System and Method for Remotely Updating Control Software in a Vehicle With an Electric Drive System

• US 20090300595A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
• Original Assignee: ISE Incorporated (ISE Group of Companies)
• Inventors: Moran, Brian, Mayer, Frank
• Application Number:
  US12/130,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20090300595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method of remotely updating control software in a heavy-duty vehicle having at least one programmed controller including securing the heavy-duty vehicle; determining that the vehicle is secured; establishing a wireless connection with the heavy-duty vehicle; downloading an updated control software; and updating the heavy-duty vehicle'"'"'s control software with the updated control software in response to the determining that the vehicle is secured.

Claims

1. A method of remotely updating control software in a heavy-duty vehicle having at least one programmed controller, the method comprising:

securing the heavy-duty vehicle;

determining that the vehicle is secured;

establishing a wireless connection with the heavy-duty vehicle;

downloading an updated control software; and

,

updating the heavy-duty vehicle'"'"'s control software with the updated control software in response to the determining that the vehicle is secured.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the heavy-duty vehicle includes an electric drive system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing an installed version of controller software with a later version of control software.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the comparing the installed version of control software is initiated from onboard the heavy-duty vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the comparing the installed version of control software is initiated from offboard the heavy-duty vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the securing the heavy-duty vehicle comprises physically securing the heavy-duty vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the heavy-duty vehicle is secured comprises receiving a primary indication that the vehicle is secured.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the heavy-duty vehicle is secured comprises receiving a secondary indication, which is associated with a condition of the vehicle that is also associated with the vehicle being secured.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary indication comprises a location of the heavy-duty vehicle;

and,

wherein the determining that the heavy-duty vehicle is secured is based on the location of the heavy-duty vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary indication comprises a state or an activity associated with the vehicle being shut down.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the state or the activity associated with the vehicle being shut down comprises a time or a date information associated with the vehicle being out-of-service.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the state or the activity associated with the vehicle being shut down comprises an override information associated with the vehicle being serviced.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary indication comprises a state or an activity associated with the vehicle being detained.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the state or the activity associated with the vehicle being detained comprises a refueling information.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing the wireless connection with the heavy-duty vehicle comprises establishing the wireless connection with an access point communicatively coupled to the Internet.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloading the updated control software and the updating the heavy-duty vehicle'"'"'s control software are substantially the same function.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloading the updated control software further comprises receiving and storing a latest version of control software prior to the determining that the vehicle is secured.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloading the updated control software comprises confirming the integrity of the updated control software transmission.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating the heavy-duty vehicle'"'"'s control software comprises confirming the integrity of the updated control software.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloading the updated control software comprises downloading the updated control software via a central controller different from the at least one programmed controller;

and,

wherein the updating the heavy-duty vehicle'"'"'s control software comprises the central controller configuring the at least one programmed controller to receive the updated control software.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting functionality of the heavy-duty vehicle during the updating the heavy-duty vehicle'"'"'s control software.

22. A control software updating device in a heavy-duty vehicle having at least one programmed controller, the control software updating device comprising:

means for determining that the heavy-duty vehicle is secured;

a wireless communication module configured to receive an updated control software;

a processor configured to update control software in the at least one programmed controller responsive to determining that the heavy-duty vehicle is secured.

23. A system for remotely updating control software in a heavy-duty vehicle having at least one programmed controller, the system comprising:

an indicator configured to indicate that the heavy-duty vehicle is secured;

a server configured to provide updated software;

a wireless communication link between the heavy-duty vehicle and the server, the wireless communication link configured to communicate the updated software from the server to the heavy-duty vehicle;

a processor configured to update the heavy-duty vehicle'"'"'s control programming using data transmitted from the server across the wireless communication link when the heavy-duty vehicle is secured.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the wireless communication link between the heavy-duty vehicle and the server includes an intermediate network comprising at least a WLAN and Internet.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one programmed controller includes the processor.

26. The system of claim 25, further including a telemetry system controller other than the at least one programmed controller including the processor.