-up mode (S42: NO), the process returns to step S40. When the power supply control unit 3113 determines that the extracted data designates the ECU 311 to transition to the wake-up mode (S42: YES), the power supply control unit 3113 instructs the power supply IC 3110 to supply power to the microcomputer 3111. The ECU 311 is shifted to the wake-up mode (step S43).

  In step S43, after the power feeding control unit 3113 changes the ECU 311 to the wake-up mode, or when it is determined in step S40 that the ECU 311 is not in the sleep mode (S40: NO), the transmission / reception unit 3114 passes the bus 11a. It is then determined whether an event frame including an identifier that matches the identifier filter 3115a has been received (step S44). When it is determined that the transmission / reception unit 3114 has not received an event frame including an identifier that matches the identifier filter 3115a (S44: NO), the process returns to step S40. On the other hand, when it is determined that the transmission / reception unit 3114 has received an event frame including an identifier that matches the identifier filter 3115a (S44: YES), the transmission / reception unit 3114 extracts data from the received event frame and transfers the data to the microcomputer 3111. The microcomputer 3111 transmits and controls a control signal to the control target via the input / output unit 3116 according to the contents of the data transferred from the transmission / reception unit 3114 (step S45). After the microcomputer 3111 controls the control target in step S45, the process returns to step S40.

  With the above configuration and processing procedure, in a communication system in which a plurality of networks are connected via a relay device, when an ECU connected to the network detects an event, only the ECU related to the detected event is detected among other ECUs. Since it is possible to selectively shift to the wake-up mode, power consumption can be reduced.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, when the relay apparatus receives an event frame, the wakeup frame is always transmitted to the network to which the received event frame is relayed before the event frame is relayed. In the second embodiment, the relay device stores whether each ECU connected to the network is in the wake-up mode or the sleep mode, and when the ECU related to the event signal to be relayed is in the wake-up mode, Omit transmission of up frame. Hereinafter, the points of the second embodiment different from the first embodiment will be described. The points common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the transmission / reception unit 11 of the relay apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment. In the communication system 100 according to the second embodiment, in addition to the same components as those of the first embodiment, the ECU state table 111a is stored in the temporary storage unit 111 provided in the transmission / reception unit 11 of the relay device 1. Information indicating whether each of the ECUs 311 to 333 is in the sleep mode or the wake-up mode is held in the ECU state table 111a.

  In the communication system 100 according to the first embodiment, the ECUs 311 to 333 transition to the sleep mode when the activation factors such as event detection or frame reception are not detected continuously in the wake-up mode for a predetermined time or longer. At this time, a sleep notification frame for transmitting the transition to the sleep mode is transmitted. Here, the sleep notification frame is also included in the data frame. When receiving the sleep notification frame, the transmission / reception units 11, 12, and 13 update the ECU state table 111a and store that the transmission source ECUs 311 to 333 are in the sleep mode.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a frame transmission process P2 performed by the transmission / reception unit 11, 12, or 13 of the relay apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a chart showing the ECU state table 111a. Hereinafter, the transmission / reception unit 11 will be described as an example. Steps S50 to S52 in FIG. 15 are the same as steps S30 to S32 in FIG. When it is determined in step S52 that the ECU 311, 312, or 313 is associated with the identifier of the event frame received by the transmission / reception unit 11 in the ECU activation table 110 a (S <b> 52: YES), the transmission / reception unit 11 is in the ECU state. The table 111a is read (step S53). Based on the ECU state table 111a, the transmission / reception unit 11 determines whether or not each ECU associated with the identifier in the ECU activation table 110a is in the sleep mode (step S54).

