Control Device Update in a Motor Vehicle

• US 20180272964A1
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Published: 09/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: NETTER, Florian
• Granted Patent: US 10,279,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/44 related to combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/22 Standstill, e.g. zero speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/46 by self learning
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• 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: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• 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

Abstract

A method is disclosed for adjusting a configuration data set in a control device of a motor vehicle. The configuration data set is to be installed reliably in the control device. According to the disclosure, an energy requirement of all vehicle components required for the adjustment of the configuration data set is predicted, a currently available remaining energy of an energy storage device of the motor vehicle is determined, and during a parked phase of the motor vehicle, when the drive motor is switched off, a trigger signal for adjusting the configuration data set is transmitted to the vehicle components if the currently remaining energy is greater than the predicted energy requirement. A control apparatus for carrying out the method and a motor vehicle having the control apparatus are also disclosed.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A method for an adjustment of a configuration data set in a control device of a motor vehicle, comprising:

predicting an energy requirement of each of a plurality of vehicle components in the motor vehicle required for the adjustment of the configuration data set, further comprising;

determining a length of time required for the adjustment of the configuration data set in the control device;

determining an amount of energy that is required for the length of time by each of the plurality of vehicle components during operation to fulfill the energy requirement;

determining, by the amount of energy, a predicted energy requirement of each of the plurality of vehicle components required for the adjustment of the configuration data set;

receiving a second configuration data set for a second control device;

receiving dependency data relating to the configuration data set and the second configuration data set;

determining a currently-available remaining energy of an energy storage device of the motor vehicle; and

transmitting to the control device a trigger signal for the adjustment of the configuration data set, if during a parked phase when a drive motor of the motor vehicle is switched off, the currently-available remaining energy is greater than the predicted energy requirement, and the configuration data set is independent of the second configuration data set according to the dependency data, further comprising;

determining, by a monitoring device, at least one usage pattern of a use of the motor vehicle by a driver, further comprising;

determining behavioral data of the driver from the motor vehicle or from an off-vehicle data source; and

combining, by machine learning, recurring values of the behavioral data to form the at least one usage pattern, wherein the behavioral data of the driver include at least one of the following;

an identity of the driver, usage data concerning at least one telephone or infotainment system used by the driver in the motor vehicle, the driver'"'"'s schedule data, and driving habits of the driver presented in a social network on the Internet;

determining, by the monitoring device, an anticipated parking duration at a beginning of the parked phase based on the at least one usage pattern; and

generating the trigger signal if the anticipated parking duration exceeds at least the length of time.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

performing at least one of;

determining at least one of the plurality of vehicle components required for the adjustment of the configuration data set based on a data networking architecture; and

switching on the at least one of the plurality of vehicle components for the adjustment of the configuration data set.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving the configuration data set from the off-vehicle data source during a driving operation of the motor vehicle, when the drive motor is switched on.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the configuration data set comprises at least one of the following data types:

a software update for the control device, navigation data, and parameterization data for adjusting an operating behavior of the control device.

11. A control apparatus for a motor vehicle, wherein the control apparatus comprises a data input for receiving state data of an energy storage device and a control output for controlling a plurality of vehicle components of the motor vehicle, wherein the control apparatus is configured to:

predict an energy requirement of each of the plurality of vehicle components in the motor vehicle required for an adjustment of a configuration data set, wherein to predict the energy requirement, the control apparatus is further configured to;

determine a length of time required for the adjustment of the configuration data set in a control device;

determine an amount of energy that is required for the length of time by each of the plurality of vehicle components during operation to fulfill the energy requirement;

determine, by the amount of energy, a predicted energy requirement of each of the plurality of vehicle components required for the adjustment of the configuration data set;

receive a second configuration data set for a second control device;

receive dependency data relating to the configuration data set and the second configuration data set;

determine a currently-available remaining energy of an energy storage device of the motor vehicle; and

transmit to the control device a trigger signal for the adjustment of the configuration data set, if during a parked phase when a drive motor of the motor vehicle is switched off, the currently-available remaining energy is greater than the predicted energy requirement, and the configuration data set is independent of the second configuration data set according to the dependency data, wherein to transmit the trigger signal, the control apparatus is further configured to;

