CONFIGURATION SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURING A TEST SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR TESTING AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT

Abstract

A configuration system for configuring a test system suitable for testing an electronic control unit, wherein a configuration diagram has a plurality of hierarchy elements, and a hierarchy element either has one hierarchy element or multiple hierarchy elements or no hierarchy element. The hierarchy element has an identifier, and wherein a hierarchy element has port(s) or no port, and wherein at least one hierarchy element is assigned to a functional property of the test system to be configured, wherein in an expanded view mode, the hierarchy elements are displayed at least partially nested and the ports and identifiers are shown one below the other, wherein in an at least partially collapsed view mode, a first set of hierarchy elements is shown such that the identifiers are shown side by side, wherein the ports and identifiers remain visible and the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchy elements remains displayed.

Claims

1. A configuration system for configuring a test system to test an electronic control unit, the configuration system comprising: a computer with a display device; and a configuration diagram displayed via the display device, wherein the configuration diagram has a plurality of hierarchy elements, and a hierarchy element of the plurality of hierarchy elements includes either one sub-hierarchy element or multiple sub-hierarchy elements or no sub-hierarchy element, and wherein the hierarchy element has an identifier, and wherein the hierarchy element has a port or multiple ports or no port, wherein at least one hierarchy element is assigned to a functional property of the test system to be configured, wherein, in an expanded view mode, the hierarchy elements are shown at least partially nested and the ports and identifiers are shown one below the other, wherein, in an at least partially collapsed view mode, a first set of hierarchy elements is shown in such a way that the identifiers are displayed side by side, and wherein the ports and the identifiers remain visible and the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchy elements remains displayed.

2. The configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the test system is a HIL or RCP simulator and a software model of a technical system is executed on the simulator, and the software model exchanges status and/or control data on the simulator with the connected electronic control unit by means of an I/O interface.

3. The configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchy elements are shown as blocks.

4. The configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the identifiers of the blocks that represent the hierarchy elements of the first set are arranged side by side, and each higher-level block has the vertical extension of all the blocks subordinate to this block.

5. The configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchy elements in the expanded view mode are displayed at least partially nested, and the ports and identifiers are shown side by side, and wherein in the at least partially collapsed view mode, the first set of hierarchy elements is shown such that the identifiers are shown one below the other, wherein the ports and identifiers remain visible and the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchy elements remains displayed.

6. The configuration system according to claim 6, wherein the blocks representing the hierarchy elements of the first set are arranged one above the other and each higher-level block has the horizontal extent of all subordinate blocks.

7. A method for a configuration of a test system to an electronic control unit on a computer with a display device, wherein the computer has a configuration diagram, wherein the configuration diagram comprises a plurality of hierarchy elements and a hierarchy element of the plurality of hierarchy elements includes either one sub-hierarchy element or multiple sub-hierarchy elements or no sub-hierarchy element, the method comprising: assigning at least one hierarchy element to a functional property of the test system to be configured, wherein a hierarchy element has an identifier, and wherein a hierarchy element has a port or multiple ports or no port; displaying the configuration diagram on the display device; displaying the hierarchy elements in an expanded view mode at least partially nested; displaying ports and identifiers arranged one below the other in the expanded view mode; and displaying a first set of hierarchy elements in sum in a collapsed view mode, wherein, in the collapsed view mode, the identifiers of the first set are hierarchy elements displayed side by side, and the ports and the identifiers remain visible and at the same time, the hierarchical relationship of the hierarchy elements remains displayed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] 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:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram in an expanded view mode;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram in a collapsed view mode, which is known from the prior art;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a configuration diagram in a collapsed view mode corresponding to a first embodiment of a configuration system for configuring a test system suitable for testing an electronic control unit;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a configuration diagram in an expanded view mode corresponding to another embodiment of a configuration system for configuring a test system suitable for testing an electronic control unit;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a configuration diagram in a partially collapsed view mode according to a further embodiment of a configuration system for configuring a test system suitable for testing an electronic control unit;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a configuration diagram in a partially collapsed view mode according to a further embodiment of a configuration system for configuring a test system suitable for testing an electronic control unit;

[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a configuration diagram in a partially collapsed view mode according to a further embodiment of a configuration system for configuring a test system suitable for testing an electronic control unit;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a configuration diagram in a completely collapsed view mode according to a further embodiment of a configuration system for configuring a test system suitable for testing an electronic control unit;

[0031] FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a test system;

[0032] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a configuration system; and

