Method for wireless remote updating vehicle software

• US 10,042,635 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Moeller, Douglas S, Pashby, Ronald W, Holmes, Courtney Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Li B
• Assistant Examiner(s): KABIR, MOHAMMAD H
• Application Number:
  US14/740,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20160371077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method for wireless remote updating of vehicle software of one or more target electronic control units (ECUs) in a target vehicle group comprises manager software on a server. The manager software selects the target vehicle group and generates a differential update package (DUP) comprising an update manager. Download manager software downloads the DUP to one or more target vehicles. The update manager in each vehicle updates the one or more target ECUs.

Claims

1. A method for wireless remote updating of vehicle software of one or more target electronic control units (ECUs) in a target vehicle group comprising one or more vehicles, each ECU comprising a flash memory, said method comprising:

hosting manager software on a server that is one of a client server or a central server accessible by a client, said server being remote from said target vehicle group;

utilizing said manager software for;

selecting said target vehicle group;

generating a differential update package (DUP) for said target vehicle group, said DUP comprising update manager software;

selecting update prerequisites for executing said DUP; and

selecting update scheduling for downloading said DUP;

providing download manager software at said server for downloading said DUP to each said one or more target vehicles;

utilizing said download manager software for;

establishing a separate wireless communication link to a telematics control unit (TCU) in each said target vehicle of said target vehicle group; and

utilizing said download manager software to download said DUP to each said TCU via each said separate wireless communication link; and

utilizing said update manager in each said TCU to update said one or more said target ECUs in each said target vehicle by utilizing said DUP to reflash each said flash memory of said one or more target ECUs.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

providing said DUP with an update rule set; and

utilizing said update manager software at each said TCU to update each said target ECU flash memory by performing the following steps;

validating each target ECU flash image downloaded to each said TCU;

validating said updated rule set downloaded to each said TCU; and

updating each said target ECU in compliance with said rule set.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, comprising:

utilizing said download manager software to provide update interaction with each said TCU via said separate wireless communication link.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2, comprising:

operating each said TCU to report software update status to said download manager software via said wireless communication link.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

utilizing said manager software for;

performing a vehicle search;

creating and managing a plurality of vehicle groups; and

selecting said target vehicle group from said plurality of vehicle groups.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, comprising:

viewing ECU hardware and software on a per vehicle basis.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5, comprising:

providing said DUP with an update rule set;

utilizing said update manager software at each said TCU to update each said flash memory by performing the following steps;

validating each said target ECU flash image downloaded to said TCU;

validating said rule set downloaded to said TCU; and

initiating an update in compliance with said rule set.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, comprising:

utilizing said download manger software to provide update interaction with each said TCU via said wireless communication link.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, comprising:

utilizing each said TCU to report status of said update to said download manager software via said wireless communication link.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8, comprising:

providing said manager software for;

performing a vehicle search;

creating and managing vehicle groups;

viewing ECUs on per vehicle basis and current hardware and software versions of each said viewed ECUs.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, comprising:

providing said DUP with an update rule set;

utilizing said update manager software at said TCU to update each said flash memory by performing the following steps;

validating each received ECU flash image;

validating said received rule set for reflashing said flash memory; and

initiating an update in compliance with said rule set.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, comprising:

utilizing said download manger software to provide update interaction with said TCU via said wireless link.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, comprising:

operating said TCU to report status of said update to said download manager software via said wireless link.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

providing said manager software with an ECU manager;

utilizing said ECU manager to search for predetermined ECUs; and

utilizing said ECU manager to perform uploading contents of each flash memory of said predetermined.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising:

providing said DUP with an update rule set;

utilizing said update manager software at each said TCU to update each said flash memory of said predetermined ECUs by performing the following steps;

validating each received ECU flash image;

validating said received rule set for reflashing said flash memory of said predetermined ECUs; and

initiating an update in compliance with said rule set.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, comprising:

utilizing said download manger software to provide update interaction with said TCU via said wireless link.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, comprising:

operating said TCU to report status of said update to said download manager software via said wireless link.

18. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

providing package manager software;

utilizing said package manager to select update prerequisites;

utilizing said package manager to select update scheduling; and

utilizing said package manager to select notifications to be generated.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

utilizing said manager software to request approval of each said DUP from one or more predetermined individuals.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, comprising:

receiving approval of each said DUP from said one or more predetermined individuals prior to initiating any use of said download manager to any download of each said DUP.

21. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

utilizing said manager software to request approval of each said DUP from one or more predetermined individuals.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21, comprising:

receiving approval of each said DUP from said one or more predetermined individuals prior to initiating any download of each said DUP.

23. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

receiving approval of each said DUP from one or more predetermined individuals prior to initiating any use of said download manager to any download of each said DUP.