REMOTE UPDATES FOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS

• US 20180099564A1
• Filed: 06/19/2017
• Published: 04/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iQar Inc.
• Original Assignee: Invently Automotive Inc. (iQar Inc.)
• Inventors: Koebler, Martin, Goldstein, Nicole G., Brown, Stephen J., Harper, Jason H.
• Granted Patent: US 11,065,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/20 Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/645 Type of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/647 Surface situation of road, e.g. type of paving
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/665 : Light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/667 : Precipitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/68 : Traffic data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 : by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 : by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 : Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/50 : by future state prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 : Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 : charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 : responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 : responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 : for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 : Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 : by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/586 : the retarders being of the electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/04 : Hill descent control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/36 : Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 : operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 : initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 : including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 : Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/12 : using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 : Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 : Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/103 : Speed profile
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 : Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 : Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 : Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 : using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 : Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 : using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 : where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for receiving an update from a remote source may comprise a step of connecting wirelessly to a transceiver. The method may comprise a step of communicating with a remote database via the transceiver. The method may comprise a step of providing operational parameter data to the remote database. The method may comprise a step of receiving updated operational parameters from the database based on a comparison of the operational parameter data to a latest version of the operational parameter data performed by the remote database. The method may comprise a step of updating one or more components of a vehicle using the updated operational parameters. The remote database may be configured to determine a status of the components of the vehicle and provide the updated operational parameters to keep software used by the vehicle to a latest version.

Claims

1. A method for receiving an update from a remote source, comprising the steps of:

(A) connecting wirelessly to a transceiver;

(B) communicating with a remote database via said transceiver;

(C) providing operational parameter data to said remote database;

(D) receiving updated operational parameters from said database based on a comparison of said operational parameter data to a latest version of said operational parameter data performed by said remote database; and

(E) updating one or more components of a vehicle using said updated operational parameters, wherein said remote database is configured to determine a status of said components of said vehicle and provide said updated operational parameters to keep software used by said vehicle to a latest version.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said operational parameters are configured to adjust performance capabilities of said vehicle based on at least one of a make, a model and one or more components of said vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein keeping said software used by said vehicle to said latest version is performed to optimize power consumption of said vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed (a) when said vehicle is turned on in a first mode and (b) during a trip in a second mode.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said updated operational parameters are determined by said remote database based on historical driving patterns of a particular driver.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said updated operational parameters are determined based on said status of one or said components of said vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein (i) said updated operational parameters are determined by said remote database based on current traffic patterns and a current condition of said vehicle and (ii) said current condition of said vehicle comprises a current fuel supply, a battery supply, a condition of tires of said vehicle, a condition of a motor of said vehicle and a condition of a powertrain of said vehicle.

8. A hybrid-electric vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor;

a battery;

an internal combustion engine;

a fuel tank;

a chassis;

a drive train;

a plurality of wheels;

a plurality of sensors;

a wireless communication module configured to connect wirelessly to a transceiver; and

a software management system configured to (A) manage software used by one or more components of said vehicle, (B) communicate with a remote database via said transceiver, (C) provide operational parameter data to said remote database, (D) receive updated operational parameters from said database based on a comparison of said operational parameter data to a latest version of said operational parameter data performed by said remote database and (E) update said software for said one or more components of said vehicle using said updated operational parameters, wherein said remote database is configured to determine a status of said components of said vehicle and provide said updated operational parameters to keep said software used by said vehicle to a latest version.

9. The hybrid-electric vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said operational parameter data is configured to adjust performance capabilities of said hybrid-electric vehicle based on at least one of a make, a model and said one or more components of said hybrid-electric vehicle.

10. The hybrid-electric vehicle according to claim 8, wherein keeping said software used by said components of said hybrid-electric vehicle to said latest version is performed to optimize power consumption of said hybrid-electric vehicle.

11. The hybrid-electric vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said software management system is configured to update said software for said one or more components of said vehicle (a) when said vehicle is turned on in a first mode and (b) during a trip in a second mode.

12. The hybrid-electric vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said updated operational parameters are determined by said remote database based on historical driving patterns of a particular driver.

13. The hybrid-electric vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said updated operational parameters are determined based on said status of one of said components of said vehicle.

14. An electric vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor;

a battery;

a chassis;

a drive train;

a plurality of wheels;

a plurality of sensors;

a wireless communication module configured to connect wirelessly to a transceiver; and

a power management system configured to (A) communicate with a remote database via said transceiver, (B) provide operational parameter data to said remote database, (C) receive updated operational parameters from said database based on a comparison of said operational parameter data to a latest version of said operational parameter data performed by said remote database and (E) update one or more components of said vehicle using said updated operational parameters, wherein said remote database is configured to determine a status of said components of said vehicle and provide said updated operational parameters to increase an efficiency of power usage when operating said vehicle.

15. The electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said operational parameter data is configured to adjust performance capabilities of said electric vehicle based on at least one of a make, a model and said one or more components of said electric vehicle.

16. The electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said power management system is configured to update said one or more components of said electric vehicle (a) when said electric vehicle is turned on in a first mode and (b) during a trip in a second mode.

17. The electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said updated operational parameters are determined by said remote database based on historical driving patterns of a particular driver.

18. The electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said updated operational parameters are determined based on said status of one of said components of said electric vehicle.

19. The electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein (i) said updated operational parameters are determined by said remote database based on current traffic patterns and a current condition of said electric vehicle and (ii) said current condition of said electric vehicle comprises a battery supply, a condition of tires of said electric vehicle and a condition of said drive train.