Method for automatic updating of software

• US 7,424,707 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2002
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: De Boer, Gerrit, Lorenzo, Oliver Dominguez
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US10/467,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,434 Days
• Field of Search: 717/107, 717122-128, 717162-178, 717/130, 370/313, 707/1, 707/103.R, 707/206, 709/231, 709/201, 709/223, 705/1, 719/310, 702119-128
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method for automatically updating software which is used for updating software which is running on a system, by using new software modules, these software modules first being tested, and application modules then being derived from these software modules. The actual new function is implemented by the application modules. The software modules may be received advantageously over a wireless interface. The method according to the present invention is particularly suited for applications where software is used in a motor vehicle. The application module is usually derived from the software module on the basis of the principle of inheritance. The software module is tested by a call instruction using test parameters.

Claims

1. A method for automatically updating existing software on a target device, the software implemented in an object-oriented manner, the method comprising:

expanding a functionality of the software by adding an additional software module, the additional software module including a test class and an application class, wherein the test class and the application class are derivable from a set of basic classes provided in the additional software module;

wherein the test class implements test routines by overwriting methods of a basic class, and wherein upon determining applicability of the test results from executing said test routines, the application class is derived from the test class or from a basic class, and wherein the application class is derived from the test class or from the basic class by overwriting methods of said basic class;

testing the test class of the additional software module during operation of the software, wherein the testing is automatically conducted by the implemented test routines of the test class in order to determine the applicability of the additional software with respect to the existing software; and

based on the applicability determination from executing said test routines, deriving the application class as a function of a result of the test and using the application class by the additional software module for operation of the target device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving the software module over a wireless interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising overwriting functions used only for the test when the at least one application class is derived from the software module.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the software module is tested by a call instruction using test parameters.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring, by the software, test of the software module by setting a variable; and

repeating the test as a function of a content of the variable.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the application class includes inherited methods from the additional software module.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the test class is received via a function interface.

8. A device present in a vehicle for automatically updating software comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

wherein the processor and the memory operate the software;

a loading device for simultaneously loading an additional software module and receiving useful data;

a bus system connected to the loading device, the bus system configured to distribute the additional software module to individual vehicle components; and

the additional software module being for one of updating and expanding a functionality of the software of the individual vehicle components, wherein the additional software module includes a test class and an application class, and wherein the test class and the application class are derivable from a set of basic classes provided in the additional software module, and wherein the test class implements test routines by overwriting methods of a basic class, and wherein upon determining applicability of the test results from executing said test routines, the application class is derived from the test class or from a basic class, and wherein the application class is derived from the test class or from the basic class by overwriting methods of said basic class, and wherein the testing is for determining the applicability of the additional software with respect to the existing software, and wherein based on the applicability determination from executing said test routines, the application class is derived as a function of a result of the test and the application class is used by the additional software module for operation of at least one of the individual vehicle components.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the loading device includes a wireless interface.