Using timing analysis for the design of future switched based Ethernet automotive networks

In this paper, we focus on modeling and analyzing multi-cast and broadcast traffic latencies on switch-level within an Ethernet- based communication network for automotive applications. The analysis is performed adapting existing worst/best case schedulability analysis concepts, techniques, and methods. Under our modeling assumptions, we obtain safe bounds for both the minimum (lower bound) and maximum (upper bound) latencies. The formal analysis results are validated via simulation to determine the probability distribution of the latencies (including the worst/best case ones). We also show that the bounds can be tightened under some assumptions and we sketch opportunities for future work in this area. Finally, we show how formal analysis can be used to quickly explore tradeoffs in the system configuration which delivers the required performance. All results in this work are obtained on a moderately complex yet meaningful automotive example.