Unified Centralized Software Stack For Automotive Networking

A new high-speed network solution for in-vehicle infotainment with device control over Internet Protocol (IP) is now available from Microchip Technology Inc. The Unified Centralized Software Stack (UNICENS) is a software module available at no charge to Microchip customers who are using Intelligent Network Interface Controllers (INIC) such as the OS81118, OS81119 and any future INICs.

Modern cars are offering advanced audio and video capabilities to their users. Handling multiple audio or video sources that can be dynamically distributed to multiple sinks is requiring complex hardware and software mechanisms to ensure high quality, perfect synchronization and low latency. Car makers are also using in-vehicle networks to transfer increasing amount of data e.g. for performing updates. System engineers need expert know-how of each bus technology and this complexity is traditionally also reaching application engineers who need to communicate over such networks. Application codes use to be complex and development cycles long.

UNICENS is a new technology that separates application development and network management by defining a standardized abstraction layer between low-level hardware specific software and applications. That is, application engineers can fully concentrate on their applications without knowing anything about the underlying physical layer. Network configuration can be done in a simplified way within record time. System engineers from OEM and Tier 1 can easily configure the vehicle’s networks (e.g. MOST® technology) alone or with Microchip’s support. 

More Information

• Introduction to MOST Technology V1.1 - Self-paced Training, MediaLB Overview Training
  
• MediaLB Specification
  
• MediaLB Overview Presentation and OS81118 INIC150 oPHY - Intelligent Network Interface Controller for MOST with USB 2.0 Device Port

Ethernet, the most widely-used LAN technology in the world, is taking the automotive world by storm. As the electronic content in cars continues to grow, Ethernet promises to improve performance and enable powerful and useful applications. In its 1,161 pages, Automotive Ethernet - The Definitive Guide explains how Ethernet technology has been adapted via Broadcom's new BroadR-Reach® standard to bring Ethernet hardware and applications to vehicles.

Topics covered: Automotive electromagnetic, environmental and electrical requirements; network fundamentals and the OSI Reference Model; IEEE Project 802; Ethernet Physical Layer and Media Access Control, including BroadR-Reach, MAC addressing, frame formats and hardware; a comparison of Ethernet to automotive networks such as CAN, LIN, MOST, and FlexRay; and TCP/IP, including IPv4/IPv6, ICMP, ARP, NAT, TCP, UDP, and DoIP. Also covered is the Audio Video Bridging (AVB) suite used to transport media over Ethernet, including underlying standards: SRP (IEEE 802.1Qat), FQTSS (IEEE 802.1Qav), gPTP (IEEE 802.1AS), and AVTP (IEEE 1722). The book also describes diagnostics in an Ethernet environment, and tools for measurement, calibration and diagnostics (MCD).

Intended Audience: 

• Electronics engineers, network communication engineers, testers, and technicians involved in automotive electronics development. 
• Ethernet hardware engineers and network application designers who want to learn about Automotive Ethernet and how it differs from traditional Ethernet. 
• Android, Linux, iOS, and Windows developers who want to exploit the growing demand for expertise in using these operating systems and other systems on Ethernet. 
• Engineers and software developers in training at the university level.

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