Enhanced reflash using modular discrimination

• US 8,428,789 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2009
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Dulzo, Jeffrey J., Turski, Karin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US12/629,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/31.4, 455418-421, 719328-329, 180/65.265, 180/65.275
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

An improved system, method, and mechanism for executing and reconfiguring a reflash procedure maintains a vehicle state of charge while avoiding defective reflash operations. In an aspect of the invention, the technique includes receiving a reflash request, i.e., at a controller associated with the vehicle, the reflash request identifying one or more target modules and specifying replacement information. A reflash procedure in accordance with the received request is then begun. However, when and if the charge state of the vehicle drops below a predetermined threshold, the controller modifies the reflash procedure by first categorizing individual ongoing reflash operations and stopping any reflash operations belonging to the second class, while continuing any reflash operations belonging to the first class.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing a reflash procedure via modular discrimination to maintain a vehicle state of charge while avoiding defective reflash operations comprising:

receiving a reflash request, by a controller associated with the vehicle, the reflash request identifying one or more target modules and specifying replacement information;

commencing, by the controller, a reflash procedure in accordance with the received request, wherein the reflash procedure entails execution of a plurality of individual reflash operations;

while performing the reflash procedure, evaluating, by the controller, a charge state of the vehicle to determine whether the charge state of the vehicle has dropped below a predetermined threshold; and

in response to detecting that the charge state of the vehicle has dropped below the predetermined threshold;

identifying, by the controller, a category for each ongoing individual reflash operation from a set of categories, wherein the set of categories includes a first class and a second class;

modifying, by the controller, the reflash procedure by;

ceasing any reflash operations pertaining to individual ongoing reflash operations identified as belonging to the second class; and

completing any reflash operations pertaining to individual ongoing reflash identified as belonging to the first class.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reflash request is received by the controller via a wireless network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is based on a determination of a charge state below which at least one reflash operation specified in the reflash request would be defective.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is based on a determination of a charge state below which the vehicle will not have sufficient power left to start the vehicle if all reflash operations specified in the reflash request are executed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of individual reflash operations pertain to at least two separate electronic modules.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein individual ongoing reflash operations identified as belonging to the first class are critical reflash operations and individual reflash operations identified as belonging to the second class are non-critical reflash operations.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, at a controller associated with a vehicle, having thereon computer-executable instructions for enhancing a reflash procedure via modular discrimination to maintain a vehicle state of charge while avoiding defective reflash operations, the instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a reflash request, the reflash request identifying one or more target modules and specifying replacement information;

commencing a reflash procedure in accordance with the received request, wherein the reflash procedure entails execution of a plurality of individual reflash operations, wherein the plurality of individual reflash operations are classified into categories, the categories including a first class and a second class;

evaluating a charge state of the vehicle to determine whether the charge state of the vehicle has dropped below a predetermined threshold while performing the reflash procedure; and

in response to detecting that the charge state of the vehicle has dropped below the predetermined threshold;

identifying a category for each ongoing individual reflash operation from a set of categories, wherein the set of categories includes a first class and a second class;

modifying the reflash procedure by;

ceasing any reflash operations pertaining to individual ongoing reflash operations identified as belonging to the second class; and

completing any reflash operations pertaining to individual ongoing reflash identified as belonging to the first class.

8. The medium according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined threshold is based on a determination of a charge state below which at least one reflash operation specified in the reflash request would be defective.

9. The medium according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined threshold is based on determination of a charge state below which the vehicle will not have sufficient power left to start the vehicle if all reflash operations specified in the reflash request are executed.

10. The medium according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of individual reflash operations pertain to at least two separate electronic modules.

11. The medium according to claim 7, wherein individual reflash operations identified as belonging to the first class are critical reflash operations and individual reflash operations identified as belonging to the second class are non-critical reflash operations.

12. A method of updating an electronic module in a vehicle by performing one or more reflash operations, the method comprising:

receiving a reflash request, by a controller at the vehicle, the reflash request specifying a plurality of reflash operations to be executed relative to the electronic module;

determining, by the controller, that execution of all reflash operations specified in the reflash request would result in a state of charge for the vehicle that is lower than a predetermined threshold;

reducing, by the controller, the set of reflash operations to be executed; and

executing the reduced set of reflash operations.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reflash request is received at the controller via a wireless network.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined threshold is based on a determination of a charge state below which at least one reflash operation specified in the reflash request would be defective.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined threshold is based on a determination of a charge state below which the vehicle will not have sufficient power left to start the vehicle if all reflash operations specified in the reflash request are executed.