determine, by a monitoring device, at least one usage pattern of a use of the motor vehicle by a driver, wherein to determine the at least one usage pattern, the control apparatus is further configured to;

determine behavioral data of the driver from the motor vehicle or from an off-vehicle data source; and

combine, by machine learning, recurring values of the behavioral data to form the at least one usage pattern, wherein the behavioral data of the driver include at least one of the following;

an identity of the driver, usage data concerning at least one telephone or infotainment system used by the driver in the motor vehicle, the driver'"'"'s schedule data, and driving habits of the driver presented in a social network on the Internet;

determine, by the monitoring device, an anticipated parking duration at a beginning of the parked phase based on the at least one usage pattern; and

generate the trigger signal if the anticipated parking duration exceeds at least the length of time.

12. The control apparatus of claim 11, further configured to:

perform at least one of;

determine at least one of the plurality of vehicle components required for the adjustment of the configuration data set based on a data networking architecture; and

switch on the at least one of the plurality of vehicle components for the adjustment of the configuration data set.

13. The control apparatus of claim 11, further configured to:

receive the configuration data set from the off-vehicle data source during a driving operation of the motor vehicle, when the drive motor is switched on.

14. The control apparatus of claim 11, wherein the configuration data set comprises at least one of the following data types:

a software update for the control device, navigation data, and parameterization data for adjusting an operating behavior of the control device.

15. A motor vehicle, having a control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus comprises a data input for receiving state data of an energy storage device and a control output for controlling a plurality of vehicle components of the motor vehicle, wherein the control apparatus is configured to:

predict an energy requirement of each of the plurality of vehicle components in the motor vehicle required for an adjustment of the configuration data set, wherein to predict the energy requirement, the control apparatus is further configured to;

determine a length of time required for the adjustment of the configuration data set in a control device;

determine an amount of energy that is required for the length of time by each of the plurality of vehicle components during operation to fulfill the energy requirement;

determine, by the amount of energy, a predicted energy requirement of each of the plurality of vehicle components required for the adjustment of the configuration data set;

receive a second configuration data set for a second control device;

receive dependency data relating to the configuration data set and the second configuration data set;

determine a currently-available remaining energy of an energy storage device of the motor vehicle; and

transmit to the control device a trigger signal for the adjustment of the configuration data set, if during a parked phase when a drive motor of the motor vehicle is switched off, the currently-available remaining energy is greater than the predicted energy requirement, and the configuration data set is independent of the second configuration data set according to the dependency data, wherein to transmit the trigger signal, the control apparatus is further configured to;

determine, by a monitoring device, at least one usage pattern of a use of the motor vehicle by a driver, wherein to determine the at least one usage pattern, the control apparatus is further configured to;

determine behavioral data of the driver from the motor vehicle or from an off-vehicle data source; and

combine, by machine learning, recurring values of the behavioral data to form the at least one usage pattern, wherein the behavioral data of the driver include at least one of the following;

an identity of the driver, usage data concerning at least one telephone or infotainment system used by the driver in the motor vehicle, the driver'"'"'s schedule data, and driving habits of the driver presented in a social network on the Internet;

determine, by the monitoring device, an anticipated parking duration at a beginning of the parked phase based on the at least one usage pattern; and

generate the trigger signal if the anticipated parking duration exceeds at least the length of time.

16. The motor vehicle having the control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control apparatus is further configured to:

perform at least one of;

determine at least one of the plurality of vehicle components required for the adjustment of the configuration data set based on a data networking architecture; and

switch on the at least one of the plurality of vehicle components for the adjustment of the configuration data set.

17. The motor vehicle having the control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control apparatus is further configured to:

receive the configuration data set from the off-vehicle data source during a driving operation of the motor vehicle, when the drive motor is switched on.

18. The motor vehicle having the control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the configuration data set comprises at least one of the following data types:

a software update for the control device, navigation data, and parameterization data for adjusting an operating behavior of the control device.