The present invention relates to software and systems, and more particularly to multi-level, multi-regime development tools and run-time software agents for integrated development and run-time environments.
In the current paradigm of product development, the quality of a product, its production, and its service is mainly designed, tested, and implemented during development. Errors in a product, its production, or its service are identified during development and corrected. Once a product is released, it is difficult to find remaining quality problems.
Currently, a methodology, known as six sigma, attempts to locate root causes and failures in the product, mainly in development and manufacturing. These root cause activities are people intensive, involving “black belts” and other quality experts in addition to other disciplines such as engineering. Software is developed with a focus on people with knowledge, tools, technology, and good processes (model-driven software engineering) to find problems during development. Because software is developed with this focus and finding root causes is people intensive, improvements are desirable.
In accordance with the present invention, the above and other problems are solved by the following:
In one aspect of the present invention, a system for learning model-based lifecycle diagnostics is disclosed. The system includes an integrated development environment, a run-time environment, and a bi-directional link. The integrated development environment includes software tools linked within. The run-time environment includes agents that detect failures linked within. The bi-directional link links the integrated development environment and the run-time environment. In the system, failures detected in the run-time environment can be traced back to the integrated development environment to determine model errors.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of diagnosing model errors in a software environment is disclosed. The software environment includes an integrated development environment and a run-time environment bi-directionally linked. The method includes detecting failures within the run-time environment; tracing the failures back to the integrated development environment; and identifying the model errors in the integrated development environment based on the tracing of the failures.
In another aspect of the present invention, a computer program product readable by a computing system and encoding instructions for a computer process for diagnosing model errors in a software environment that includes an integrated development environment and a run-time environment bi-directionally linked. The computer process includes detecting failures within the run-time environment; tracing the failures back to the integrated development environment; and identifying the model errors in the integrated development environment based on the tracing of the failures.
In another aspect of the present invention, a system for learning model-based lifecycle diagnostics for vehicles is disclosed. The system includes an integrated development environment, a run-time development, and a bi-directional link. The integrated development environment includes a requirements management tool, a design tool, and a deployment tool linked together. The run-time environment includes applications, brokers, and agents that detect failures linked together. The bi-directional link links the integrated development environment and the run-time environment. In the system, failures detected in the run-time environment are traced back to the integrated development environment to determine model errors.
The invention may be implemented as a computer process; a computing system, which may be distributed; or as an article of manufacture such as a computer program product. The computer program product may be a computer storage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. The computer program product may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and its scope may be obtained from the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below, from the following detailed descriptions of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and from the appended claims.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:
In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The present disclosure describes methods and systems for learning model-based lifecycle software and systems. More particularly, the software and systems include an integrated development environment (IDE) and a run-time environment (RTE) linked together. The IDE contains a set of development tools linked within the IDE and linked to the RTE. The RTE includes a number of diagnostic agents linked within the RTE and linked to the IDE. Thereby, the development tools and the diagnostic agents communicate with each other.
Referring now to
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention might be practiced with other computer system configurations, including handheld devices, palm devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network personal computers, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The invention might also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules might be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Referring now to
Preferably, the system memory 204 includes read only memory (ROM) 208 and random access memory (RAM) 210. A basic input/output system 212 (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help transfer information between elements within the computing system 200, such as during start-up, is typically stored in the ROM 208.
Preferably, the computing system 200 further includes a secondary storage device 213, such as a hard disk drive, for reading from and writing to a hard disk (not shown), and/or a compact flash card 214.
The hard disk drive 213 and compact flash card 214 are connected to the system bus 206 by a hard disk drive interface 220 and a compact flash card interface 222, respectively. The drives and cards and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computing system 200.
Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a hard disk drive 213 and a compact flash card 214, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer-readable media, capable of storing data, can be used in the exemplary system. Examples of these other types of computer-readable mediums include magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, CD ROMS, DVD ROMS, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like.
