Remote-controlled programming of a program-controlled device

• US 20060220900A1
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Engel, Peter, De Boer, Gerrit, Ceskutti, Holger, Bauer, Norbert, Sonnenrein, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A method for remote programming of a program-controlled device, and a system having an interface to receive program data and a legitimization, as well as a remotely programmable, program-controlled device, which includes a processor and a program memory, are provided. In the method, program data are remotely transmitted from a control station to the interface and buffer-stored there in a buffer store. Subsequently, a legitimization is transmitted from the control station to the interface, and from there to the program-controlled device. The device checks the legitimization and imports the program data from the buffer store if the legitimization check is positive.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method for remote programming of a device configured to be program-controlled, comprising:

(a) remotely transmitting program data from a control station via a long-distance connection to an interface connected to the device;

(b) buffering the program data at the interface;

(c) remotely transmitting a legitimization from the control station to the interface;

(d) forwarding the legitimization, unbuffered, to the device;

(e) checking, by the device, the legitimization for validity; and

(f) if the legitimization is determined to be valid, entering the program data in a memory of the device.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the legitimization and the program data is wirelessly transmitted via the long-distance connection.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the method is repeated if a fault occurs in the wireless transmission of at least one of the legitimization and the program data.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one of the program data and the legitimization is forwarded via a wired connection from the interface to the device.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

prior to the remote transmission of the program data to the interface, reading second data from the memory of the device and transmitting the second date to the control station.

29. The method as recited claim 23, further comprising:

after entering of the program data into the memory of the device, checking whether the remote programming has been successfully completed, and

if the remote programming has been successfully completed, resuming an operation of the device, controlled by the program data.

18. A method for remote programming of a device configured to be program-controlled, comprising:

(a) remotely transmitting program data from a control station via a long-distance connection to an interface connected to the device;

(b) buffering the program data at the interface;

(c) remotely transmitting a legitimization from the control station to the interface;

(d) forwarding the legitimization to the device;

(e) checking, by the device, the legitimization for validity, wherein the checking includes checking of a validity period of the legitimization; and

(f) if the legitimization is determined to be valid, entering the program data in a memory of the device.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein at least one of the legitimization and the program data is wirelessly transmitted via the long-distance connection.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the method is repeated if a fault occurs in the wireless transmission of at least one of the legitimization and the program data.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein at least one of the program data and the legitimization is forwarded via a wired connection from the interface to the device.

26. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

prior to the remote transmission of the program data to the interface, reading second data from the memory of the device and transmitting the second date to the control station.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the second data are buffered at the interface prior to being transmitted to the control station.

28. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the control station arranges the program data on the basis of the second data.

30. A system for remote programming of a device, comprising:

an interface configured to receive program data and a legitimization; and

a device configured to be remotely programmed and program-controlled, wherein the device includes a processor and a program memory, and wherein the device is operatively connected to the interface;

wherein the interface is configured to;

a) buffer the received program data;

b) forward the received legitimization to the device; and

c) transmit the buffered program data to the device after a positive determination of validity of the legitimization by the device.

31. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the program memory is one of a flash memory and an EEPROM.

32. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the interface is operatively connected to a control station with the aid of a wireless long-distance connection.

33. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein the interface receives the legitimization from a control station and forwards the legitimization to the device without buffering.

34. The system as recited in claim 32, wherein the interface receives the legitimization from the control station and forwards the legitimization to the device without buffering.

35. The system as recited in claim 32, wherein the device is a control unit that controls a subsidiary device.

36. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein the subsidiary device is one of:

a motor vehicle;

a component of the motor vehicle; and

an engine.