The following scenarios are considered in variant handling:
Internal variants
These variants are controlled by the control unit without any large amount of reprogramming. The control unit program can switch between several variants by a code word being reprogrammed (in general by by conducting diagnostics at the end of the line) or even by the application of connector bridges. This type of variant is in effect a function of the software itself.
External variants
These variants are for units that are very similar that only however contain one variant. Variant exchange is by extensive reprogramming. This concerns as a rule, both the differently programmed variants as well as the unprogrammed control unit having different part numbers.
Variant descriptions are important in the area of functions (
<
sw-function-spec
>
) and the parameter contents (
<
sw-param-contents
>
).
Figure 4: >Function variants