SERVICING CONTROL UNITS OF MOTOR VEHICLES VIA MOBILE RADIO

• US 20150072681A1
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Allmann, Christian, Collisi, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,538,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0234 related to maintenance or repairing of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

In a method for wireless exchange of device data between a control unit of a motor vehicle and a vehicle-external computing device, a mobile radio connection is established between a mobile radio module of the motor vehicle and a mobile radio cell of a radio station coupled with the computing device. The device data are transmitted via the mobile radio connection. The radio station provides a private mobile radio cell which is different from all mobile radio cells of public mobile radio networks able to reach the motor vehicle. To establish the mobile radio connection in the motor vehicle, the mobile radio module is reconfigured for registering with the private mobile radio cell by using a SIM card.

Claims

1. A method for wireless exchange of device data between a control unit installed in a motor vehicle and a vehicle-external computing device, comprising:

setting up a mobile radio connection between a mobile radio module of the motor vehicle and a radio station of a mobile radio cell that is coupled with the vehicle-external computing device and comprises a private mobile radio cell that is different from all mobile radio cells of public mobile radio networks reaching the motor vehicle, wherein for setting up the wireless radio connection in the motor vehicle, the mobile radio module is reconfigured for registering with the private mobile radio cell by using a SIM card, and

transmitting the device data via the mobile radio connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SIM card is an embedded UICC (eUICC) that is permanently installed in the motor vehicle and wherein for reconfiguring the mobile radio module and for purpose of registration, a new access profile is installed in the eUICC at least once or an access profile already stored in the eUICC is activated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein following the exchange of the device data, the mobile radio module is reconfigured with the SIM card for registering in one of the public mobile radio networks.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio cell forms a microcell or a picocell or a femtocell.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device data are exchanged during manufacture of the motor vehicle on factory premises or during repair work or maintenance work of the motor vehicle in an area of a repair shop.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising localizing the motor vehicle with a locating device on the factory premises or the area of the repair shop by way of the radio station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one additional radio station is connected with the central computing device, with the at least one additional radio station comprising a dedicated private mobile radio cell, and wherein the mobile radio cells of all radio stations are interconnected so as to form a private wireless network, that passes on the mobile radio connection between the radio stations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device data transmitted via the wireless connection to the control unit and stored in the control unit include configuration data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the device data transmitted via the wireless connection from the control unit to the central computing device and processed by the central computing device include error messages or status messages or values of measured data, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of encoding, parameterizing and flashing the control unit based on the device data.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising

initiating a self-test in the motor vehicle, and

automatically reconfiguring the mobile radio module by a control unit of the motor vehicle during the self-test.

12. A motor vehicle comprising:

at least one control unit configured to provide a respective vehicle functionality in a driving mode of the motor vehicle and to at least one of re-program and check the respective vehicle functionality in a service mode,

a mobile radio module configured to establish, depending on an active access profile of an embedded UICC (eUICC) a mobile radio connection to a radio station of a mobile radio cell, and

a configuration device configured to activate in the eUICC an access profile specified by a vehicle user for the driving mode and to activate a user-independent access profile for a private mobile radio cell for the service mode.

13. Facility for producing or servicing a vehicle, comprising

premises accommodating at least one motor vehicle,

at least one radio station constructed to provide a private mobile radio cell having radio coverage directed to a major part of a partial area of the premises or to the entire area, and

a central computing device configured to at least one of generate and process device data from at least one control unit of the at least one motor vehicle and to exchange the device data with the at least one motor vehicle via the at least one radio station.