Information updating method of vehicle-mounted control apparatus, update information communication system, vehicle-mounted control apparatus, and information management base station apparatus

• US 8,290,659 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Asano, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US10/582,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,228 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/120, 701/200, 701/201, 701/2, 340/989, 717/168
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/092 Coding or decoding of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

When an updating event occurs, an information management base station unit inquires all the vehicles under its management about the presence or absence of vehicle-mounted control units to be updated. Based on replies from the individual vehicles, the information management base station unit selects the vehicles to be updated, and then it automatically updates them via wireless communication.

Claims

1. An information updating method for vehicle-mounted control units, said method comprising:

when an updating event occurs, an information management base station transmitting a query to all vehicles under its management regarding whether or not a vehicle-mounted control unit that needs to be updated by the information management base station unit is present thereon;

said information management base station selecting vehicles to be updated based on the replies from the individual vehicles; and

said information management base station updating only the selected vehicles by updated contents divided into packets being transmitted to respective vehicle-mounted control units.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

each vehicle mounted control unit determines whether the vehicle is in an update-allowed state;

said replies include information regarding an outcome of said determination; and

each vehicle is updated only when it is in an update-allowed state.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said update-allowed state comprises a state in which the vehicle is parked and not in operation.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said query is transmitted by said information management base station, simultaneously to all vehicles under its management, via a broadcasting system.

5. An information updating method for vehicle-mounted control units, comprising:

an information management base station unit transmitting information relating to an information update via wireless communication;

receiving the transmitted information on a vehicle;

said vehicle determining whether or not the information update is necessary for the vehicle, based on the information received by the vehicle;

said vehicle transmitting the determination result from the vehicle to the information management base station unit;

said information management base station unit transmitting update information divided into a packet to said vehicle via wireless communication only if the information update is necessary for the vehicle; and

reprogramming the vehicle-mounted control unit based on the transmitted update information.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

said vehicle further determines whether it is in an update-allowed state; and

said information management base station transmits said update information only when the vehicle is in an update-allowed state.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said update-allowed state comprises a state in which the vehicle is parked and not in operation.

8. An update information communication system comprising:

an information management base station unit; and

a vehicle that can bidirectionally and wirelessly communicate with said information management base station;

wherein,

when an updating event occurs, the information management base station unit transmits a query to all the vehicles under its management regarding the presence or absence of vehicle-mounted control units that need to be updated;

said information management base station selects vehicles to be updated based on replies from the individual vehicles; and

said information management base station updates only those vehicles that need to be updated, by updated contents divided into packets being transmitted to respective vehicle-mounted control units via wireless communication.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said query is transmitted by said information management base station, simultaneously to all vehicles under its management, via a broadcasting system.

10. An update information communication system comprising:

an information management base station unit;

a vehicle having a vehicle mounted control unit; and

a bidirectional wireless communication link between said information management base station unit and the vehicle;

wherein;

information relating to an information update is transmitted from the information management base station via wireless communication, and is received by the vehicle;

whether or not an information update is necessary for the vehicle is determined at the vehicle end based on the received information;

the determination result is transmitted from the vehicle to the information management base station unit;

the update information is transmitted from the information management base station unit to the vehicle, wherein the update information is transmitted in a packet to the vehicle-mounted control unit via wireless communication only if the information update is necessary for the vehicle; and

information of the vehicle-mounted control unit is rewritten.

11. The update information communication system according to claim 10, wherein the information for the reprogramming comprises at least one of programs and control constants for the vehicle-mounted control units.

12. The update information communication system according to claim 10, wherein the information transmitted from the information management base station unit to the vehicle includes management information concerning the vehicle-mounted control unit.

13. The update information communication system according to claim 10, wherein information for reprogramming programs and data in the vehicle-mounted control unit is transmitted to the vehicle only when it is in an update-allowed state.

14. The update information communication system according to claim 13, wherein said vehicle is in an update-allowed state only when it is parked and not in operation.

15. The update information communication system according to claim 10, wherein:

the information management base station unit comprises a database in which update information and vehicle information for a plurality of types of vehicles are stored; and

the information management base station unit selects specific update information from the database based on the vehicle information.