Apparatus and a method for providing a redundant communication within a vehicle architecture and a corresponding control architecture

A vehicle architecture, comprising:

• a plurality of commanded units, each commanded unit being configured to be controlled by redundant communication lines;
• an apparatus for providing redundant communication within the vehicle architecture, the apparatus comprising:
• at least a first control unit and a second control unit, which are connected by an interlink communication line and which are each configured to:
• communicate with the commanded units through one of the redundant communications lines;
• and
• communicate with each other via the interlink communication line and through the redundant communication lines by controlling at least one of the plurality of commanded units to act as a gateway unit to forward information from the first control unit to the second control unit or vice-versa via the redundant communication lines, wherein the at least one commanded unit that acts as the gateway is able to perform its dedicated functions even while acting as the gateway.

A method for providing a redundant communication within a vehicle architecture, the vehicle architecture including:

• a plurality of commanded units, each being configured to be controlled by a first and a second communication line;
• at least a first and a second control unit;
• and an interlink communication line between the at least first and second control units, the method comprising:
• communicating of the first control unit with the commanded units through the first communication line;
• communicating of the second control unit with the commanded units through the second communication line;
• controlling, by the first control unit or by the second control unit, at least one of the plurality of commanded units to act as a gateway unit to forward data from the first control unit to the second control unit or vice-versa via the first and second communication lines, wherein the at least one commanded unit that acts as the gateway is able to perform its dedicated functions even while acting as the gateway.

A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program code which, when executed on one or more processors, in a vehicle architecture including:

• a plurality of commanded units, each being configured to be controlled by a first and a second communication line;
• at least a first and a second control unit;
• and an interlink communication line between the at least first and second control units, carries out the acts of:
• communicating of the first control unit with the commanded units through the first communication line;
• communicating of the second control unit with the commanded units through the second communication line;
• controlling, by the first control unit or by the second control unit, at least one of the plurality of commanded units to act as a gateway unit to forward data from the first control unit to the second control unit or vice-versa via the first and second communication lines, wherein the at least one commanded unit that acts as the gateway is able to perform its dedicated functions even while acting as the gateway.