Seamless Camera Handoff Between QNX and Android in Automotive Mixed-OS Architectures

Abstract

Automotive systems increasingly deploy QNX for safety-critical early boot functions and Android for rich infotainment features on the same hardware. Camera systems face a timing challenge: QNX can display the rearview camera within 2--3 seconds to meet regulatory requirements, but Android eventually needs control for advanced features like surround view and parking assistance. This paper presents a handoff protocol that transfers camera ownership from QNX to Android without frame drops or visual discontinuity. The protocol uses heartbeat-based liveness monitoring, readyall synchronization barriers, and double-buffered frame handoff. Tests on automotive-grade hardware show handoff completion in 89ms average (p95: 142ms) with zero frame drops across 200 trials. The approach requires no hardware modification and integrates with standard Android EVS and QNX Screen frameworks.