A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk 213, compact flash card 214, ROM 208, or RAM 210, including an operating system 226, one or more application programs 228, other program modules 230, and program data 232. A user may enter commands and information into the computing system 200 through an input device 234. Examples of input devices might include a keyboard, mouse, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, digital camera, touch screen, and a telephone. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 202 through an interface 240 that is coupled to the system bus 206. These input devices also might be connected by any number of interfaces, such as a parallel port, serial port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). A display device 242, such as a monitor or touch screen LCD panel, is also connected to the system bus 206 via an interface, such as a video adapter 244. The display device 242 might be internal or external. In addition to the display device 242, computing systems, in general, typically include other peripheral devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, and palm devices.
When used in a LAN networking environment, the computing system 200 is connected to the local network through a network interface or adapter 252. When used in a WAN networking environment, such as the Internet, the computing system 200 typically includes a modem 254 or other means, such as a direct connection, for establishing communications over the wide area network. The modem 254, which can be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 206 via the interface 240. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computing system 200, or portions thereof, may be stored in a remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computing systems may be used.
The computing system 200 might also include a recorder 260 connected to the memory 204. The recorder 260 includes a microphone for receiving sound input and is in communication with the memory 204 for buffering and storing the sound input. Preferably, the recorder 260 also includes a record button 261 for activating the microphone and communicating the sound input to the memory 204.
A computing device, such as computing system 200, typically includes at least some form of computer-readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computing system 200. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media might comprise computer storage media and communication media.
Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by the computing system 200.
Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media may also be referred to as computer program product.
Using a vehicle as an example, a car manufacturer decides to make a new model X car with systems for learning model-based lifecycle diagnostics. At block 310, the requirements for the X car and systems are determined. For example, the X car should be a sedan having a certain payload, acceleration, and should not exceed $20,000. The system should reduce warranty repair costs and improve customer satisfaction.
At block 320, the X car and the systems are designed according to those requirements. The frame and suspension of the car are designed to carry the required payload, the power train is designed or chosen based on the gross vehicle weight and the acceleration requirement, and the rest of the X car is designed to not exceed $20,000. For example, knowing the X car should not exceed $20,000, an engineer may decide to choose an engine that barely meets the acceleration requirement and would not choose an engine that would greatly exceed the acceleration requirement. The system should be designed using web services with an imbedded web platform to run on a three-tier architecture consisting of servers, telematics, and electronics embedded in the vehicle. The system can have a distributed database to enable servers to be located throughout the supply and service chain. The system can include development, manufacturing, and service tools.
At block 330, the X car and the systems are implemented, i.e. manufactured and put into service, according to the design. Implementation deploys the software and hardware throughout the three-tier architecture in the supply and service chains.
Typically, software is utilized in each step of the product and system lifecycle, which includes product and system development, production, and service. Requirements management (RM) processes of vehicles and systems requires tools to facilitate collaboration among people in the supply and service chain. Currently, requirements management (RM) software uses model-driven, objected-oriented (OO) tools based on information authored and collected by people. Since the RM is dependant on the information input into it, the RM is limited. Therefore, these typical RM tools are inflexible and cannot autonomously recognize errors without intervention from people. Some RM tools are based on knowledge agents, giving it the ability to learn and recognize errors. Such RM tools are also flexible.
In the requirements step, there are two classes of knowledge problems that determine the type of product and system to be analyzed, and then the tools and processes required for development, production, and service. These two classes of problems include “tame” and “wicked” problems. Most problems are tame and can be solved with a stage-gate, linear process and information-based tools. Developing the requirements for a system to manage wicked problems requires a spiral process and knowledge-based tools.
Wicked problems are composed of a linked set of issues and constraints, and do not have a definitive statement of the problem itself. The problem (and therefore the requirements for designing a solution) cannot be adequately understood until iterative prototypes representing solution candidates have been developed. Within the primary overall development process, which is linear, a secondary spiral process for iterative prototypes is required. The spiral process involves “rolling out” a portion of the software at a time while another portion is being developed. The software engineering community has recognized that a spiral process is essential for rapid, effective development.
