Vehicle control system and method with protocol data unit multiplexing and post build configuration

A method for updating vehicle software comprising:

• defining a first signal set and a second signal set to be transmitted as multiplexed protocol data units by a transmitting electronic control unit of a vehicle control system;
• generating the multiplexed protocol data units by determining, for the first signal set, a first protocol data unit and corresponding first selector field value and determining, for the second signal set, a second protocol data unit and corresponding second selector field value;
• mapping the first protocol data unit and corresponding first selector field value and the second protocol data unit and corresponding second selector field value to one or more frames for transmission;
• building a communication software stack to enable transmission of the one or more frames by the transmitting electronic control unit to a receiving electronic control unit of the vehicle control system;
• determining a first version of the receiving electronic control unit and a second version of the receiving electronic control unit to be implemented by a corresponding post build configuration of the receiving electronic control unit, wherein the first version enables the receiving electronic control unit to receive and process the first protocol data unit based on the first selector field value and the second version enables the receiving electronic control unit to receive and process the second protocol data unit based on the second selector field value;
• configuring the receiving electronic control unit post build to enable operation of the first version of the receiving electronic control unit or the second version of the receiving electronic control unit based on a desired identity;
• and
• downloading the communication software stack to the post build configured receiving electronic control unit.