# US 12,600,368 B2 · Zonal architecture for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,600,368 B2 - Document ID: US12600368B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/614,541 - Filed: 2024-03-22 - Published: 2025-09-25 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2024-03-22 - Assignees: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Motor North America, Inc. - Inventors: Imad Zahid; Joshua C. Batie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600368B2 ## CPC - B60W 50/06: Improving the dynamic response of the control system, e.g. improving the speed of regulation or avoiding hunting or overshoot - G07C 5/02: Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only (apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00) - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract An example operation includes one or more of dividing a vehicle into a plurality of zones based on operations performed by vehicle, assigning a different subset of electronic control units (ECUs) from among a plurality of ECUs of the vehicle to each zone based on functions performed by the plurality of ECUs with respect to the plurality of zones, determining an operation to perform for the vehicle, identifying a zone from among the plurality of zones for controlling the operation, and pooling data input by and output by a subset of ECUs included in the zone during the operation and storing the pooled data in a storage device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: dividing a vehicle into a plurality of zones based on operations performed by vehicle; assigning a different subset of electronic control units (ECUs) from among a plurality of ECUs of the vehicle to each zone based on functions performed by the plurality of ECUs with respect to the plurality of zones; determining an operation to perform for the vehicle; identifying a zone from among the plurality of zones for controlling the operation; pooling data input by and output by a subset of ECUs included in the zone during the operation and storing the pooled data in a storage device; and transferring the pooled data from the subset of ECUs assigned to the zone to the different subset of ECUs assigned to a different zone among the plurality of zones based on a hierarchy among the zone and the different zone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises capturing sensor data from one or more of an exterior of the vehicle and an interior of the vehicle, via the different subset of ECUs of the vehicle assigned to a different zone from among the plurality of zones, while simultaneously controlling the operation with the subset of ECUs assigned to the zone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining to perform a vehicle maneuver with respect to a side of the vehicle, and performing the vehicle maneuver with the subset of ECUs assigned to the side of the vehicle while isolating operation of the different subset of ECUs assigned to a different side of the vehicle from the vehicle maneuver. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises performing the operation via execution of the subset of ECUs included in the zone, and reducing activity of one or more other subsets of ECUs assigned to one or more other zones from among the plurality of zones while performing the operation to reduce power consumed by the one or more other zones. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises performing the operation via execution of the subset of ECUs included in the zone, and capturing sensor data of the operation via one or more other subsets of ECUs assigned to one or more other zones from among the plurality of zones while performing the operation via the subset of ECUs included in the zone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises training an artificial intelligence (AI) model based on execution of the AI model on the pooled data stored in the storage device and storing the trained AI model within the storage device. ### Claim 7 An apparatus comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to: divide a vehicle into a plurality of zones based on operations performed by vehicle, assign a different subset of electronic control units (ECUs) from among a plurality of ECUs of the vehicle to each zone based on functions performed by the plurality of ECUs with respect to the plurality of zones, determine an operation to perform for the vehicle, identify a zone from among the plurality of zones for controlling the operation, pool data input by and output by a subset of ECUs included in the zone during the operation and storing the pooled data in a storage device; and transfer the pooled data from the subset of ECUs assigned to the zone to the different subset of ECUs assigned to a different zone among the plurality of zones based on a hierarchy among the zone and the different zone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to capture sensor data from one or more of an exterior of the vehicle and an interior of the vehicle, via the different subset of ECUs of the vehicle assigned to a different zone from among the plurality of zones, and simultaneously control the operation with the subset of ECUs assigned to the zone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to perform a vehicle maneuver with respect to a side of the vehicle, and perform the vehicle maneuver with the subset of ECUs assigned to the side of the vehicle while isolating operation of the different subset of ECUs assigned to a different side of the vehicle from the vehicle maneuver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the operation via execution of the subset of ECUs included in the zone, and reduce activity of one or more other subsets of ECUs assigned to one or more other zones from among the plurality of zones while performing the operation to reduce power consumed by the one or more other zones. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to perform the operation via execution of the subset of ECUs included in the zone, and capture sensor data of the operation from one or more other subsets of ECUs assigned to one or more other zones from among the plurality of zones while performing the operation via the subset of ECUs included in the zone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to train an artificial intelligence (AI) model based on execution of the AI model on the pooled data stored in a storage device and store the trained AI model within the storage device. ### Claim 13 A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored therein which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform: dividing a vehicle into a plurality of zones based on operations performed by vehicle; assigning a different subset of electronic control units (ECUs) from among a plurality of ECUs of the vehicle to each zone based on functions performed by the plurality of ECUs with respect to the plurality of zones; determining an operation to perform for the vehicle; identifying a zone from among the plurality of zones for controlling the operation; and pooling data input by and output by a subset of ECUs included in the zone during the operation and storing the pooled data in a storage device; and transferring the pooled data from the subset of ECUs assigned to the zone to the different subset of ECUs assigned to a different zone among the plurality of zones based on a hierarchy among the zone and the different zone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to perform capturing sensor data from one or more of an exterior of the vehicle and an interior of the vehicle, via the different subset of ECUs of the vehicle assigned to a different zone from among the plurality of zones, while simultaneously controlling the operation with the subset of ECUs assigned to the zone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to perform determining to perform a vehicle maneuver with respect to a side of the vehicle, and performing the operation with the subset of ECUs assigned to the side of the vehicle while isolating operation of the different subset of ECUs assigned to a different side of the vehicle from the vehicle maneuver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the operation via execution of the subset of ECUs included in the zone, and reducing activity of one or more other subsets of ECUs assigned to one or more other zones from among the plurality of zones while performing the operation to reduce power consumed by the one or more other zones. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the operation via execution of the subset of ECUs included in the zone, and capturing sensor data of the operation from one or more other subsets of ECUs assigned to one or more other zones from among the plurality of zones while performing the operation via the subset of ECUs included in the zone.