An example of a wicked problem is the design of a car and the diagnostics for the car. The “wicked” terminology was introduced by Horst Rittel in 1970. Rittel invented a technology called issue-based information systems (IBIS) to help solve this new class of problems. Wicked problems look very similar to ill-structured problems, but have many stakeholders whose views on the problem may vary. Wicked problems must be analyzed using a spiral, iterative process, and the ideas, such as requirements associated with the problem, have to be linked in a new paradigm 400, illustrated in
Referring to
IBIS is a graphical language with a grammar, or a form of argument mapping. Applying IBIS requires a skill similar to the design of experiments (DOE). Jeffrey Conklin (http://cognexus.org/id17.htm) pioneered the application of graphical hypertext views for IBIS structures with the introduction of graphical IBIS or gIBIS. The strength of IBIS, according to Conklin, stems from three properties: (1) IBIS maps complex thinking into analytical structured diagrams, (2) IBIS exposes the questions that form the foundation of knowledge, and (3) IBIS diagrams are much easier to understand than other forms of information.
Compsim LLC has extended IBIS in several ways. In their IBIS tool architecture, ideas can be specified in either the form of a text outline or a tree structure of nodes. Ideas of a given level can have priorities and weights to change the ordering of the display of ideas. Priorities can be easily edited in a variety of graphical ways. A unique decision making mechanism mimics human thinking with relative additions and subtractions for supporting negating arguments. The IBIS logic is captured as XML definitions and is used to build linked networks of knowledge-based agent networks. Compsim calls this agent structure knowledge enhanced electronic logic (KEEL). The agents execute an extended form of the IBIS logic.
The current field that contains IBIS is called computer-supported argument visualization (CSAV). Related fields that apply CSAV are computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and computer-mediated communication (CMC), which helped spawn the Internet. CMC tools include Microsoft's NetMeeting™ product.
Argument visualization is a key technology for defining the complex relationships found in requirements management, which is a subset of knowledge management (KM). One of the principles for KM is found in constructivist learning theory, which requires the negotiated construction of knowledge through collaborative dialog. The negotiation involves comparative testing of ideas. The corresponding dialog with visualization of ideas creates the tacit knowledge that comprises the largest part of knowledge as opposed to the explicit part of knowledge directly linked to information. Tacit knowledge is essential for shared understanding.
IBIS is a knowledge-based technology. IBIS tools for requirements management such as Compenium™ or QuestMap™ (trademarks of GDSS, Inc.) are distinctly different from object-oriented (OO) framework tools for RM such as Telelogics's DoorS™ or IBM's Requisite-Pro™. Wicked problems cannot be easily defined such that all stakeholders agree on the problem or the issues to be solved. There are tradeoffs that cannot be easily expressed in OO framework with RM tools. IBIS allows dyadic, situated scenarios to define requirements. IBIS allows the requirements to be simulated. IBIS can sense those situations and determine which set of requirements is appropriate or whether the requirements even adequately apply to the situation.
In summary, current RM tools have limitations. OO RM tools enable traceability between requirements, design, and implementation during development, but not during the production or service deployment phases. OO RM tools are not knowledge-based and cannot easily handle ill-structured, wicked problems with multiple stakeholder views that conflict with different weighted priority ranking of those views expressed as the pro's and con's of argumentation. IBIS RM tools overcome most of those limitations but do not develop traceable requirements for a system design.
Both OO RM and IBIS RM tools recognize that the relationship between ideas as expressed in text alone is not clear without additional structure such as an outline with an associated hierarchy. Network structures such as those made possible by hypertext technology can be traced back to Vannevar Bush and his 1945 article As We May Think. In 1962, Douglas Englebart defined a framework for cognitive augmentation with tools in his report from the Stanford Research Institute, Augmenting Human Intellect: A Conceptual Framework. The result of Englebart's research and development work was the development of the modem windows, icon, mouse, and pointer (WIMPT) graphical user interface (GUI) and an early implementation of hypertext-based tools.
Round-trip engineering for OO, or model-driven software development, is source code for implementation that is traceable back to elements of design and requirements. The round-trip is between requirements, design, and implementation as source code and then back to design and requirements. Since round-trip engineering currently occurs only during development and only within certain segments of the IDE, model errors that appear in the RTE after development cannot be traced back to root causes in requirements, design, or implementation. A segmented IDE might consist of four quadrants. These quadrants contain methods and tools for (1) enterprise applications in a system, (2) embedded software for the vehicles, (3) telematics for the vehicle, and (4) service systems for the vehicle.
