System and method to load vehicle operation software and calibration data in general assembly and service environment
First Claim
1. A data exchange system for use in vehicle assembly, comprising:
- a portable memory device adapted to interface with a communications port of a particular type;
an external processor having a datastore of vehicle software and adapted to operate as a source of vehicle software via a first communications port of the particular type;
a vehicle at least temporarily having a second communications port of the particular type and adapted to exchange data between multiple processors of the vehicle and the external processor via the portable memory device; and
an interface processor is adapted to automatically recognize said portable memory device upon connection of said memory device to the second communications port,wherein the multiple processors are adapted to automatically load vehicle software from said memory device in response to the automatic recognition, and to write non-request data to said memory device following load of the vehicle software.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data exchange system for use in vehicle assembly includes a data exchange mechanism exchanging vehicle software and/or diagnostic information between vehicle processors and an external processor. In one aspect, the data exchange mechanism is a portable memory device, such as a USB flash disk, alternately connecting to USB ports of the external processor and the vehicle. Vehicle software is automatically loaded onto vehicle processors by an interface processor connected to a CAN controller, and the processors similarly write back diagnostic information. In another aspect, the data exchange mechanism is a wireless mechanism, such as an iCHIP, connecting the external processor and vehicle processors through a communications network and a CAN controller. Vehicle processors individually wirelessly request appropriate vehicle software and/or provide diagnostic information. The data exchange mechanism may be permanently integrated into the vehicle, or temporarily connected to the vehicle by an alternative connection mechanism, such as the ALDL.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A data exchange system for use in vehicle assembly, comprising:
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a portable memory device adapted to interface with a communications port of a particular type; an external processor having a datastore of vehicle software and adapted to operate as a source of vehicle software via a first communications port of the particular type; a vehicle at least temporarily having a second communications port of the particular type and adapted to exchange data between multiple processors of the vehicle and the external processor via the portable memory device; and an interface processor is adapted to automatically recognize said portable memory device upon connection of said memory device to the second communications port, wherein the multiple processors are adapted to automatically load vehicle software from said memory device in response to the automatic recognition, and to write non-request data to said memory device following load of the vehicle software. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A data exchange system for use in vehicle assembly, comprising:
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a wireless data exchange mechanism adapted to communicate with a communications network; an external processor having a datastore of vehicle software and adapted to operate as a source of vehicle software via the communications network; a vehicle at least temporarily adapted to exchange data between multiple processors of the vehicle and the external processor via said wireless data exchange mechanism; and an adapter having a control area network controller in communication with said wireless data exchange mechanism, said adapter configured to temporarily provide connectively between said wireless data exchange mechanism and the multiple processors by temporarily connecting said controller adjacent to the multiple processors via an alternative communications port. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A data exchange system for use in vehicle assembly, comprising:
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a wireless data exchange mechanism adapted to communicate with a communications network; an external processor having a datastore of vehicle software and adapted to operate as a source of vehicle software via the communications network; a vehicle at least temporarily adapted to exchange data between multiple processors of the vehicle and the external processor via said wireless data exchange mechanism; and a controller of a controller area network connected to a system bus of the vehicle and networked adjacent to the multiple processors, wherein said controller is in communication with said wireless data exchange mechanism, wherein said controller is temporarily networked adjacent to the multiple processors via an alternative connection mechanism.
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9. A data exchange system for use in vehicle assembly, comprising:
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a wireless data exchange mechanism adapted to communicate with a communications network; an external processor having a datastore of vehicle software and adapted to operate as a source of vehicle software via the communications network; and a vehicle at least temporarily adapted to exchange data between multiple processors of the vehicle and the external processor via said wireless data exchange mechanism, wherein the multiple processors are adapted to request vehicle software from said external processor and to transmit non-request data to the external processor following load of vehicle software from said external processor, and said external processor is adapted to analyze non-request data received from the multiple processors.
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10. A data exchange method for use in vehicle assembly, comprising:
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alternating connection of a portable memory device between an external processor and a vehicle; transferring vehicle software from the external processor to the portable memory device during connection of the portable memory device to the external processor via a first communication port; transferring data from the portable memory device to a processor of the vehicle upon connection of the portable memory device to the vehicle via a second communication port; automatically recognizing said portable memory device upon connection of said memory device to the second communications port; automatically loading vehicle software from the memory device in response to automatic recognition thereof; and writing non-request data to the memory device following load of the vehicle software. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data exchange method for use in vehicle assembly, comprising;
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establishing a wireless connection between an external processor and a vehicle processor via a wireless communication mechanism at least temporarily provided to the vehicle, wherein the external processor is adapted to serve as a source of vehicle software; transmitting a request for vehicle software from the vehicle processor to the external processor via the wireless communication mechanism; transmitting the vehicle software from the external processor to the vehicle processor via the wireless communication mechanism, wherein said transmitting the vehicle software occurs in response to the request; and employing an adapter having a control area network controller in communication with the wireless communication mechanism, wherein the adapter is configured to temporarily provide connectively between said wireless communication mechanism and the vehicle processor by temporarily connecting the controller adjacent to the vehicle processor via an alternative communication mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A data exchange method for use in vehicle assembly, comprising;
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establishing a wireless connection between an external processor and a vehicle processor via a wireless communication mechanism at least temporarily provided to the vehicle, wherein the external processor is adapted to serve as a source of vehicle software; transmitting a request for vehicle software from the vehicle processor to the external processor via the wireless communication mechanism; transmitting the vehicle software from the external processor to the vehicle processor via the wireless communication mechanism, wherein said transmitting the vehicle software occurs in response to the request; at least temporarily connecting a controller of a controller area network to a system bus of the vehicle, wherein said controller is in communication with said wireless communication mechanism; and temporarily networking the controller adjacent to the vehicle processor via an alternative connection mechanism.
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18. A data exchange method for use in vehicle assembly, comprising;
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establishing a wireless connection between an external processor and a vehicle processor via a wireless communication mechanism at least temporarily provided to the vehicle, wherein the external processor is adapted to serve as a source of vehicle software; transmitting a request for vehicle software from the vehicle processor to the external processor via the wireless communication mechanism; transmitting the vehicle software from the external processor to the vehicle processor via the wireless communication mechanism, wherein said transmitting the vehicle software occurs in response to the request; transmitting non-request data to the external processor following load of vehicle software from said external processor; and analyzing non-request data received from the vehicle processor.
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Specification