COMPLETE AND COMPATIBLE FUNCTION

• US 20120246615A1
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Persson, Magnus, Johansson, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,384,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1004 to protect a block of data words, e.g. CRC or checksum G06F11/1076 takes precedence; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorized activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

An arrangement for verifying the completeness and compatibility of software components in an electronic control unit includes a bootloader and a CompleteCompatible verification component. The bootloader is arranged to, upon start-up of the electronic control unit, verify the completeness and compatibility of the CompleteCompatible verification component, and upon such verification being positive initiate the CompleteCompatible verification component. The CompleteCompatible verification component is arranged to, upon performance thereof, verify the completeness and compatibility of further software components in the electronic control unit.

Claims

1. An arrangement for verifying the completeness and compatibility of software components in an electronic control unit, the arrangement comprising:

a bootloader and a CompleteCompatible verification component,

where the bootloader is arranged to, upon start-up of the electronic control unit, verify the completeness and compatibility of the CompleteCompatible verification component, and upon such verification being positive initiate the CompleteCompatible verification component,

where the CompleteCompatible verification component is arranged to, upon performance thereof, verify the completeness and compatibility of further software components in the electronic control unit.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the CompleteCompatible verification component further is arranged to return a value to the bootloader indicative of whether all software components in the electronic control unit are complete and compatible such that the electronic control unit may be started with full operational functionality or not.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the bootloader is arranged to verify the completeness and compatibility of the CompleteCompatible verification component through reading a StartCompleteCompatibleSignature and an EndCompleteCompatibleSignature from predetermined memory addresses in an associated memory, where the presence of both are required for positive verification.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the CompleteCompatible verification component is arranged to verify the completeness of the further software components through checking that a respective start and stop address for each further software component is correct.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the CompleteCompatible verification component is arranged to verify the compatibility of the further software components through checking that a version number for each further software component is correct.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the CompleteCompatible verification component is arranged to verify the completeness and compatibility of the further software components through calculating a checksum for each respective further software component and comparing this checksum with a reference value stored in the associated memory.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the CompleteCompatible verification component, upon verification that the further software components are complete and compatible, is arranged to read an application start address from the associated memory and jump to the application start address for execution of the further software components in the electronic control unit.

8. An electronic control unit for a motor vehicle, the electronic control unit comprising:

an arrangement for verifying the completeness and compatibility of software components in the electronic control unit, the arrangement including a bootloader and a CompleteCompatible verification component, where the bootloader is arranged to, upon start-up of the electronic control unit, verify the completeness and compatibility of the CompleteCompatible verification component, and upon such verification being positive initiate the CompleteCompatible verification component, where the CompleteCompatible verification component is arranged to, upon performance thereof, verify the completeness and compatibility of further software components in the electronic control unit.

9. A method for verifying the completeness and compatibility of software components in an electronic control unit, the method comprising:

verifying, upon start-up of the electronic control unit, the completeness and compatibility of a CompleteCompatible verification component, and

upon such verification being positive initiating the CompleteCompatible verification component for verifying the completeness and compatibility of further software components in the electronic control unit.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

returning a value indicative of whether all software components in the electronic control unit are complete and compatible.

11. The method according to claim 9 further comprising

verifying the completeness and compatibility of the CompleteCompatible verification component through reading a StartCompleteCompatibleSignature and an EndCompleteCompatibleSignature from predetermined memory addresses in an associated memory, where the presence of both are required for positive verification.

12. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

verifying the completeness of the further software components through checking that a respective start and stop address for each further software component is correct.

13. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

verifying the compatibility of the further software components through checking that a version number for each further software component is correct.

14. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

verifying the completeness and compatibility of the further software components through calculating a checksum for each respective further software component and comparing this checksum with a reference value stored in the associated memory.

15. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

upon verification that the further software components are complete and compatible, reading an application start address from an associated memory and jumping to the application start address for execution of the further software components in the electronic control unit.