Onboard system and computer for holding data unloading in case of computer stoppage

• US 7,809,498 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Rimlinger, Remi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tan Q
• Application Number:
  US11/575,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20080031096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/35, 701/33, 709/230, 709/232, 717/173, 717/178, 711/162, 711/103, 714/26, 714/34
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading

Abstract

A system for data unloading including a computer on board a motor vehicle provided with a memory support whereon data are to be recorded, and a data storage medium, external to the vehicle, from which the data are unloaded. The memory support stores an index, the index being modified during data unloading. In case data unloading from the external storage medium is interrupted, the unloading may be resumed for those data of the external medium identified by the index as not having been recorded on the memory support of the computer. A computer onboard a motor vehicle is designed to be used in such an unloading system.

Claims

1. A system for downloading of data comprising:

a computer onboard a motor vehicle having available a memory medium on which the data can be recorded, and a data storage medium, external to the vehicle, from which the data are downloaded from, wherein the memory medium stores an index, the index being modified in the course of the downloading of the data; and

an interruption unit configured to, in the event of interruption of the downloading of the data from the external storage medium, resume downloading for those of the data of the external medium that are identified with aid of the index as not having yet been recorded on the memory medium of the computer,

wherein the computer uses mechanisms of read and write access to the memory medium to access other data of the memory medium during loading of a new database, the memory medium having available inherent resources for placing the data on standby awaiting use by virtue of buffer mechanisms, the placing on standby of the data to be loaded onto the memory medium permitting the computer to access the memory medium to use other data present on the memory medium, or to load other data.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index is incremented in the course of the downloading so as to represent a quantity of data recorded on the memory medium of the computer, and resumption of the downloading takes place by resuming the downloading of the data from a position, indicated by the index, in the external storage medium.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein stoppage of the computer interrupts the downloading and startup of the computer initiates the downloading or resumption of the downloading.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, configured for recording and/or updating, from the external medium, of a cartographic database to be stored on the memory medium of the computer.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer includes a loading unit configured to load the data onto the memory medium, a reading interface being integrated with the computer, the only item of equipment outside the computer necessary for carrying out the loading of the data onto the memory medium being the external storage medium such that the loading can be carried out while driving or when stationary without requiring resources external to the computer apart from the external storage medium which is portable by a user.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data of the external storage medium are available for use by a user even during their loading onto the memory medium, the computer using resources of its processor allowing execution of plural applications simultaneously and the external data being at a same time used for guidance application of the computer and loaded onto the memory medium.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer verifies age of a cartographic database stored on the memory medium with respect to that stored on the external medium by a mechanism of comparison of versions and of the cartographic database date-stamps which are integrated with the computer, the loading not being performed if the cartographic database already stored on the memory medium is posterior to that of the external medium.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer includes a reliability unit configured to recognize reliability of the data of the external medium, the computer initializing loading of the data after startup of an application of monitoring of reliability of the data implementing reading of an encrypted signature of a provider of the data of the external medium known by the computer.

9. A computer onboard a motor vehicle configured to be used in a system as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

a memory medium on which the data downloaded from an external storage medium can be recorded and on which an index is recorded, the computer modifying the index in the course of the downloading; and

a downloading unit configured to download from the external medium solely the data indicated by the index as not having been downloaded yet.

10. The computer as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an incrementing unit configured to increment the index in the course of the downloading so as to represent a quantity of data recorded on the memory medium and resume the downloading only from a position, indicated by the index, in the external medium.

11. The computer as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a reading interface configured to read the data from the external medium and to transmit the read data to the memory medium for recording.