On-vehicle communication system, switch device, communication control method, and communication control program

A switch device comprising a processor and being programmed to:

• relay data between a plurality of function units mounted to a vehicle;
• receive, when a first abnormality regarding a function unit has been detected by a first switch device connected to the switch device, an OAM frame including abnormality information indicating the detected first abnormality and address of the function unit where the first abnormality has been detected;
• when the first abnormality regarding a function unit has been detected by the first switch device connected to the switch device, perform, based on the received OAM frame, a communication protocol change process of causing the function unit for which the first abnormality has been detected, to change a communication protocol that is used from a first communication protocol to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol;
• and
• when a second abnormality different from the first abnormality has been detected by the first switch device connected to the switch device, not perform the communication protocol change process and perform a communication path change process of switching a communication path to the function unit, from a first communication path via the first switch device to a second communication path via a third switch device different from the first switch device.

A communication control method to be performed in an on-vehicle communication system including a first switch device and a second switch device each configured to relay data between a plurality of function units mounted to a vehicle, the communication control method comprising the steps of:

• detecting, by the first switch device, a first abnormality regarding a function unit;
• generating, by the first switch device, an OAM frame including abnormality information indicating the detected first abnormality and address of the function unit where the first abnormality has been detected;
• transmitting, by the first switch device, the generated OAM frame to the second switch device;
• receiving, by the second switch device, the OAM frame transmitted from the first switch device;
• performing, based on the received OAM frame, by the second switch device, when the first abnormality regarding the function unit has been detected by the first switch device, a communication protocol change process of causing the function unit for which the first abnormality has been detected, to change a communication protocol that is used from a first communication protocol to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol;
• and
• not performing the communication protocol change process and performing, by the second switch device, when a second abnormality different from the first abnormality has been detected by the first switch device, a communication path change process of switching a communication path to the function unit, from a first communication path via the first switch device to a second communication path via a third switch device different from the first switch device.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a communication control program to be used in a switch device, the switch device including a computer and configured to relay data between a plurality of function units mounted to a vehicle, the communication control program causing the computer to:

• relay data between a plurality of function units mounted to a vehicle, and to receive, when a first abnormality regarding a function unit has been detected by a first switch device connected to the switch device, an OAM frame including abnormality information indicating the detected first abnormality and address of the function unit where the abnormality has been detected;
• when the first abnormality regarding a function unit has been detected by the first switch device connected to the switch device, perform, based on the received OAM frame, a communication protocol change process of causing the function unit for which the first abnormality has been detected, to change a communication protocol that is used from a first communication protocol to a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol;
• and
• when a second abnormality different from the first abnormality has been detected by the first switch device connected to the switch device, not perform the communication protocol change process and perform a communication path change process of switching a communication path to the function unit, from a first communication path via the first switch device to a second communication path via a third switch device different from the first switch device.