COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD FOR SIMULATING A RESTBUS CONTROL UNIT NETWORK

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for simulating a restbus control unit network that includes at least two restbus control units connected through a bus system. The restbus control unit network is connected to at least one additional control unit through the bus system. The communication relationships of the restbus control units are described, program code for simulating the restbus control units is generated based on the communication relationships. The restbus control unit network is simulated on a simulation computer via an executable version of the program code. Simplified and flexible simulation of the restbus control unit network is made possible in that a single, joint restbus control unit model is generated for the restbus control units as program code for simulating the restbus control units.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for simulating a restbus control unit network that includes at least two restbus control units connected through a bus system, the method comprising: connecting the restbus control unit network to at least one additional control unit through the bus system, communication relationships of the restbus control units being described; generating program code for simulating the restbus control units based on the communication relationships; simulating the restbus control unit network on a simulation computer via an executable version of the program code; and generating a single, joint restbus control unit model for the restbus control units as program code for simulating the restbus control units.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the description of the communication relationships of the restbus control units is performed by specifying a communication matrix that includes the restbus control units and the communication elements exchanged between the restbus control units.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the restbus control units are jointly simulated in an executable version of the restbus control unit model or are simulated in a single process on the simulation computer.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the joint restbus control unit model is generated as a virtual control unit.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the restbus control unit model is generated as a functional mock-up unit that has a functional mock-up interface.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the restbus control unit model is generated for an offline simulation environment or as a Simulink model in the form of a Simulink implementation container.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein at least parts of the restbus control unit model meet the Automotive Open System Architecture Standard.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the restbus control units in the joint restbus control unit model are each represented by platform-independent program code excluding program code for the bus interface, wherein the platform-independent portions of the bus interface of the restbus control units are represented in a joint interface program code, and wherein the joint interface program code describes the specifically configured bus interfaces of all restbus control units.

9. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the restbus control units in the joint restbus control unit model are each represented by platform-independent program code with a portion of the relevant bus interface so that the platform-independent program code describes the specifically configured bus interface of the relevant restbus control unit.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the program code of the joint restbus control unit model is equipped with a manipulation interface through which different faults can be triggered within the restbus control unit network.

11. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the restbus control unit model is stored as a data container having the program code for the restbus control units, at least one parameter file, and program code of a system model with which the restbus control units are connected.

12. A computer program product with a computer program that has software for carrying out the method according to claim 1 when the computer program is executed on a computer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a computer-implemented method for simulating a restbus control unit network, as is known from the prior art,

[0033] FIG. 2 is a method according to the invention for simulating a restbus control unit network,

[0034] FIG. 3 is a computer-implemented method in which the restbus control unit model is designed as a functional mock-up unit,

[0035] FIG. 4 is a computer-implemented method in which the functionality of the bus interface is represented in a joint interface program code, and

[0036] FIG. 5 is a computer-implemented method in which the program code for the restbus control units includes the portion of the relevant bus interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Shown in FIG. 1 is a computer-implemented method 1 for simulating a restbus control unit network 2 such as is already practiced in the prior art. Shown at the top in FIG. 1, firstly, is a control unit network with a total of three control units 2a, 2b, and 4, which are connected to one another through a bus system 3.

[0038] In the present case, the engineering task is that the control unit 4 is present as an actual control unit and is to be tested with respect to its functionality in interaction with the other control units 2a, 2b. If—for whatever reason—the control units 2a, 2 are not actually present, these control units 2a, 2b are simulated. From the point of view of the control unit 4 under test, the two control units 2a, 2b together constitute the restbus control unit network 2. If the functionality of the restbus control units 2a, 2b is known, then the communication relationships of the restbus control units 2a, 2b can also be described. Program code 5a, 5b for simulating the restbus control units 2a, 2b is then generated on the basis of the communication relationships.

[0039] It can be seen at the bottom of FIG. 1 that the restbus control unit network 2 is simulated on a simulation computer 6 by means of an executable version of the program code 5a, 5b. The simulation computer 6, which is only shown schematically here, is an HIL test stand. It is typically the case that a separate program code 5a, 5b is generated for each of the restbus control units 2a, 2b and this program code 5a, 5b is executed separately on different units 6a, 6b of the simulation computer 6. The simulation computer units 6a, 6b here are separate plug-in cards within the HIL simulator 6, each with its own processor and its own I/O interfaces through which they are connected to the bus system 3. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the restbus control units 2a, 2b are implemented as separate virtual control units (V-ECU).

