METHOD FOR SELECTING SOFTWARE AND INSTALLING SAME VIA A TELEMATIC MODULE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20110083128A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Smith, Andrew, Hoch, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US12/572,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20110083128A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

Methods for configuring a telematic module and/or a non-telematic module in a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for installing or updating software in a motor vehicle having an electronic data system that includes a telematic module, the method comprising:

while the telematic module is operating, loading a software package into the module, then validating the package, then installing the package in the module, then stopping and re-starting the module to cause the package to become operational, causing pre-existing data and configuration information to migrate for use by the now-operational package, and operating the package with the migrated data and configuration information to verify proper operation.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 in which execution of a succeeding step is conditioned on validation of a prior step.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 in which a failure to verify proper completion of a step causes the step to be repeated.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 in which failure to verify proper completion of a repeated step aborts the installing or updating process.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 in which after the telematic module has been successfully configured or re-configured, it functions as a gateway for installing software or updating existing software in a non-telematic module in the vehicle.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 in which with the telematic module operating as a gateway, loading a software package into the non-telematic module via the telematic module, then validating the package loaded into the non-telematic module, then installing the package in the non-telematic module, then stopping and re-starting the non-telematic module to cause the package loaded therein to become operational, causing existing data and configuration information to migrate for use by the operational package in the non-telematic module, and running the operational package in the non-telematic module with the migrated data and configuration information to verify proper operation.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 in which execution of a succeeding step is conditioned on validation of a prior step.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 in which a failure to verify proper completion of a step causes the step to be repeated.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 in which failure to verify proper completion of a repeated step aborts the installing or updating process.

10. A method for installing or updating software in a motor vehicle having an electronic data system and equipment that includes a telematic module, the method comprising:

comparing certain data about the electronic system and equipment in the vehicle with corresponding data about similar vehicles already in a data base to identify software suitable for installation in the vehicle, and installing the identified software in the vehicle via the telematic module.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 comprising while the telematic module is operating, loading a software package into the module, then validating the package, then installing the package in the module, then stopping and re-starting the module to cause the package to become operational, causing pre-existing data and configuration information to migrate for use by the now-operational package, and operating the package with the migrated data and configuration information to verify proper operation.

12. A method as set forth in claim 10 comprising using the telematic module as a gateway for installing the software package in a non-telematic module in the vehicle by loading a software package into the non-telematic module via the telematic module, then validating the package loaded into the non-telematic module, then installing the package in the non-telematic module, then stopping and re-starting the non-telematic module to cause the package loaded therein to become operational, causing existing data and configuration information to migrate for use by the operational package in the non-telematic module, and running the operational package in the non-telematic module with the migrated data and configuration information to verify proper operation.