[0033] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an example of a computer with a display device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The illustration of FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram DIA in an expanded view mode, in which hierarchy elements are shown according to their hierarchical structure. The hierarchy elements HIE are numbered in the drawing of FIG. 1 with the numbers 1 to 21. The hierarchy elements can contain one or more additional hierarchy elements, which result in hierarchy levels. For example, hierarchy element with the number 3 has two, subordinate hierarchy elements with the numbers 4 and 16. In contrast, the hierarchy element with the number 1 only has one more hierarchy element (number 2), while the hierarchy element with the number 9 does not contain any other hierarchy elements. Each hierarchy element has an identifier that allows the user to more easily identify the element and can provide an indication of the typing of the hierarchy element according to the technical property of the test system to be configured with the element. More information about this can be found in FIG. 10 and in the description of FIG. 10. In FIG. 1, exemplary identifiers have been selected for the displayed hierarchy elements: Number 1 Simulated ECUs, number 2 ComMatrixConflictTest1, number 3 ecu_instance_1. The further assignment of identifiers to the hierarchy elements with the numbers 4-21 can be found accordingly in FIG. 1.

[0035] Furthermore, some hierarchy elements with the numbers 9, 11, 13, 15 and 21 have the ports POR1, POR2, POR3, POR4, POR5 in the illustrated example. For example, the ports are used to drag connections between model components of the underlying software model and act as an input/output interface between the model components.

[0036] The nested representation shows the hierarchical structure underlying the hierarchy elements without further user interaction with the configuration diagram. However, in the vertical direction, quite a lot of space is needed if today's models of higher complexity are to be mapped. For the user to get an overview of the diagram, he or she must move the screen, also referred to as scrolling.

[0037] In FIG. 2, therefore a reduction in complexity common in the prior art is shown in favor of clarity. The underlying example is the same as for FIG. 1, only here, all hierarchy levels below hierarchy elements number 5 and number 17 were removed from the illustration. However, the reduced representation also results in a reduction of the available informationthe lower hierarchy levels and the ports present in the example are no longer recognizable.

[0038] This problem is solved by the invention; FIG. 3 accordingly shows an example of a configuration diagram DIA in a collapsed view. Here, as in the example of FIG. 2, a reduction below the hierarchy elements 5 and 17 was selected. However, the solution approach of the invention is not the mere omission of the corresponding hierarchy elements from the representation, but also the reduction in complexity in the vertical direction to improve the overview, and at the same time to maintain all the ports and hierarchy elements, including their hierarchy levels. In the example of FIG. 3, the hierarchy elements with the numbers 1-5 and 16-17 have been removed from the vertical dimension. These hierarchy elements are arranged in collapsed view mode next to the subordinate hierarchy elements 6-15 and 18-21, which have remained in the original display form. The extent of the hierarchy elements 1-5 and 16-17 in the vertical direction corresponds to the vertical extent of the corresponding subordinate hierarchy elements. For example, the vertical extent of the hierarchy element 17 corresponds to the extension of the subordinate and nested hierarchy elements 18-21. At the same time, ports 1-5 remain visible, as well as the complete information about the hierarchical structure.

[0039] FIGS. 4-8 clarify the underlying principle in an exemplary manner. Here, an abstracted form was chosen to increase clarity. Thus, FIG. 4 shows the fully expanded configuration diagram with the hierarchy elements GRAY, YELLOW, RED, BLUE and GREEN. The hierarchy element RED also has two ports POR (A and B), BLUE and GREEN each have a port (C and D). In this example, the hierarchical relationship between the hierarchy elements is mapped by the horizontal extent of the hierarchy elements, similar to what is shown in FIGS. 1-3. GRAY has all other hierarchy elements, YELLOW has RED and BLUE has GREEN.

[0040] In FIG. 5, a first stage of the collapsed view mode is shownhere, the change in the view mode was performed starting with the hierarchy elements below GRAY. The hierarchy element GRAY now extends vertically along all the other hierarchy elements and the vertical extent of the configuration diagram is reduced.

[0041] In FIG. 6, the change was performed below the hierarchy element YELLOW so that YELLOW now extends vertically along the hierarchy element RED with the two associated ports A and B. Accordingly, in FIG. 7, a collapse was performed below the hierarchy element GREEN, and in FIG. 8, below the hierarchy elements BLUE and RED. In FIG. 8, the maximum possible reduction is now attained by the collapsed view mode. The configuration diagram is now very compact and continues to show the complete hierarchical structure.