Frequently, the OO model is defined using an unified modeling language (UML). UML is a third generation OO graphical modeling language. The system model has structural, behavioral, and functional aspects that interact with external users called actors as defined in use cases. A use case is a named capability of the system. System requirements typically fall into two categories: functional requirements and non-functional or Quality of Service (QoS) requirements.
Functional means what the system should do. QoS means how well or the performance attributes of the function. In common usage, functional can imply both functional and performance. The structural aspect defines the objects and object relations that may exist at run-time. Subsystems, packages, and components also define optional structural aspects. The behavioral aspect defines how the structural elements operate in the run-time system. UML provides state-charts (formal representation of finite-state-machines) and activity diagrams to specify actions and allowed sequencing. A common use of activity charts is specifying computational algorithms. Collections of structural elements work together over time as interactions. Interactions are defined in sequence or collaboration diagrams.
The requirements of a system consisting of functional and QoS aspects are captured typically as either one or both of two ways: (1) a model is use cases with detailed requirements defined in state charts and interaction diagrams, or (2) specifications as text with or without formal diagrams such as sequence diagrams that attempt to define all possible scenarios of system behavior.
Round-trip engineering traces OO requirements through OO design into an OO implementation that includes the OO source code for software. This round-trip occurs only in certain segments of the IDE, which are OO IDE segments, and only during development. Currently, there is no round-trip traceability between an RTE and an IDE during development, production, and service. Round-trip engineering has been extended to use a meta-model rather than require obtrusive source code markers, but extended round-trip engineering still occurs only within certain segments of the IDE during development.
Model-based diagnostics is a state-of-the-art method for fault isolation, which is a process for identifying a faulty component or components of a vehicle and a system that is not operating properly in compliance with operating parameters specified as part of the vehicle and system's implementation model. Model-based diagnostics suffers from the limitations of assuming that the model has no errors and accurately represents all the operating scenarios of the system. The operating scenarios of the system include all expected faults.
If an adequate amount of observable information from the vehicle is available at run-time, model-based diagnostics can determine the root cause for previously known and expected failure modes predicted by an expanded model that includes both normal and failure modes. The expanded model is used to simulate and record the behavior resulting from all possible single component failures, then combinations of multiple component failures. When failure behavior is observed, a sequence of pre-determined experiments can be performed to determine the root cause.
Faults in the vehicle and system's requirements or design and implementation models are mainly detected after development by users who may complain and have their complaints analyzed by service technicians and then possibly by engineers. Situations that led to the complaints are frequently not easily identified and reproducible. The process of fault isolation or root cause determination generally begins at detection of abnormal system behavior and attempts to identify the defective and improperly operating component or components. These components perform some collection of functions in the system. The components are frequently designed to be field replaceable hardware units that may contain software. However, the failure model assumed in current practice considers functional failure modes of the replaceable component and does not determine whether the failure inside the component or components is a hardware or a software failure. If the failure is in software, then the failure is a model failure at the requirements, design, or implementation level. Replacing the hardware component or components will not repair the problem.
In one example embodiment, an improved method and system of detecting lifecycle failures in vehicle functional subsystems, that are caused either by hardware failures or by model errors in requirements, design, or implementation and tracing the failure back to the root cause in the model, is contemplated. For tracing, the method uses a new capability for lifecycle round-trip engineering that links diagnostic agents in the RTE with a dyadic model in the IDE for managing the development and maintenance of vehicle functions and the corresponding diagnostics. The dyadic model in the IDE is managed by linked dyadic tools that develop functions and corresponding diagnostics at each level of the spiral development “V” process (which will be described in more detail later): requirements, design and implementation. The lifecycle diagnostic method, which links the IDE and RTE, can be applied during development, production, and service of the vehicle RTE.
Referring to
As shown in
The DRD link 599 eliminates the need for the RTE agents 600 to know how to communicate with the tools in the IDE 500. The system 499 creates the proper linkages between the IDE 500 and the RTE 600 using only the information in the DRD link 599. An example of the data returning from the RTE 600 to the IDE 500 is shown below:
Referring back to
At the top of
The IDE 500 includes a first RM 502, a second RM 504, a first design tool 506, a second design tool 508, a third design tool 510, a first deployment tool 512, a second deployment tool 514, and a third deployment tool 516. Preferably, the first RM 502 is implemented as OO RM Tool, and the second RM 504 is implemented as an IBIS RM Tool. The first design tool 506 is implemented as an OO model-driven function design tool, such as IBM/Rational Rose™, iLogix's Rhapsody™, the MathWorks's Simulink™ or ETAS's ASCET/SD™.