  When the transmission / reception unit 11 determines that the ECU 311, 312, or 313 associated with the identifier in the ECU activation table 110 a is in the sleep mode (S <b> 54: YES), the transmission / reception unit 11 includes the associated ECU 311, A wakeup frame that selectively shifts 312 or 313 to the wakeup mode is generated. The transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the generated wakeup frame to the network 21 (step S55). Thereafter, the transmission / reception unit 11 updates the ECU state table 111a (step S56), and stores that the ECU that has been changed to the wake-up mode is in the wake-up mode. After the ECU state table 111a is updated in step S56, or when the transmission / reception unit 11 determines in step 54 that the ECU associated with the identifier is not in the sleep mode (S54: NO), the transmission / reception unit 11 is a relay unit. The event frame transferred from 14 is transmitted to the network 21 (step S57). After the transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the event frame to the network 21, the frame transmission process P2 is terminated and the process returns to the main process.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing processing in which ECUs 311 to 333 according to the second embodiment transmit a sleep notification frame. Hereinafter, the ECU 311 will be described as an example. The power supply control unit 3113 of the ECU 311 communicates with the transmission / reception unit 3114 and the input / output unit 3116, and determines whether or not an activation factor such as event detection or frame reception has occurred for a predetermined time or longer (step S60). When the power supply control unit 3113 determines that an activation factor such as event detection or frame reception has occurred within a predetermined time with the determination time as a reference (S60: NO), Step S60 is repeated. On the other hand, when the power supply control unit 3113 determines that an activation factor such as event detection or frame reception has not occurred for a predetermined time or longer (S60: YES), the power supply control unit 3113 sleeps to the transmission / reception unit 3114. A signal instructing to transmit the notification frame is output, and the transmission / reception unit 3114 transmits the sleep notification frame to the network 21 (step S61). After the transmission / reception unit 3114 transmits the sleep notification frame, the power supply control unit 3113 outputs a signal instructing the power supply IC 3110 to stop power supply to the microcomputer 3111, and causes the ECU 311 to transition to the sleep state (step S62). .

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the transmission / reception unit 11, 12, or 13 of the relay device 1 according to the second embodiment receives a sleep notification frame. Hereinafter, the transmission / reception unit 11 will be described as an example. The transmission / reception unit 11 determines whether a sleep notification frame is received from the network 21 via the bus 11a (step S70). When it is determined that the transmission / reception unit 11 has not received the sleep notification frame (S70: NO), the transmission / reception unit 11 repeats step S70 until the sleep notification frame is received. When the transmission / reception unit 11 receives the sleep notification frame (S70: YES), the transmission / reception unit 11 updates the ECU state table 111a (step S71) and stores that the transmission source ECU is in the sleep state. After the transmission / reception unit 11 updates the ECU state table 111a in step S71, the process returns to step S70.

  With the above configuration and processing procedure, when the node is not in the sleep mode, the transmission of the wakeup frame can be omitted, the communication amount can be reduced, and the time from the event detection to the control operation can be shortened.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the second embodiment, the ECU is configured to transmit a sleep notification frame when transitioning to the sleep mode. However, the method of notifying the state of the ECU is not limited to this. In the third embodiment, the ECU is configured to periodically transmit a wakeup notification frame for transmitting the fact that it is in the wakeup state when in the wakeup mode. Hereinafter, the points of the third embodiment different from the second embodiment will be described. Points common to the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The configuration of the communication system 100 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment. A wakeup notification frame is also included in the data frame.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing processing in which ECUs 311 to 333 according to Embodiment 3 transmit a wakeup notification frame. Hereinafter, the ECU 311 will be described as an example. First, the power supply control unit 3113 of the ECU 311 determines whether or not the ECU 311 is in the wake-up mode (step S80). When the power supply control unit 3113 determines that the ECU 311 is not in the wake-up mode (S80: NO), the process ends. On the other hand, when the power supply control unit 3113 determines that the ECU 311 is in the wakeup mode (S80: YES), the power supply control unit 3113 outputs a signal instructing the transmission / reception unit 3114 to transmit the wakeup notification frame. To do. The transmission / reception unit 3114 transmits a wakeup notification frame to the network 21 (step S81). The power supply control unit 3113 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the transmission / reception unit 3114 transmits the wakeup notification frame in step S81 (step S82). When the power supply control unit 3113 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S82: NO), the power supply control unit 3113 repeats step S82. When the power supply control unit 3113 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (S82: YES), the process returns to step S80, and the same process is repeated.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the transmission / reception unit 11, 12 or 13 of the relay apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 3 receives a wakeup notification frame. Hereinafter, the transmission / reception unit 11 will be described as an example. The transmission / reception unit 11 determines whether a wake-up notification frame is received from the network 21 via the bus 11a (step S90). When it is determined that the transmission / reception unit 11 has not received a wakeup notification frame (S90: NO), the transmission / reception unit 11 repeats S90 until a wakeup notification frame is received. When the transmission / reception unit 11 receives the wakeup notification frame (S90: YES), the transmission / reception unit 11 updates the ECU state table 111a (step S91), and stores that the transmission source ECU is in the wakeup mode. After the transmitter / receiver 11 updates the ECU state table 111a in step S91, the process returns to step S90.

  With the above configuration and processing procedure, when the ECU is not in the sleep mode, the transmission of the wakeup frame can be omitted, the communication amount can be reduced, and the time from the event detection to the control operation can be shortened.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the CAN protocol is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to other communication protocols such as LIN (Local Interconnect Network) and FlexRay (registered trademark).

