Vehicle software upgrade techniques

• US 10,240,935 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancho, Ronnie E
• Application Number:
  US13/964,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20130325323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,052 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29, 701 34, 701 35, 701400, 701409, 701412, 701414, 701415, 701416, 701420, 701422, 701423, 701428, 701 24, 701 25, 701300, 701301, 701117, 701119, 701 42, 370313, 370439, 370438
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635

Abstract

A method for maintaining vehicle-resident map information may include, in a vehicle with at least one communications processor integrated within the vehicle, the at least one communications processor being operable to receive wireless transmissions including map information from a remote location separate and apart from the vehicle, obtaining GPS information relating to the vehicle. The map information received by the at least one communications processor may be downloaded from the remote location. A map corresponding to the map information, and an indication of the current vehicle location may be displayed within the map, based on the GPS information. The map information may correspond to the GPS information. Road information may be wirelessly transmitted to one or more locations based on the GPS information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in a vehicle comprising at least one processor integrated within the vehicle, the at least one processor being operable to receive wireless transmissions including map information from a remote location separate and apart from the vehicle;

obtaining GPS information relating to the vehicle;

downloading the map information received by the at least one processor from the remote location;

displaying a map corresponding to the map information, and an indication of current vehicle location within the map based on the GPS information;

displaying a speed limit that is part of the downloaded map information;

determining whether data can be obtained from a sensor system of the vehicle;

automatically communicating with a remote site to obtain a software upgrade if the at least one processor cannot interact with the sensor system; and

automatically transmitting, to the remote site in response to a new type of sensor being installed in the vehicle, an indication that the new type of sensor is installed in the vehicle and a request for software to interact with the new type of sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the map information corresponds to the GPS information, or wherein the road information comprises traffic information.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

wirelessly receiving road information from one or more locations based on the GPS information;

or

wirelessly receiving weather information from one or more locations based on the GPS information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the vehicle supports plug-and-play capabilities for the sensor, and an interrogation system of the vehicle automatically adjusts to the sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of sensor is determined based on a frequency or a delay of a transmission from the sensor.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed limit depends on a time of day.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the map information is wirelessly downloaded from the Internet.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the map information is used by a collision avoidance system to determine whether an object is on a road or off the road on which the vehicle is travelling.

6. A method comprising:

in a vehicle comprising at least one processor integrated within the vehicle, the at least one processor being operable to receive wireless transmissions including map information from a remote location separate and apart from the vehicle;

obtaining GPS information relating to the vehicle;

downloading the map information received by the at least one processor from the remote location;

displaying a speed limit that is part of the downloaded map information;

displaying a map corresponding to the map information, and an indication of current vehicle location within the map based on the GPS information;

determining whether data can be obtained from a sensor system of the vehicle;

communicating with a remote site to obtain a software upgrade if the at least one processor cannot interact with the sensor system;

automatically transmitting, to the remote site in response to a new type of sensor being installed in the vehicle, an indication that the new type of sensor is installed in the vehicle and a request for software to interact with the new type of sensor; and

receiving wireless communications from the remote site comprising software update information associated with at least one sensor that has been added or changed and is operating within the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

transmitting to the remote location using the at least one processor, at least one request for driving directions; and

receiving using the at least one processor, driving directions in response to the at least one request.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the type of sensor is determined by a comparison of an identification number received from the sensor and a range of identification numbers, and wherein the range of identification numbers is different for different types of sensors.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor that has been added or changed includes a collision avoidance sensor that has been added or changed.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein the current vehicle location is determined based on the GPS information and an inertial navigation subsystem.

24. The method of claim 6, wherein the software update information includes diagnostic software that diagnoses operability of components of the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 6, wherein, after the at least one sensor has been added or changed, the vehicle senses that the at least one sensor has been added or changed and automatically causes the software information associated with the at least one sensor to update, wherein the software update information is wirelessly downloaded from the remote location.

9. A system comprising:

at least one processor integrated within a vehicle, the at least one processor being operable to;

receive wireless transmissions including map information from a remote location separate and apart from the vehicle;

obtain GPS information relating to the vehicle;

download the map information received by the at least one processor from the remote location;

display a map corresponding to the map information, and an indication of current vehicle location within the map based on the GPS information;

display a speed limit that is part of the downloaded map information;

determine whether data can be obtained from a sensor system of the vehicle;

communicate with a remote site to obtain a software upgrade if the at least one processor cannot interact with the sensor system; and

automatically transmit, to the remote site in response to a new type of sensor being installed in the vehicle, an indication that the new type of sensor is installed in the vehicle and a request for software to interact with the new type of sensor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the map information corresponds to the GPS information.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is operable to:

wirelessly transmit road information to one or more locations based on the GPS information;

or

wirelessly transmit weather information to one or more locations based on the GPS information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the road information comprises traffic information.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is operable to:

receive a transmission from the sensor; and

determine the type of sensor based on a frequency or a delay of the transmission.

22. The system of claim 9, wherein the current vehicle location is determined by a navigation system that is removable from the vehicle to facilitate navigation outside the vehicle.

28. The system of claim 9, wherein the map information includes road information and lane information that the vehicle uses to provide an alert when the vehicle crosses a road boundary or a lane boundary.

14. A system comprising:

at least one processor integrated within a vehicle, the at least one processor being operable to;

receive wireless transmissions including map information from a remote location separate and apart from the vehicle;

obtain GPS information relating to the vehicle;

download the map information received by the at least one processor from the remote location;

display a speed limit that is part of the downloaded map information;

display a map corresponding to the map information, and an indication of current vehicle location within the map based on the GPS information;

determine whether data can be obtained from a sensor system of the vehicle;

communicate with a remote site to obtain a software upgrade if the at least one processor cannot interact with the sensor system;

automatically transmit, to the remote site in response to a new type of sensor being installed in the vehicle, an indication that the new type of sensor is installed in the vehicle and a request for software to interact with the new type of sensor; and

receive wireless communications from the remote site software update information associated with at least one sensor that has been added or changed and is operating within the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is operable to:

transmit to the remote location, at least one request for driving directions; and

receive driving directions in response to the at least one request.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is operable to:

receive a transmission from the sensor; and

determine the type of sensor based on a frequency or a delay of the transmission.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the current vehicle location within the map is determined with accuracy of one meter or less.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the map information is wirelessly downloaded from the Internet.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the map information includes road edge locations and lane locations.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote location generates the software update information in response to a diagnostic report wirelessly received from the vehicle.

27. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is removable to provide for navigation outside of the vehicle.

31. The system of claim 14, wherein a system that interrogates the new type of sensor need only be automatically updated with software upgrades.