The second design tool 508 is implemented as a knowledge-based diagnostics design tool. The third design tool 510 is implemented as a model-based diagnostics design tool. The second design tool 508 and the third design tool 510 comprise a diagnostic builder tool suite that contains both knowledge-based diagnostic design tools and model-based diagnostic design tools. These tools enable the user of the system 499 to develop run-time diagnostic agents for the corresponding designed vehicle functions. The diagnostic agents are intended to run on the three levels of the RTE 600,
The first deployment tool 512 is implemented as a software function code generation, management, and deployment tools such as ASCET/SD™. The second deployment tool 514 is implemented as a software diagnostic code generation, management, and deployment tool. And, the third deployment tool 516 is implemented as a software diagnostic code generation, management, and deployment tool.
The first RM 502 is linked to the second RM 504 via link 518. The link 518 is any standard communication link known in the art. The link 518 is a bi-directional, integrated link that enables capturing the knowledge, assumption, and decision logic behind the requirements captured in the first RM 502. Preferably, the system 499 implements link 518 by passing unique XML function identifier descriptors (FIDs-RM) for objects in the first RM 502 to the second RM 504 and by building a data relationship with XML diagnostic identifier descriptors (DIDs-RM). The dyadic relationship for link 518 is stored in the DRD link 599. By windowing the second RM 504 into the graphic user interface of the first RM 502, the system 499 enables the user to define the decision logic behind the requirement being captured as objects in the first RM 502, such as a use case. The logic in the second RM 504, corresponding to the object in the first RM 502, is defined as unique XML diagnostic identifier descriptors (DIDs).
The first design tool 506 is linked to the second and third design tools 508, 510 via link 520. Link 520 bi-directionally passes unique XML defined function identifier descriptors for design (-D) and diagnostic identifier descriptors for design (-D) and integrates the graphical user interface of the separate tools at the design level.
The first deployment tool 512, or functional module, is linked to the second and third deployment tools 514, 516, or diagnostic agents, via link 522. Link 522 bi-directionally passes unique XML defined function identifier descriptors for implementation (-I) and diagnostic identifier descriptors (-I) and integrates the graphic user interface of the implementation tools. Link 522 is implemented by defining the ECU memory locations and data types for the information corresponding to vehicle modules. ASAM MCD™ with XML is an example of such a link. Tools, such as ETAS's ASCET/SD™ and INCA™, can be used to implement link 522.
The first RM 502 is also linked to the first design tool 506 via link 524. The first design tool 506 is also linked to the first deployment tool 512 via link 526 for implementation. Links 524, 526 enable what is called round-trip engineering for functions in the development environment. Objects corresponding to requirements can be traced through design to the source code in implementation and back up to design and requirements.
Likewise, the second RM tool 504 is linked to the second and third design tools 508, 510 via links 528, 530, respectively. The second and third design tools 508, 510 are linked to the second and third deployment tools 514, 516 via links 532, 534, respectively. Links 532, 534 enable round-trip engineering for diagnostics in the development environment. XML defined design objects for diagnostics are linked to source code for diagnostics.
The system 499 integrates model-based diagnostic design tools, such as R.O.S.E's Rodon™, that generate source code with tools, such as ASCET/SD™, to generate executable code on a real-time operating system for implementation on the RTE 600,
Referring to
The RTE 600 includes a first database 602, a server application 604, a second database 606, a broker 608, an electronic control unit (ECU) 610, learning agents 612, and agents 614. Preferably, the first database 602 is an embedded distributed data-base known in the art. The server application 604 is a server diagnostic software application and meshed network of KBD modules. The second database 606 is an embedded distributed data-base. The broker 608 manages KBD bundles of diagnostic agents and data. The ECU 610 includes software and other hardware connected to the ECU. The learning agents 612 include software learning model-based diagnostic agents and data in ECU's. The agents 614 include software model-based diagnostic (MBD) agents and data in ECU's.
