Method and Apparatus for Multiple Vehicle Software Module Reflash

• US 20140282467A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mueller, Paul Anthon, Tillman, Brian David, Farrey, Gregory William, Dolinsky, John, Svenson, Thomas Eric, Throop, Medville J., Johnson, April Deneane, Miller, Jason Michael, Nagi, Charles Henry
• Granted Patent: US 10,061,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• 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: G06F 8/66 of program code stored in read-only memory [ROM]

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly receive update requests from a plurality of vehicles. The processor is also configured to, for each request, determine if any vehicle modules require updating. Also, the processor is configured to retrieve an updated version and sending the updated version to a vehicle for reflashing, for each module that requires updating. The processor is additionally configured to receive confirmation for each module that has been reflashed and update a vehicle configuration with a version identifier corresponding to the updated version for each reflashed module

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

wirelessly receive update requests from a plurality of vehicles;

for each request, determine if any vehicle modules require updating;

retrieve an updated version and sending the updated version to a vehicle for reflashing, for each module that requires updating;

receive confirmation for each module that has been reflashed; and

update a vehicle configuration with a version identifier corresponding to the updated version for each reflashed module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the update requests include vehicle information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle information includes one or more module version identifiers.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle information includes a vehicle component configuration.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the module version identifiers are compared against stored module versions from a module database to determine which modules require updating.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to determine which stored module versions from the module a database are appropriate for comparison purposes based at least in part on the vehicle component configuration.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle configuration is accessed to determine current module versions, which are compared against stored module versions from a module database to determine which modules require updating.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

wirelessly receiving update requests from a plurality of vehicles;

for each request, determining if any vehicle modules require updating;

retrieving an updated version and sending the updated version to a vehicle for reflashing, for each module that requires updating;

receiving confirmation for each module that has been reflashed; and

updating a vehicle configuration with a version identifier corresponding to the updated version for each reflashed module.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the update requests include vehicle information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle information includes one or more module version identifiers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle information includes a vehicle component configuration.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the module version identifiers are compared against stored module versions from a module database to determine which modules require updating.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine which stored module versions from the module a database are appropriate for comparison purposes based at least in part on the vehicle component configuration.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle configuration is accessed to determine current module versions, which are compared against stored module versions from a module database to determine which modules require updating.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

wirelessly receiving update requests from a plurality of vehicles;

for each request, determining if any vehicle modules require updating;

retrieving an updated version and sending the updated version to a vehicle for reflashing, for each module that requires updating;

receiving confirmation for each module that has been reflashed; and

updating a vehicle configuration with a version identifier corresponding to the updated version for each reflashed module.

16. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the update requests include vehicle information.

17. The storage medium of claim 16, wherein the vehicle information includes one or more module version identifiers.

18. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the vehicle information includes a vehicle component configuration.

19. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the module version identifiers are compared against stored module versions from a module database to determine which modules require updating.

20. The storage medium of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to determine which stored module versions from the module a database are appropriate for comparison purposes based at least in part on the vehicle component configuration.