FMI Layered Standard for Network Communication: Applications in Networked ECU Development

This paper introduces the FMI 3.0 Layered Standard forNetwork Communication (FMI-LS-BUS), an extension of theFunctional Mock-up Interface 3.0 (FMI 3.0) standarddesigned to address interoperability challenges insimulating distributed, networked systems, particularly inautomotive applications. By leveraging FMI 3.0 featuressuch as clocks, clocked variables, and hierarchicalterminals,the standard defines two complementary abstraction layers:Physical Signal Abstraction (High-Cut): Representingphysical signal values as clocked variables.Network Abstraction (Low-Cut): Emulates hardware-level busprotocols (e.g., CAN, Ethernet) using FMI 3.0’s clockedbinary variables.Aligning with the V-model development process, wedemonstrate how these layers address distinct challenges indifferent design phases: High-Cut supports require-ments engineering and functional testing by simplifyingsignal exchange during Virtual Electronic Control Unit(vECU) integration. Low-Cut enables later phases of thedesign validation by replicating network timing andprotocol specific properties, such as error handling.The standard’s applicability currently focuses onautomotive use cases (e.g., CAN, CAN FD, CAN XL, Ethernet,FlexRay, LIN) but can be extended to industrial au-tomation and IoT, facilitated by its domain-agnosticstructure.