[0042] FIG. 9 shows a test device TEST on which a software model MOD of a technical system is executed on an electronic processing unit RE, wherein the software model or the processing unit communicates via an input/output interface INT of the test device, and an internal data connection BUS communicates with a device DEV connected to the test device. A processing unit can be, e.g., a processor, an FPGA or an embedded PC. Communication with the test device can take place by means of the transmission of analog or digital electrical signals. The test device can include various hardware units (e.g., plug-in cards), which form the input/output interface INT. The input-output interface and the electronic processing unit RE form a coherent system, but can also be spatially separated and connected to one another by electronic links.

[0043] The test device TEST can be, e.g., a Hardware in the Loop (HIL) simulator. The test device TEST can also be a Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) system. However, the test device can also be a device that is suitable for the execution of HIL tests or RCP tests, in that a model of a technical system can be executed in the test device and that this model can exchange data via input/output interfaces with a device under test which is connected to the test device, such as a control unit, wherein in particular in this data exchange, the reaction of the test device to data resulting from the model, which is transmitted to the control unit, e.g., for example in the form of electrical signals, is analyzed.

[0044] A software model MOD, so e.g., a model of a technical system, can be present by way of example in the form of a software model, which is specified by a source code, e.g., in a high-level language such as C, C ++, or in a machine language such as Assembler or executable machine code. By means of a technical model, unlimited systems can be modeled in order to virtually simulate them. For example, a model of an engine may be present as a software, wherein the software is programmed in such a way that during simulation, in this case an execution of the model on a CPU or an FPGA, input parameters are processed by the software and output values are generated as a function of the input parameters and the characteristics of the model. An input parameter can be, e.g., the voltage applied to a throttle valve of a gasoline engine and output values in this regard could be the resulting opening angle of the throttle valve, the fuel consumption and/or a torque resulting from the crankshaft. However, the model can also be a model of a control device to be tested or developed. Generally, the software model can be understood to be an algorithm for the control, regulation or simulation of the behavior of a technical system.

[0045] The illustration of FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of a configuration system KON which has several hierarchy elements (HIE1, HIE2, HIE3, HIE4), which are connected to connecting lines CON for configuring the test device TEST.

[0046] For example, the hierarchy elements can configure properties and functionalities of the test device, in particular, of the input/output interfaces and/or the model interfaces or internal data connections 107. Exemplary properties include interface types, voltage/current ranges, units, unit scaling, data types, duty cycles, frequencies and/or error injections. These properties can be specified by parameters, for example, by a predetermined selection of several parameters or by a free input option for the parameters. These properties can be transferred to the test device by means of the configuration system, where they can be stored and thus provide a configuration of the test device according to the properties. This configuration process can also take place indirectly, e.g., by a code generation according to the properties, and/or a subsequent compilation of the generated code, a transfer of the code, or of the compiled code, to the test device, and the execution of the compiled code on the test device. The storage of the properties on the test device can thus also be done by means of a source code or binary code.

[0047] The hierarchy elements may be assigned properties of the test device with associated parameters of the properties, and by means of the parameters, communication, i.e., in particular the functionality between the connected device and the software model, can be configured. In a graphical configuration environment, the individual hierarchy elements can also be connected to each other in order to perform a configuration of the test device. Different hierarchy elements can be connected, or in others words, associated or assigned, by means of the connecting lines CON. These assignments can configure different hardware components of the test device, such as processors, FPGAs, input-output boards, storage media and the like, so that they exchange data with each other, i.e., receive and send electrical signals.

[0048] In the illustration of FIG. 11, a computer PC with a display device DIS and HMI devices such as a keyboard KEY and a mouse MAU are shown. A configuration system for configuring a test system suitable for testing an electronic control unit can comprise such a computer in one embodiment.

[0049] The computer PC comprises at least one electronic processing unit CPU with one or more cores, a random access memory RAM and several peripheral devices connected to a local bus system, e.g., PCI Express, which exchanges data with the CPU unit by means of a bus control unit BC. The peripheral devices include, for example, a graphics card GPU, a bus control unit USB for connecting other peripheral devices, a non-volatile main memory HDD, for example, a hard disk or a semiconductor hard disk, and a network interface NC. In one embodiment, instructions are stored in the non-volatile main memory by means of which the computer carries out a method according to one or more of the claimed embodiments by means of an electronic processing unit.

[0050] The computer can comprise one or more servers, which include one or more processing units. The servers are then connected via a network to a client computer, which comprises a display device. The configuration system can then be completely or partially executed on a remote server, such as on a cloud computing system.

[0051] 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 claim.