System and method for reprogramming vehicle computers
First Claim
1. A system for reprogramming a non-volatile memory of an on-board vehicle computer circuit, comprising:
- portable control means for transmitting reprogramming signals to said on-board vehicle computer circuit, including a sequence of command signals for enabling said non-volatile memory to receive new computer program node, and software signals which represent said new computer program code to be stored in said non-volatile memory;
interface means associated with said on-board vehicle computer circuit for processing said sequence of command signals and transmitting a sequence of responsive signals to said portable control means, at least one of said responsive signals including an identification code, said portable control means checks said identification code in accordance with a predetermined transfer protocol to determine if said new computer code should be transmitted to the on-board vehicle computer circuit; and
signal transfer means for providing a communication link between said portable control means and said on-board vehicle computer circuit, said signal transfer means including a common data communication path for transmitting said sequence of command signals and said software signals which represent said new computer program code.
16 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for reprogramming a non-volatile memory of one or more on-board vehicle computers through a serial communication link between an off-board controller and the on-board vehicle computer. An interface circuit is also provided on the vehicle in order to process the command signals from the portable controller which will enable the non-volatile memory to receive and store new computer program code. The method follows a predetermined transfer protocol which assists in preventing the existing computer program code stored in the non-volatile memory from being improperly erased or re-written. This transfer protocol includes the transmission of a command signal from the off-board controller which has a voltage level that exceeds the voltage level of any signal which may recognized on the serial communication link.
268 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for reprogramming a non-volatile memory of an on-board vehicle computer circuit, comprising:
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portable control means for transmitting reprogramming signals to said on-board vehicle computer circuit, including a sequence of command signals for enabling said non-volatile memory to receive new computer program node, and software signals which represent said new computer program code to be stored in said non-volatile memory; interface means associated with said on-board vehicle computer circuit for processing said sequence of command signals and transmitting a sequence of responsive signals to said portable control means, at least one of said responsive signals including an identification code, said portable control means checks said identification code in accordance with a predetermined transfer protocol to determine if said new computer code should be transmitted to the on-board vehicle computer circuit; and signal transfer means for providing a communication link between said portable control means and said on-board vehicle computer circuit, said signal transfer means including a common data communication path for transmitting said sequence of command signals and said software signals which represent said new computer program code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of reprogramming a non-volatile memory of an on-board vehicle computer circuit with new computer program code, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a common communication link between said on-board vehicle computer circuit and an off-board controller having said new computer program code; transmitting a sequence of command signals from said off-board controller to said on-board vehicle computer circuit over said common communication link for enabling said non-volatile memory to receive said new computer program code; processing said sequence of command signals by said on-board vehicle computer circuit and transmitting a sequence of responsive signals to said off-board controller over said common communication link, at least one of said responsive signals including an identification code; processing said responsive signals by said off-board controller in accordance with a predetermined transfer protocol which checks said identification code to determine if said new computer program code should be transmitted to said on-board vehicle computer circuit; and transmitting said new computer program code from said off-board controller to said on-board vehicle computer circuit over said common communication link when permitted under said predetermined transfer protocol, and storing said new computer program code in said non-volatile memory. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification