Arrangement and Method for Programming Motor Vehicles

• US 20080216067A1
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Villing, Bjorn
• Application Number:
  US11/909,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216067A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A reprogrammable system arranged in a motor vehicle includes a data network that connects a plurality of control-units arranged in the vehicle for controlling vehicle systems. At least a first control-unit of the control-units is provided with a reprogrammable memory for storing software, which directs the first control-unit in controlling a vehicle system that is connected to the first control-unit. At least a second control-unit of the control-units is connected to a media-receiver adapted to receive a portable media, which includes software to be installed in the memory of the first control-unit. The second control-unit is further arranged to obtain the software from the portable media and to transfer the software to the first control-unit. A method for reprogramming an ECU by using the reprogrammable system arranged in a motor vehicle is also provided.

Claims

1. A reprogrammable system in a motor vehicle comprising:

a data network connecting a plurality of control-units arranged in the vehicle for controlling vehicle systems, wherein at least a first control-unit is provided with a reprogrammable memory for storing software that directs the first control-unit in controlling a vehicle system connected to the first control-unit, wherein

at least a second control-unit of the control units is connected to a media-receiver adapted to receive a portable media comprising software to be installed in the memory of the first control-unit; and

the second control-unit is further arranged to obtain the software from the portable media and to transfer the software to the first control-unit.

2. A programmable system according to claim 1, wherein the media-receiver is a CD-player or a DVD-player or a combined CD/DVD-player arranged within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and the portable media is a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.

3. A programmable system according to claim 2, wherein the CD-player, DVD-player or combined CD/DVD-player is a part of a multimedia equipment arrangement.

4. A programmable system according to claim 1, wherein a reprogramming controller is arranged in the second control-unit to transfer the software to the control-unit.

5. A programmable system according to claim 4, wherein the reprogramming controller is arranged to install the transferred software in the memory (232).

6. A programmable system according to claim 1, wherein a software-loader is arranged in the first control-unit to install the transferred software in the memory.

7. A programmable system according to claim 1, wherein the second control-unit is arranged to:

obtain a vehicle identification item from a received media; and

compare the obtained item with a vehicle identification item stored in the vehicle; and

only transfer the software if the obtained item corresponds to the vehicle identification item stored in the vehicle.

8. A programmable system according to claim 1, wherein the second control-unit is arranged to:

obtain a personal identification item from a person performing a reprogramming; and

compare the obtained item with a personal identification item stored in the vehicle or on the media; and

.

only transfer the software if the obtained item corresponds to the personal identification item stored in the vehicle or on the media.

9. A programmable system according to claim 8, wherein the second control-unit is arranged to:

determine whether the obtained software (151) is compatible with the software already installed in the vehicle; and

only transfer the obtained software if it is compatible with the software already installed.

10. A method for reprogramming a system in a motor vehicle, which system comprises a data network connecting a plurality of control-units arranged in the vehicle for controlling vehicle systems, wherein:

at least a first control-unit is provided with a reprogrammable memory for storing software that directs the first control-unit in controlling a vehicle system connected to the first control-unit;

at least a second control-unit is connected to a media-receiver adapted to receive a portable media comprising software to be installed in the memory of the first control-unit;

which second control-unit is further arranged to obtain the software from the portable media and to transfer the software to the first control-unit,

the method comprising;

inserting the portable media in the media receiver;

inducing the second control-unit to obtain the software from the portable media;

inducing the second control-unit to transfer the software to the first control-unit.

11. A method according to claim 10, comprising

inserting a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM comprising the software in at least one of a CD-player, a DVD-player or a combined CD/DVD-player connected to the second control-unit and arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein

the at least one of a CD-player, a DVD-player or a combined CD/DVD-player is part of a multimedia equipment arrangement.

13. A method according to claim 10, comprising

obtaining a vehicle identification item from a received media;

and

comparing the obtained item with a vehicle identification item stored in the vehicle; and

.

only transferring the software if the obtained item corresponds to the vehicle identification item stored in the vehicle.

14. A method according to claim 10, comprising

obtaining a personal identification item from a person performing a reprogramming;

and

comparing the obtained item with a personal identification item stored in the vehicle or on the media; and

.

only transferring the software if the obtained item corresponds to the personal identification item stored in the vehicle or on the media.

15. A programmable system according to claim 14, comprising

determining whether the obtained software is compatible with the software already installed in the vehicle;

and

only transferring the obtained software if it is compatible with the software already installed.