METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING A VARIABLE RATE OF REQUESTING SOFTWARE DATA FROM A VEHICLE

• US 20150089489A1
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: SARKAR, SUSANTA P., SCHWARZ, JONATHAN R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,442,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A method for adjusting a variable rate of requesting software data for a computer system onboard a vehicle is provided. The method determines a number of ignition cycles executed after first software data has been retrieved; and when the number of ignition cycles is greater than a threshold value, reduces a frequency for generating a software request, to obtain a reduced frequency.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a variable rate of requesting software data for a computer system onboard a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a number of ignition cycles executed after first software data has been retrieved; and

when the number of ignition cycles is greater than a threshold value, reducing a frequency for generating a software request, to obtain a reduced frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the first software data from a remote server;

wherein the retrieving of the first software data comprises downloading a software update from the remote server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the number of ignition cycles is less than or equal to the threshold value, utilizing a default frequency for generating a software request.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reading an ignition cycle counter value to determine the number of ignition cycles executed after the first software data has been retrieved;

incrementing the ignition cycle counter value in response to ignition of the vehicle; and

comparing the incremented ignition cycle counter value to the threshold value.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining whether second software data is available by requesting the second software data according to the reduced frequency; and

when the second software data is available,

retrieving the second software data;

incorporating the second software data into the onboard computer system; and

resetting the ignition cycle counter value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of resetting the ignition cycle counter value further comprises initiating use of a default frequency for generating a software request.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

obtaining the second software data from a remote server, using a wireless communication protocol.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

obtaining the second software data from a remote server, using a local area network (LAN) connection.

9. A system for adjusting a variable rate of requesting software updates onboard a vehicle, the system comprising:

a communication module, configured to request and receive software updates for a vehicle onboard computer system;

control logic, configured to determine a number of ignition cycles executed after a first software update is performed; and

a software update scheduling module, configured to reduce a frequency of requesting software updates when the number of ignition cycles is greater than a threshold.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the software update scheduling module is further configured to:

utilize a default frequency for requesting software updates when the number of ignition cycles is less than or equal to the threshold value.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

read an ignition cycle counter value to determine the number of ignition cycles executed after the first software update is performed;

increment the ignition cycle counter value in response to the vehicle onboard computer system being powered-on; and

compare the incremented ignition cycle counter value to the threshold value.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

determine whether a second software update is available by requesting the second software update according to the reduced frequency; and

when the second software update is available,

retrieve the second software update;

incorporate the second software update into the onboard computer system; and

reset the ignition cycle counter value.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein, when the second software update is needed, the control logic is further configured to:

initiate use of default frequency for requesting software updates.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication module is further configured to obtain the second software update from a remote server, using a wireless communication protocol.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication module is further configured to obtain the second software update from a remote server, using a local area network (LAN) connection.

16. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium containing instructions stored thereon, wherein, when executed by a processor, the instructions cause the processor to perform a method for adjusting a variable rate of vehicle onboard requests for software updates, the method comprising:

determining whether a vehicle onboard software update was performed before a vehicle was shut down, wherein the vehicle utilizes an update request schedule comprising a default frequency; and

when a vehicle onboard software update was not performed before the vehicle was shut down, implementing an update request schedule comprising a reduced frequency.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method performed by the instructions further comprises:

utilizing the default frequency for the update request schedule when the vehicle onboard software update was performed before the vehicle was shut down;

wherein the default frequency comprises a constant periodic rate of requesting software updates.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method performed by the instructions further comprises:

obtaining a second software update from a remote server, using a wireless communication protocol.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method performed by the instructions further comprises:

reading an ignition cycle counter value to determine a number of ignition cycles executed after the first software update is performed;

incrementing the ignition cycle counter value; and

comparing the ignition cycle counter value to the threshold value.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the method performed by the instructions further comprises:

determining whether a second software update is needed by requesting the second software update according to the reduced frequency; and

when the second software update is needed,

retrieve the second software update;

incorporate the second software update into the onboard computer system; and

reset the ignition cycle counter value.