METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO UPDATE A VEHICLE COMPUTING SYSTEM

• US 20160098266A1
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MARTIN, Douglas Raymond, ROCKWELL, Mark Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,282,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A vehicle computing system for a vehicle includes a first and second memory device (e.g., erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM)). The system further includes a circuit that selectively switches between the first and second memory device. The system further includes a first vehicle control module configured to receive notification that a software update is available at the second memory device. The first vehicle control module controls the circuit to switch from the first memory device to the second memory device at an initialization event. The first vehicle control module executes the software update based on communication with the second memory device.

Claims

1. A vehicle computing system comprising:

a first memory device in communication with a first processor for executing one or more vehicle operations;

a second memory device in communication with a second processor for receiving software updates;

a first switch circuit that selectively switches between the first processor and the first and second memory device; and

a second switch circuit that selectively switches between the second processor and the first and second memory device,

wherein the first or second processor is configured to,

receive notification that a software update is available at the second memory device,

control the first switch circuit to toggle communication with the first processor from the first memory device to the second memory device for execution of the software update by the first processor from the second memory device.

2. The vehicle computing system of claim 1, wherein the first and second memory device consist of at least one of an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a FLASH, random access memory, and read only memory.

3. The vehicle computing system of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the first switch circuit toggles to enable communication with the first processor to communicate with the second memory device, the second processor communicates with the first memory device via the second switch circuit.

4. The vehicle computing system of claim 3, wherein the second processor is configured to enable a software update flash event of the first memory device during vehicle operation.

5. The vehicle computing system of claim 3, further comprising a communication module configured to establish remote communication with one or more devices such that the communication module transmits a software update to the first memory device via the second processor.

6. The vehicle computing system of claim 5, wherein the communication module is at least one of an embedded cellular phone, a Bluetooth module, and an embedded modem.

7. The vehicle computing system of claim 5, wherein the one or more devices is at least one of a remote server and a nomadic device in communication with a remote server.

8. The vehicle computing system of claim 5, wherein the communication module is configured to, in response to a key-off event, continue to receive the software update until the second processer receives a software update success message before completing the key-off event, and store the software update at the first memory device via the second processor.

9. The vehicle computing system of claim 1, wherein the first or second processor is further configured to, in response to an initialization event, transmit a request to determine if the first or second memory device comprises the updated software.

10. The vehicle computing system of claim 9, wherein the initialization event is at least one of an ignition key-on, ignition key-off, and a manual initiated event.

11. The vehicle computing system of claim 1, wherein the first and second switch circuits are at least two field-effect transistors.

12. A circuit comprising:

a first processor configured for vehicle operation;

a second processor configured for software updates;

a first and second memory device configured to communicate with the first and second processor;

a first switch configured to selectively switch between the first processor and the first and second memory device;

a second switch configured to selectively switch between the second processor and the first and second memory device; and

in response to a software update at the second memory device via the second processor, the first switch toggles to shift communication between the first processor from the first memory device to the second memory device.

13. The circuit of claim 12, wherein the first and second switch comprises at least one of a field effect transistors (FETs), metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), diodes, relays, and registers.

14. The circuit of claim 12, wherein the first or second memory device may receive the software update during vehicle operation via the second processor.

15. The circuit of claim 14, wherein the second processor is configured to enable a flash event to store the software update at the first and second memory device via the second switch.

16. The circuit of claim 15, further comprising, in response to the software update, the second switch is configured to toggle communication with the second processor from the second memory device to the first memory device at an initialization event.

17. The circuit of claim 12, further comprising a communication module configured to transmit software updates to the first and second memory devices via the second processor.

18. A vehicle software update method comprising:

receiving a software update at a first memory device during vehicle operation;

receiving notification at a first controller that the software update is available at the first memory device;

controlling a circuit to switch communication between the first controller with a second memory device to the first memory device, and

executing the software update from the first memory device at the first controller.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, in response to an initialization event, controlling the circuit to switch communication with the first controller from the second memory device to the first memory device, wherein the initialization event is at least one of an ignition key-on, ignition key-off event, and a manual user request.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, in response to the initialization event, establishing communication via the circuit between the second memory device and a second controller, wherein the second controller is configured for flashing software updates to the second memory device.