The first database 602 is linked to the server application 604 via link 616. The second database 606 is linked to the broker 608 via link 618. The ECU 610 is linked to the learning agents and the agents via link 620. The server application 604 is also linked to the broker 608 via link 622. The broker 608 is linked to the learning agents 612 and agents 614 via link 624.
The IDE 500 and RTE 600 are linked via link 599. Link 599 is a Development, Run-time, Development (DRD) link. Preferably, the DRD link 599 is implemented using a telecommunications and operations infrastructure (TOI) containing combinations of a distributed data-base and software interprocess communication (IPC) mechanisms. In the DRD link 599, the information sent through the data-base or FPC mechanisms are defined by XML schemas and contain both IDE 500 and RTE 600 data. The XML schema could be sent in messages or optionally be used to configure a distributed data-base.
During development, new diagnostic tools in the IDE 500 are used to guide users to follow a spiral “V” process “down” and “up” the “V” to build IDE model linkages (as is described in more detail below) between functions uniquely identified with function identifier descriptors (FIDs) and corresponding diagnostics uniquely identified with diagnostic identifier descriptors (DIDs) at the levels of requirements, design, and implementation. The IDE dyadic (function-diagnostic) model linkages with FIDs and DIDs are stored in the DRD link 599 data-base.
Consequently as the method follows the spiral “V” process over iterative prototyping cycles during development, a new dyadic system model is built in the IDE 500 and the DRD link data-base 599. An RTE 600 is also built for the vehicle. The RTE 600 contains a three-tier level of diagnostic agents that are linked together into an integrated diagnostic application architecture (DAA) and linked to the vehicle functions including software with corresponding calibration parameters in ECU's.
The three-tier RTE 600 includes managers on the servers 604 and brokers 608 on the TCUs for dynamically deploying the agents 612, 614 onto vehicles such as downloading agents to a vehicle's TCU or a vehicle service module (VSM).
In the RTE 600, run-time linkages or run-time binding between software objects is performed by the agent manager and brokers using the IDE defined XML schemas and data such as the FIDs and DIDs contained in the DRD link 599. This enables linking agents together and linking agents with functions.
An example of the linking is connecting a diagnostic agent with a calibration parameter in an engine ECU. In an IDE 500 using UML, these connections might also include ports and protocols. In an IDE 500 and a RTE 600 complying with the Association for Standardization of Automation and Measurement (ASAM), additional access methods for measurement, calibration and diagnosis (MCD) that relate to ECU's in vehicles would be defined. These access methods would still be contained in the DRD link 599 and represented as XML schemas with embedded data.
Referring to
Root cause tracing occurs with lifecycle round-trip engineering that links the detected failures in the vehicle RTE 600,
A spiral lifecycle process is triggered by the likely detection of failures by cooperative, autonomous diagnostic agents in the vehicle RTE 600,
The trigger can be assisted by service tools connected to the vehicle RTE 600.
LMBD agents can apply time-frequency based performance assessment technology to avoid using a model (with errors) for filtering and detection of a signal as a failure. Time-frequency analysis (TFA) provides a method for managing a combined time-frequency representation of a signal or a set of signals that represent the normal behavior of a system. The behavior can vary over time and frequency. TFA is a method for detecting both slow degradation and abrupt failures. Newly developed TFA methods can identify the behavior of a system's signature in ways that are difficult or impossible using time-series or spectral analysis. Optimal design methods for TFA include the Reduced Interference Distribution or RID. RID optimization achieves the goal of providing high resolution time-frequency representations. Learning MBD agents built with RID TFA technology exhibit many desirable properties such as very rapid identification of failures without using a model, with minimal processing and with engineered statistical confidence in the detection.
Referring back to
To trace model failures back from the RTE 600 to the IDE 500, the method implements round-trip engineering between diagnostic agents in the RTE 600 and diagnostics linked to the corresponding vehicle functions in the IDE 500. The functions are represented as a model with objects. Because the agents, processes, tools, and linkages operate together in a spiral process to learn model errors over a vehicle's lifecycle, the method is called lifecycle learning-model based diagnostics.
