Remote vehicle update installation scheduling

• US 10,042,629 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Global Technology Operations LLC
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Sarkar, Susanta P., Forsmark, James D., Wist, Alan D., Ansbro, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Cheneca
• Application Number:
  US15/299,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20180032324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Technical solutions are described for updating a plurality of electronically controlled units (ECU) in a vehicle with multiple communication buses. An example method includes determining an installation order for updating the plurality of ECU based on a priority level assigned to each of the ECU, and a size of each update package for each of the ECU. The method also includes updating the ECU concurrently by installing the respective update packages according to the installation order.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for updating a plurality of electronically controlled units (ECU) in a vehicle with multiple communication buses, the method comprising:

determining an installation order for updating the plurality of ECUs based on a priority level assigned to each of the ECUs, and a size of each update package for each of the ECUs; and

updating the ECUs concurrently by installing the respective update packages according to the installation order, wherein updating the ECUs concurrently comprises;

determining a set of update packages corresponding to ECUs that have the same priority level and the size of each update package;

selecting a subset from the set of update packages with the same priority level, wherein the subset is selected based on a predetermined maximum start value assigned to a communication bus of the vehicle being used to install the update packages, the predetermined maximum start value indicative of a maximum number of update packages to be installed concurrently via the communication bus, the predetermined maximum start value is based on a bandwidth capacity of the communication bus, the bandwidth capacity indicating a data-transfer speed; and

initiating installation of the subset of update packages via the communication bus.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, receiving the update packages for the ECUs wirelessly.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the installation order is determined further based on a type of communication bus used by each of the ECUs.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein updating the ECUs concurrently comprises:

queueing the remaining update packages that are not selected in the subset; and

initiating installation of the largest update package from the remaining update packages in response to completion of an update package from the selected subset.

5. An apparatus for updating a plurality of electronically controlled units (ECU) in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a communication interface configured to communicate with the ECUs of the vehicle;

a processor coupled with the memory and the communication interface, the processor configured to;

access an installation package that comprises a plurality of update packages corresponding to the plurality of ECUs respectively;

determine an installation order for updating the plurality of ECUs based on a priority level assigned to each of the ECUs, and a size of each update package; and

update the ECUs by installing a subset of the update packages concurrently according to the installation order, wherein updating the ECUs concurrently comprises;

determining a set of update packages corresponding to ECUs that have the same priority level and the size of each update package;

selecting a subset from the set of update packages with the same priority level, wherein the subset is selected based on a predetermined maximum start value assigned to a communication bus of the vehicle being used to install the update packages, the predetermined maximum start value indicative of a maximum number of update packages to be installed concurrently via the communication bus, the predetermined maximum start value is based on a bandwidth capacity of the communication bus, the bandwidth capacity indicating a data-transfer speed; and

initiating installation of the subset of update packages via the communication bus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to receive the installation package wirelessly.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to receive the installation package in a wired manner.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to receive the priority levels assigned to each of the ECUs, wherein the priority levels are specific to the installation package.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the installation order is determined further based on a type of communication bus used by each of the ECUs.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein updating the ECUs by installing the subset of the update packages concurrently further comprises:

queueing the remaining update packages that are not selected in the subset; and

initiating installation of the largest update package from the remaining update packages in response to completion of an update package from the selected subset.

11. A computer-program product for updating a plurality of electronically controlled units (ECU) in a vehicle, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions, wherein the computer readable storage medium comprises instructions to:

access an installation package that comprises a plurality of update packages corresponding to the plurality of ECUs respectively;

determine an installation order for updating the plurality of ECUs based on a priority level assigned to each of the ECUs, and a size of each update package; and

update the ECUs by installing a subset of the update packages concurrently according to the installation order, wherein updating the ECUs concurrently comprises;

determining a set of update packages corresponding to ECUs that have the same priority level and the size of each update package;

selecting a subset from the set of update packages with the same priority level, wherein the subset is selected based on a predetermined maximum start value assigned to a communication bus of the vehicle being used to install the update packages, the predetermined maximum start value indicative of a maximum number of update packages to be installed concurrently via the communication bus, the predetermined maximum start value is based on a bandwidth capacity of the communication bus, the bandwidth capacity indicating a data-transfer speed; and

initiating installation of the subset of update packages via the communication bus.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the priority levels assigned to each of the ECUs are specific to the installation package.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the installation order is determined further based on a type of communication bus used by each of the ECUs.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein updating the ECUs by installing the subset of the update packages concurrently comprises:

queueing the remaining update packages that are not selected in the subset; and

initiating installation of the largest update package from the remaining update packages in response to completion of an update package from the selected subset.