Networking / Data Communication
Networking / Data Communication
Electronic networking in the Boxster allows data and electrical information to be exchanged between various control units throughout the vehicle. This is realized with the aid of the internal high speed network, the CAN BUS (Controller Area Network), and the fiber optic network, the MOST BUS (Media Oriented System Transport). Networking reduces the number of connections required so that the total length of cabling required can be kept significantly shorter.
Most of the network connections can be found in the following areas:
- In the area of engine management for high speed information exchange.
- In the area of coordination of networked control engineering. Therefore a PSM braking operation, for example, involves the control units for the brakes (PSM), engine, tire pressure monitoring system and Tiptronic S.
- In the area of audio/communication for the joint transmission of digital audio and control data via the MOST bus.
- The use of network connections has enabled a reduction in weight.
97 - Basic topology of the data bus systems in the Boxster (987 and Boxster S (987)
The overview shows the networking of the control units.
97 - Gateway Controller
The gateway controller is actively involved with all CAN buses in the Boxster/S (987). The gateway controller is a separate unit, similar to the 911 Carrera (997). It relays all messages and signals which are transmitted by control units for transmission via various buses. The transfer protocol of the gateway controller is defined in a routing table. It also supports the test unit in diagnosing the vehicle by transmitting, collecting and supplying numerous items of information on the vehicle.
The individual items of information concerned here are:
- Transmission of specified installation information on all bus systems
- Provision of actual installation information (CAN control units)
- Collection and provision of error bits for tester
- Acquisition and provision of information on control units which do not switch to sleep standby mode after terminal 15 "off".
- Acquisition and provision of general CAN bus information (e.g. single wire operation, fault location info, etc.)
Configuration is carried out with the aid of the PIWIS Tester.
When putting the gateway into operation in the vehicle, the following operations and settings need to be carried out with the PIWIS Tester:
- Check identification
- Encode specified installation
- Encode vehicle data (e.g. vehicle type etc.)
- Delete overflow counter (warning thresholds of an internal counter for storage overflows)
- Encode overshoot time
- Delete fault codes
03 - Diagnosis
Diagnosis of the electrical and electronic systems in the Boxster/S (987) is carried out by way of the Porsche diagnosis systems.
Diagnosis Socket Assignments
In order to minimize parasitic draw currents during prolonged transportation of the vehicle and during the production process, after activation of transport/production mode all functions of the control units which are not directly necessary (e.g. comfort functions) are deactivated. New vehicles are released from production mode via the PIWIS tester.
NOTE: The geometry and pin assignments of the diagnosis socket correspond to standards SAE J 1962 and ISO 15031-3.
Fast Sleep Mode
In order to enable swift parasitic draw current measurement, all control units feature a diagnosis facility entitled "fast sleep mode". After activation of this mode by the tester, all control units terminate their activities after terminal 15 "off" in < 5 seconds plus any one off overshoot times. Safety critical functions and component protection have priority, however.
The control units on the CAN Comfort bus and the CAN Display bus transmit their sleep standby mode via the bus immediately after the end of the overshoot time and also terminate their activities after bus non-operation.
Prerequisites for activation of fast sleep mode:
- Terminal 15 "on"
- Vehicle speed = 0 mph (km/h)
Specified Installation List
A specified installation list is cyclically transmitted from the gateway controller into all bus systems The control units are able to carry out automatic configuration on the basis of this message (e.g. CAN time-out monitoring).
Actual Installation List
An actual installation list in which all networked control units enter their configurations (MOST or CAN control units) is stored in the gateway controller.