Systems and method for remotely modifying software on a work machine

• US 7,676,804 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Jenkins, Brian Lane, Wood, Daniel Craig, Ferguson, Alan L., O'Neal, Steven Wayne, Meiss, Trent Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Jr.; Lewis A
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, JUE S
• Application Number:
  US10/849,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,119 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/18 Control systems or devices exclusively for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and system are provided to perform a process of wirelessly providing software updates to a target module located in a work machine. In one embodiment, the process includes determining whether a software update condition exists for software stored in the target module and when such a condition does exist, delivering software update data from a remote off-board system to the work machine. Further, the work machine may determine a location of the target module and whether an update delay condition exists. Also, the process may include delivering the software update to the target module if no update delay condition exists, and delaying the delivery of the software update data to the target module if an update delay condition does exist.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly providing software updates to a target module located in a machine, comprising:

determining that a software update condition exists for software stored in the target module, wherein the target module is among a plurality of modules on-board the machine and each module in the plurality of modules is connected to a primary data link or a secondary data link within the machine;

presenting a user with an indication that an off-board system will update the software stored in the target module;

receiving a rejection of the software update from the user;

automatically overriding the user'"'"'s rejection by performing an update process on the machine, including;

determining, on the machine, whether the target module is connected to the primary data link or, alternatively, to the secondary data link,

if it is determined that the target module is connected to the secondary data link, determining whether an update delay condition exists,

either delaying delivery of the software update to the target module if an update delay condition exists, or delivering the software update to the target module over the secondary data link if no update delay condition exists.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the update delay condition includes at least one of:

(i) a condition where the target module is incapable of receiving the software update when the existence of the update delay condition is determined;

(ii) a condition where the machine includes an interface control system that manages distribution of the software update within the machine and the interface control system is incapable of delivering the software update when the existence of the update delay condition is determined; and

(iii) a condition where the target module is connected to the secondary data link and the secondary data link has transmission characteristics different from those of the primary data link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the software update to the target module if no update delay condition exists includes:

receiving the software update at an interface control system within the machine, wherein the interface control system manages the delivery of software updates for the machine; and

forwarding, by the interface control system and without delay, the software update to the target module.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein delaying the delivery of the software update includes:

receiving the software update at an interface control system within the machine, wherein the interface control system manages the delivery of software updates for the machine;

storing the software update in a memory device associated with the interface control system; and

monitoring the update delay condition to determine when to deliver the software update to the target module.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether an update delay condition exists includes:

when the target module is in a condition that cannot process the software update, receiving an indication from the target module reflecting the condition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine includes an interface control system that receives the software update delivered from the off-board system, the secondary data link has a different transmission speed than the primary data link, and the interface control system is connected to the primary data link and the secondary data link, and wherein determining whether an update delay condition exists includes:

determining whether the target module is located on the secondary data link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a software update condition exists for software stored in the target module includes:

determining whether the target module is in need of a different version of software based on an identification of software that is currently stored in the target module.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing an update process includes:

providing a notification message from the target module indicating a status of the delivery of the software update to the target module.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the status of the delivery of the software update reflects either a successful write of the software update to the target module or an unsuccessful write of the software update to the target module.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein when the notification message indicates the unsuccessful write of the software update, the notification message includes data reflecting a reason associated with the unsuccessful write of the software update.

11. A system for providing software updates, comprising:

an off-board system including a memory for providing a software update over a wireless communication medium;

a machine, remotely located from the off-board system, for receiving the software update, the machine including;

an interface control system connected to a primary data link and a secondary data link within the machine, and

a plurality of modules, wherein a target module is among the plurality of modules and each module in the plurality of modules is connected to the primary data link or the secondary data link within the machine,

wherein the off-board system is configured to;

notify a user of the machine that the target module requires a software update,

receive a rejection from the user regarding the software update, and

automatically override the user'"'"'s rejection by delivering the software update to the machine; and

wherein the interface control system is configured to;

receive the software update,

determine, on the machine, whether the target module is connected to the primary data link or, alternatively, to the secondary data link,

if it is determined that the target module is connected to the secondary data link, determine whether an update delay condition exists, and

either delay delivery of the software update to the target module if an update delay condition exists, or deliver the software update to the target module over the secondary data link if no update delay condition exists.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the update delay condition includes at least one of:

(i) a condition where the target module is incapable of receiving the software update when the existence of the update delay condition is determined;

(ii) a condition where the machine includes an interface control system that manages distribution of the software update within the machine and the interface control system is incapable of delivering the software update when the existence of the update delay condition is determined; and

(iii) a condition where the target module is connected to the secondary data link and the secondary data link has transmission characteristics different from those of the primary data link.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface control system is configured to delay the delivery of the software update if the update delay condition exists by storing the software update in a memory device associated with the interface control system, and monitoring the update delay condition to determine when to deliver the software update to the target module.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the target module is configured such that, when the target module is in a condition that cannot process the software update, the target module sends an indication to the interface control system reflecting the condition.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the interface control system uses the indication to determine whether the update delay condition exists.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the off-board system is configured to determine whether the target module is in need of a new version of software based on an identification of software that is currently stored in the target module.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the target module is configured to provide a notification message indicating a status of the delivery of the software update to the target module.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the status of the delivery of the software update reflects either a successful write of the software update to the target module or an unsuccessful write of the software update to the target module.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein when the notification message indicates the unsuccessful write of the software update, the notification message includes data reflecting a reason associated with the unsuccessful write of the software update.