An IDE 500 is an integral part of the lifecycle method in addition to a RTE 600 for software on the vehicle and software that supports the production and service of the vehicle. Service of the vehicle includes service operations at dealers and a telematic service such as OnStar™. Preferably, the RTE 600 includes fleets of vehicles, the electronic control units (ECU's), networks, sensors, actuators and user interface devices such as speedometers on dashboards on individual vehicles, and a telecommunications and operations infrastructure (TOI) that includes computers such as distributed servers, communication networks such as cellular and wireless LAN's such as WIFI, and tools such as diagnostic scan tools generally found at OEM dealerships and independent aftermarket (IAM) repair shops.
Preferably, the IDE 500 is a computing laboratory and experimental driving environment with a collection of development tools for developing and maintaining vehicle functions such as power train electronics, including the ECU's, sensors, and actuators for an engine and transmission, body electronics, such as the ECU's, sensors, and actuators for lighting systems, and chassis electronics, such as the ECU's, sensors, and actuators for anti-skid braking systems (ABS). The vehicle functions are implemented in systems such as power train and corresponding subsystems, such as engine cooling. These systems and subsystems include both hardware and software. The IDE 500 is also used to develop the enterprise application software (alternately called the information technology or IT software) to support vehicle production and service operations.
The software that implements vehicle functions generally runs on electronic control units (ECU's) and an optional telematic control unit (TCU) residing on the vehicle. The application software runs on computers such as servers and PC's and for service tools such as diagnostic scan tools. The development of vehicle diagnostic software for service operations is commonly called authoring. The diagnostic software on the vehicle is called on-board diagnostics (OBD).
The processes used in the methods of the IDE 500,
Development of a production and service capability including the tools for production and service occurs during the development phase 902. Capability is defined as people with knowledge, tools, technology, and processes. There is an associated architecture that represents the structure of the capability, including a business information system, represented by tools and technology. There is a large amount of software in the business system. The associated architecture also includes the structure of the vehicle, including its subsystems, that include its on-board information system. There is also a board diagnostic (OBD) system in the vehicle. This OBD system includes a large amount of software. Part of the OBD system is required by government regulations to indirectly monitor the vehicle's emissions by monitoring the operation of the vehicle's emission control systems. Typically, there is almost as much diagnostic software in a vehicle's power train ECUs as there is control software.
The information system on the vehicle typically includes many electronic control units (ECUs). Vehicles typically have fifty or more ECUs. These ECUs contain a large amount of software. The architecture of a vehicle, and its production and service systems, are completely defined during development. The development phase 902 typically begins with a large part of the architecture previously determined in a research and development (R&D) phase (not shown) that precedes the development phase 902. The architectural model for a vehicle model is typically derived from a platform model, which includes power train, chassis body, and other subsystem components.
The product development process enables development, production, and service of both the vehicle and the business system as a product. The process operates with the corresponding business system that supports the vehicle during development, production, and service.
The product and the business system are supported by the process, which is part of an organizational capability. The capability has an associated architecture. The architecture relates to both the vehicle and the business system. The capability includes internal and external (outsourced) services with people and their knowledge, applications, tools, platforms, components, and technology. The capability supports the vehicle as a product and the business system in the supply and service chains. These chains support the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and the vehicle as a product over the lifecycle.
The lifecycle for a vehicle typically lasts more than ten years. The development phase 902 is about two to three years, followed by several years of the production phase 904 for several model years. The production phase 904 is followed by many years of the service phase 906. The initial part of the service phase 906 for a specific vehicle typically includes an original equipment service (OES) warranty period of three or more years that is followed by a service period that includes the independent aftermarket (LAM).
These development, production, and service phases 902, 904, 906 are illustrated as following each other sequentially over time, but there is overlap that will be illustrated in subsequent figures. The production phase 904 begins with the start of production (SOP). The service phase 906 begins with the first customer shipment (FCS) of a vehicle. As many vehicles are produced for a model year, the production and service phases 904, 906 overlap.
In each phase 902, 904, 906 of the process, there is an RTE and an IDE. The RTE is specific to a phase. D-RTE 908 represents a development-RTE; P-RTE 910 represents a production RTE; and S-RTE 912 represents a service RTE. A manufacturing plant with production tools would be included in the P-RTE 910. An OEM dealer's service department with service tools would be included in the S-RTE 912. A single IDE 914 with development tools is common to all phases and linked to each specific RTE 908, 910, 912. The IDE 914 would typically be applied in the supply and service chains, and in the OEM and its business partners. The specific RTEs 908, 910, 912 are connected to the IDE 914 through a DRD Link 916.
