Scalable Validation Framework to Test the OSEK/VDX Based Network Management Protocol in ECUs

Network Management protocols are implemented in ECUs to provide a start-up of the network, node monitoring and to ensure that they go to a proper sleep mode when they don’t need the network, coordination among ECUs, support of diagnosis, reading and setting of network specific parameters and proper wake up of the network. OSEK/VDX based network management protocol is the most widely used among OEMs and its validation has proved to be of utmost importance these days. This paper is proposing a scalable validation framework using the model based architecture and relevant hardware to test the conformance of ECUs to the specifications of OSEK/VDX NM. OSEK/VDX works mainly via the exchange of network management CAN messages between the ECUs. This solution is capable of simulating NM CAN messages with relevant background logic implemented in Matlab for CAN database parsing, collecting current ECU information, alive message handling, dynamic logical ring building, timing parameters checking, node skipping emulation, ring rebuilding scenario creation, network sleep simulation, network wake up check, quiescent current check, limp home mode emulation and graphical visualization of logical ring. Scalability of the test framework ensures that the same tool can be used for validating NM in one ECU or a network of 30 ECUs. OSEK/VDX NM test routine is implemented fully in the Matlab while a host hardware device with a CAN controller and relevant IO pins to control power supply of each ECU is also used.