Method and Apparatus for Automatic Module Upgrade

• US 20130031540A1
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Throop, Medville Jay, Tillman, Brian David, Forthoffer, Daniel William, Wojtkowicz, Scott David
• Granted Patent: US 9,557,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes determining that a connection to an update server should be established. The method also includes establishing a wireless connection with the update server. The method further includes sending at least a VIN number to the update server and downloading one or more module updates corresponding to the sent VIN number. Also, the method includes verifying the one or more downloaded updates. The method further includes flashing one or more modules to which the one or more updates correspond. Additionally, the method includes verifying the functionality of each module which has been flashed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining at a vehicle that a connection to an update server should be established;

establishing a wireless connection between the vehicle and the update server using a wireless device in wireless communication with a vehicle computing system;

sending at least a VIN number to the update server;

downloading one or more module updates corresponding to the sent VIN number; and

flashing one or more modules to which the one or more updates correspond.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes, receiving a request from the update server that a connection be established.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes determining that a period of time has elapsed since a last connection to the update server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising restoring a module to a previously known working state if the functionality of a module which has been flashed cannot be verified.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, for at least one module update, downloading a restore package corresponding to a known working state of a module to which the update corresponds.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the known working state of the module is the present state of the module.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising saving a backup copy of at least one module for which an update is downloaded.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the backup copy is saved locally.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the backup copy is saved remotely.

10. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a vehicle computing system, cause a processor thereof to perform the method comprising:

determining at a vehicle that a connection to an update server should be established;

establishing a wireless connection between the vehicle and the update server using a wireless device in wireless communication with a vehicle computing system;

sending at least a VIN number to the update server;

downloading one or more module updates corresponding to the sent VIN number; and

flashing one or more modules to which the one or more updates correspond.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the determining includes, receiving a request from the update server that a connection be established.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the determining includes determining that a period of time has elapsed since a last connection to the update server.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises restoring a module to a previously known working state if the functionality of a module which has been flashed cannot be verified.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises, for at least one module update, downloading a restore package corresponding to a known working state of a module to which the update corresponds.

15. A system comprising:

at least one remote terminal;

at least one update server; and

a plurality of vehicles each having at least a VIN number associated therewith and at least one updateable software module installed thereon, wherein

an authorized user can access the at least one update server from the at least one remote terminal to instruct updating of a plurality of the vehicles identified by a VIN number, wherein

a communication system of the at least one vehicle to be updated is operable to establish communication with the update server and to transmit the VIN number associated with the vehicle thereto, wherein

responsive to reception of the VIN number, the update server is operable to send an updated software module installation package to the vehicle, and wherein

upon receipt of the updated software module installation package, the vehicle is operable to reflash a software module corresponding to the updated software module installation package.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication system of the at least one vehicle includes a transceiver operable to connect to the update server through an intermediary wireless device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the intermediary wireless device is a cellular phone.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the intermediary wireless device is a wireless router.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the update server is further operable to send a software restoration package to the vehicle, the package corresponding to a known working version of the software module.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the known working version of the software module is a current version of the software module prior to the reflash.