The development phase 902,
Development tools typically support simulation of design models, which enable testing to occur without fully implemented vehicles and supporting systems. Development tools with simulation and testing capabilities such as hardware in the loop (HIL) or software in the loop (SWL) are used to permit incremental development of subsystems before a completed vehicle is available. As development proceeds, some part of an implementation model can be determined and specified. The spiral process is used to incrementally complete parts of requirements, design, and implementation. The spiral process permits repeated forward sequences such as implementation determination and specification that follows design or reverse sequences such as requirements development that follow either design or implementation. Modem software engineering and corresponding tools encourages use of a spiral process during development to speed development, improve quality, and lower development cost.
The Lifecycle Spiral Process 1100 is required because during the service phase of the vehicle's lifecycle, faults and anomalies will be encountered. Faults are failures that have been previously analyzed and are predicted from a failure mode model. A procedure for determining root cause is probably known and can be effectively applied. Faults can typically be corrected in the field by repair procedures that include swapping or replacing parts.
Anomalies are failures that have not been previously analyzed and are not predicted from a failure mode model. A large part of the anomalies will have root causes in model errors, such as software bugs. Model errors will be found in the implementation of the vehicle and/or its supporting business system. The correction of these errors must be performed by returning to a development phase. The development phase operates concurrently with service operations as shown.
The Development Phase 902,
The “down cycle” is on the left and the “up cycle” is on the right side of the diagram. Horizontally across the “V” is a corresponding part of the model to be integrated, tested, calibrated, or validated. After being partially developed, components of requirements can be integrated, tested, and validated through methods like simulation. An early prototype “V” cycle might only include development and testing of requirements. After some parts of the design or implementation model have been developed, that part of the model can be integrated, tested, and validated with the previous parts of the model for the vehicle and business system. Each prototype cycle develops, integrates, tests, and validates more parts of the model, with components that include requirements, design, and implementation.
The development phase 902,
The development phase 902,
The development phase 902,
The development phase 902,
The development phase 902,
The development phase 902,
As shown in
Once linked to the IDE 500, round-trip engineering of the diagnostics to functions is enabled using the linkages inside the IDE 500 guided by the information created in the DRD 599 by the RTE 600.
As shown in
In the system 499, the LMBD agents 2012 detect a superset of the failures detected by the MBD agents 2014. The LMBD failures can be classified as either (1) a previously anticipated failure that can be fixed in the field, or (2) a new failure that can be either a model error or another new type of hardware failure. The classification occurs by comparing the output of the MBD agents 2014 with the LMBD agents 2012. If the MBD agents 2014 have seen the failure mode before with a statistical confidence factor, then the failure is probably not a model error. If the MBD agents 2014 have a low confidence factor indicating a new failure mode not previously seen, then a model error needs to be investigated and the service technician is told not to swap a part in the field.
An investigation occurs as the RTE agents write information into the DRD link 599,
The system 499 identifies which functions are linked to the failure. A simulation can be run in the IDE 500,
If the found module 2106 determines that a failure has been found, operational flow branches “Yes” to a known module 2108. The known module 2108 determines if the failure is a known failure. If the known module 2108 determines that the failure is a known failure, operational flow branches “Yes” to an identify operation 2110. The identify operation 2110 identifies the remedy for the known failure. Operational flow ends at termination point 2112.
If the known module 2108 determines that the failure is not a known failure, operational flow branches “No” to a write operation 2114. The write operation 2114 writes the failure information to a link, such as the DRD link 599 of
One skilled in the art would recognize that the system described herein can be implemented using any number of software configurations, network configurations, and the like.
The logical operations of the various embodiments illustrated herein are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented steps or program modules running on a computing system and/or (2) as interconnected logic circuits or circuit modules within the computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice dependent on the performance requirements of the computing system implementing the invention. Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodiments of the present invention described herein are referred to variously as operations, steps, engines, or modules.
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the present invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims.