SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UPDATING VEHICLE COMPUTING PLATFORM CONFIGURATION INFORMATION

• US 20080269979A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Hermann, Thomas, Curtis, Timothy P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

A configurable vehicle computer is enabled based on identification information associated with a driver. Updates to the configurable vehicle computer are stored at a remote location. The updates are downloaded upon an authorized vehicle start-up.

Claims

1. A system to update first configuration information of a computing platform of a vehicle, the system comprising:

an off-vehicle information store configured to receive and store second configuration information associated with a driver of the vehicle;

a token associated with the driver configured to supply first identification information;

an on-vehicle identification module configured to receive the first identification information and determine whether to enable the computing platform based on the first identification information;

an on-vehicle communication module configured to establish a communication line between the computing platform and the information store if the computing platform is enabled; and

an on-vehicle update module configured to determine whether the first configuration information is different from the second configuration information and update the computing platform with the second configuration information if the second configuration information is different from the first configuration information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the information store is further configured to determine whether the second configuration information complies with a predefined policy.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the information store is further configured to reject the second configuration information if the second configuration information does not comply with the predefined policy.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the information store is further configured to automatically modify the second configuration information, if the second configuration information does not comply with the predefined policy, such that it complies with the predefined policy.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the information store is further configured to receive and store vehicle information identifying a component of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the information store is further configured to determine whether to permit the update of the first configuration information based on the vehicle information.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification module is further configured to receive second identification information from the driver and to determine whether to enable the computing platform based on the second identification information.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification module is further configured to monitor driving behavior of the driver and to determine whether to prevent access to the computing platform, if enabled, based on the driving behavior.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle further includes a starting mechanism, wherein the token is further configured to supply second identification information, and wherein the identification module is further configured to determine whether to enable the starting mechanism based on the second identification information.

10. A method for updating first configuration information of a computing platform of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, at an information store remote from the vehicle, second configuration information associated with a driver of the vehicle;

storing, at the information store, the second configuration information;

receiving, at the vehicle, first identification information from a token associated with the driver;

determining whether to enable the computing platform based on the first identification information;

establishing a communication line between the computing platform and the information store if the computing platform is enabled;

determining whether the first configuration information is different from the second configuration information; and

updating the computing platform with the second configuration information if the second configuration information is different from the first configuration information.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving second identification information from the driver and determining whether to enable the computing platform based on the second identification information.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining, at the information store, whether the second configuration information complies with a predefined policy.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising rejecting the second configuration information if the second configuration information does not comply with the predefined policy.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising automatically modifying the second configuration information such that it complies with the predefined policy.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising monitoring driving behavior of the driver and determining whether to prevent access to the processor, if enabled, based on the driving behavior.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving, at the information store, vehicle information identifying a component of the vehicle, and storing, at the information store, the vehicle information.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining whether to permit an update to the processor based on the vehicle information.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle includes a starting mechanism, further comprising receiving, at the vehicle, second identification information from the token associated with the driver and determining whether to enable the starting mechanism based on the second identification information.

19. A method for updating first configuration information of a computing platform of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, at an information store remote from the vehicle, second configuration information associated with a driver of the vehicle;

determining whether the first configuration information is different from the second configuration information; and

updating the computing platform with the second configuration information if the second configuration information is different from the first configuration information.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising determining, at the information store, whether the second configuration information complies with a predefined policy.