Implementation of a CAN system with dual communication channel to enhance the network capacity

Abstract

The controller area network (CAN) protocol is the most widely used in-vehicle network because it provides bounded transmission delay among electronic control units (ECUs) at data rates between 125Kbps and 1Mbps. And, many automotive companies have chosen the CAN protocol for their in-vehicle networking (IVN) system such as chassis network system of intelligent vehicles because of its excellent communication characteristics. However, the increasing number of ECUs and the need for more intelligent functions of advanced driver assistance systems (ADASs) or in-vehicle information systems (IVISs) require a network with more network capacity and real-time quality-of-service (QoS). As one approach to enhancing the network capacity of a CAN system, this paper introduces a CAN system with dual communication channel. And, this paper presents message allocation algorithm that allocates messages to the more appropriate channel using forecast traffic of each channel. An experimental testbed using commercial off-the-shelf microcontrollers with two CAN controllers was used to demonstrate the feasibility of the CAN system with dual communication channel using message allocation algorithm.