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the relay device is configured to store two types of tables, that is, a bus relay table and an ECU activation table, in different storage units, but is not limited thereto. For example, the structure memorize | stored in the same memory | storage part may be sufficient, or the structure memorize | stored collectively in one table may be sufficient.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Communication system 1 Relay device 11, 12, 13 Transmission / reception part 11a, 12a, 13a Bus 14 Relay part 15 Storage part 16 Temporary storage part 21, 22, 23 Network 110 Storage part 111 Temporary storage part 311, 312, 313, 321 322, 323, 331, 332, 333 ECU
311a Load 332a Switch 3110 Power supply IC
3111 Microcomputer 3112 Transceiver 3113 Power feeding control unit 3114 Transmission / reception unit 3115 Storage unit 3116 Input / output unit

Claims (8)

A plurality of nodes that transition between an operation state with high power consumption and a dormant state with low power consumption and that transmit event signals including different identification information for each detected event, and a plurality of networks connected to each other, In a communication system comprising a relay device that relays the event signal between the networks,
The relay device is
A relay information storage unit that stores the identification information different for each event in association with a node related to a relay destination of the event signal including the identification information;
A receiving unit for receiving the event signal;
When the receiving unit receives the event signal, the node is shifted to an operating state in a network to which the node stored in the relay information storage unit is associated with identification information included in the received event signal. A transition instruction signal transmitter for transmitting a transition instruction signal;
An event signal relay unit that relays the event signal to the network after the transition command signal transmitter transmits the transition command signal. A plurality of nodes that transition between an operation state with high power consumption and a dormant state with low power consumption and that transmit event signals including different identification information for each detected event, and a plurality of networks connected to each other, In a communication system comprising a relay device that relays the event signal between the networks,
The node is adapted to transmit a status signal indicating whether it is in an active state or in a dormant state;
The relay device is
A relay information storage unit that stores the identification information different for each event in association with a node related to a relay destination of the event signal including the identification information;
A receiver for receiving the event signal and the status signal;
A node state storage unit for storing the state of the node indicated by the state signal received by the reception unit;
An event signal relay unit that relays the event signal;
A transition instruction signal transmission unit that transmits a transition instruction signal for transitioning the node to an operation state,
When the reception unit receives the event signal, the event signal relay unit stores the node state stored in the relay information storage unit in association with the identification information included in the received event signal. When the state of the node is not in the dormant state, the event signal is relayed to the network to which the node is connected. When the node is in the dormant state, the transition instruction signal transmitting unit sends the node to the network. After transmitting a transition instruction signal for transitioning to an operating state, the event signal is relayed to the network.   The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the node transitions to a dormant state when a predetermined condition is satisfied.   4. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the node transmits the state signal indicating that the node is in a dormant state when transitioning to the dormant state. 5.   4. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the node transmits the state signal indicating that the node is in an operating state while the node is in an operating state. 5.   The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transition instruction signal includes node information related to the node to be transitioned to an operation state. A transition between an operating state with a high power consumption and a dormant state with a low power consumption, and a plurality of nodes that transmit event signals including different identification information for each detected event are connected between a plurality of connected networks. In the relay device that relays the event signal,
A relay information storage unit that stores each of the identification information and a node related to a relay destination of the event signal in association with each other;
A receiving unit for receiving the event signal;
When the receiving unit receives the event signal, the node is shifted to an operating state in a network to which the node stored in the relay information storage unit is associated with identification information included in the received event signal. A transition instruction signal transmitter for transmitting a transition instruction signal;
A relay device comprising: an event signal relay unit that relays the event signal to the network after the transition command signal transmitter transmits the transition command signal. Transition between an operating state with high power consumption and a hibernate state with low power consumption, and transmitting an event signal including different identification information for each detected event and a state signal indicating whether it is in an operating state or a hibernating state In a relay device that relays the event signal between a plurality of networks connected to a plurality of nodes,
A relay information storage unit that stores the identification information different for each event in association with a node related to a relay destination of the event signal including the identification information;
A receiver for receiving the event signal and the status signal;
A node state storage unit for storing a state signal received by the reception unit;
An event signal relay unit that relays the event signal;
A transition instruction signal transmission unit that transmits a transition instruction signal for transitioning the node to an operation state,
When the reception unit receives the event signal, the event signal relay unit stores the node state stored in the relay information storage unit in association with the identification information included in the received event signal. When the state of the node is not in the dormant state, the event signal is relayed to the network to which the node is connected. When the node is in the dormant state, the transition instruction signal transmitting unit operates the node in the network. A relay apparatus characterized in that after transmitting a transition instruction signal for transitioning to a state, the event signal is relayed to the network.

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