Modern Network

Let’s go back to after 2011. Imagine the following picture as a representation of a vehicle (You already did that before! 😄).

currently in this period we have more applications need to be fulfilled like:

• ADAS
• Infotainment

Network C/S:

• Topology: Star topology
• Protocols: Ethernet
• Data Rates: 10 Mbps: 10 BASE-T 100 Mbps: 100 BASE-TX (Fast Ethernet) 1 Gbps: 1000 BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet)
• Data Path: Dynamic
• Data Length: Dynamic
• Real-time Constraints: No with High Latency.

1. Topology: Star Topology

In a star topology, all Electronic Control Units (ECUs) connect to a central hub or switch. This design allows each ECU to communicate through the central point, making it easy to manage and troubleshoot. If one connection fails, it does not disrupt the entire network.

2. Protocol and Real-Time Constraints

The main protocol used is Ethernet, which supports fast data transfer. It's suitable for applications like:

• ADAS: Enhancing vehicle safety.
• Infotainment: Providing entertainment and connectivity.

However, this network has high latency and does not meet real-time requirements, which can affect critical applications.

3. Data Rate

Ethernet supports several data rates:

• 10 Mbps (10BASE-T): Basic speed for simple applications.
• 100 Mbps (100BASE-TX): Fast Ethernet for moderate needs.
• 1 Gbps (1000BASE-T): Gigabit Ethernet for demanding applications like ADAS and infotainment.

4. Dynamic Data Paths

The data paths in this network are dynamic. But what does that mean?

It means that new paths can be created at runtime, allowing for high flexibility. This flexibility enables us to add new features on the fly!

You might be wondering, how is this possible? We will explore this further in the upcoming sections, where we will discuss Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and the SOME/IP protocol.

5. Dynamic Data Length

The data itself can also change at runtime, which means we cannot determine the exact length of the data during the design phase.

For example, consider a camera that detects the number of objects in its field of view and sends a frame containing this count. This calculation occurs in real time, meaning the length of the data is not fixed.

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