[0040] It is shown in FIG. 2 that only one single, joint restbus control unit model is generated for the restbus control units 2a, 2b as program code 5 for simulating the restbus control units 2a, 2b. The comprehensive program code 5 may have code sections 5a, 5b that are directly related to the functionality of the restbus control units 2a, 2b, but the functionality of all restbus control units 2a, 2b is represented in the single program code 5 that is executable, and is executed, as a comprehensive program code 5.

[0041] It is an advantage of the method shown that a restbus simulation that is simplified compared to the method from FIG. 1 is possible in which the totality of the restbus control units 2a, 2b can be simulated jointly since they are based on a single, joint restbus control unit model or a single, joint program code 5. The messages exchanged between the restbus control units 2a, 2b can be exchanged within the restbus control unit model or within the program code 5 based thereon. The only data that the restbus control unit model and the program code 5 based thereon still must output externally, e.g., as a response to receiving data from the other control unit 4, are the data that are of interest to the other control unit 4. In this way the simulation of the restbus control unit network 2 can be implemented very easily.

[0042] Furthermore, there is also no need for multiple computing units 6a, 6b on the simulation computer 6 for simulating the restbus control unit network 2; instead, only the presence of a single computing unit 6a or 6b in the simulation computer 6 is necessary in order to simulate the entire restbus control unit network 2; this is also shown in FIG. 2.

[0043] The generation of a single, joint restbus control unit model as program code 5 for the restbus control units 2a, 2b has the result that the restbus control units 2a, 2b are jointly simulated during execution on the simulation computer 6 or on the simulation computing unit 6a. In the present case, the restbus control units 2a, 2b are simulated in a single process within the framework of the execution of the program code 5 on the computing unit 6a of the simulation computer 6. With the method presented it is thus possible for the entire restbus control unit network 2 and the joint restbus control unit model associated therewith to be generated as a single virtual control unit and—as shown in FIG. 2—to be executed and simulated by a single virtual control unit.

[0044] The method presented here for simulating a restbus control unit network 2 opens up yet more extensive options permitting simple handling of an entire restbus control unit network 2 even in a different simulation context. It is shown in FIG. 3 that the restbus control unit network 2, and thus also the associated restbus control unit model, are generated as a functional mock-up unit 7, and are simulated on a simulation computer 6 within the scope of another simulation environment. In the present case, the simulation computer 6 is a conventional PC on which a block-based simulation environment is operated, which is indicated by the schematically represented block diagram.

[0045] In the block-based modeling environment shown, the program code 5 for the restbus control unit network 2 is stored for a restbus block. The simulation environment here is an offline simulation environment in which the simulation of the restbus control unit network 2 does not necessarily need to take place in real time. The advantage of a simplified overall representation and simulation implementation of the restbus control unit network 2 by the program code 5 of a single, joint restbus control unit model is preserved here as well, however.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a special embodiment of the above-described method for simulating a restbus control unit network 2. What is important here is that the restbus control units 2a, 2b in the joint restbus control unit model are each represented by platform-independent program code 5a, 5b, wherein the program code 5a, 5b does not contain any program code for the bus interface. The platform-independent portions of the bus interface of the restbus control units 2a, 2b are then represented in a joint interface program code 8, wherein the joint interface program code 8 describes the specifically configured bus interfaces of the restbus control units 2a, 2b. The interface program code 8 thus constitutes a superset interface for all restbus control units 2a, 2b. The interfaces 9a, 9b that are sketched then represent interfaces to an external bus interface and to the operating system of the simulation computer 6 or of the computing unit 6a of the simulation computer 6.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows an alternative variant for implementing the bus interfaces of the restbus control units 2a, 2b as compared with the embodiment in FIG. 4. Here, the restbus control units 2a, 2b in the joint restbus control unit model are each represented by platform-independent program code 5a, 5b with the portion of the relevant bus interface 8a, 8b, so that the platform-independent program code 5a, 5b, 8a, 8b describes the specifically configured bus interface of the relevant restbus control unit 2a, 2b. The program code for the bus interface 8a, 8b here is accordingly integrated into the restbus implementation. The platform-independent program code 5a, 5b of each individual restbus control unit 2a, 2b can thus separately enter into connection with the external bus system, not shown here, through the sketched interface 9a. Furthermore, an interface 9b is again provided for interaction with the operating system of the simulation computer 6 or the computing unit 6a of the simulation computer 6.

[0048] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.