Systems and methods for updating device software

• US 8,397,228 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Matlin, Gabriel Alan, D'Avello, Robert F., Mulderink, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Ben C
• Application Number:
  US11/940,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

Methods and systems for updating device software are disclosed, including a method for updating an information handling system, the method comprising: receiving an update, wherein the update is identified with an update type selected from a predefined set of update types; determining a probability that the information handling system enters an essential operating state; and installing the update only in response to the probability being less than a threshold probability.

Claims

1. A method for updating an information handling system for a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, via a communications device of the information handling system, an update, wherein the update is identified with an update type selected from a predefined set of update types;

determining a probability that the information handling system enters an essential operating state in less than a threshold time period, the threshold time period being determined in response to at least one of;

whether a vehicle ignition key is in an ignition switch or present in the vehicle, whether the vehicle is in a “

park”

mode, and whether a vehicular accident is imminent, an essential operating state being a state wherein interrupting operation of the information handling system will interrupt an in-progress call between a telematics unit with the vehicle and a call center; and

installing the update only in response to the probability being less than a threshold probability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the installing further comprises installing the update in response to determining the update type of the update.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the update in an update queue and validating the update to determine an authenticity of the update prior to the installing.

4. An information handling system for a vehicle comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

a communications unit,

wherein the information handling system is configured to;

receive an update, wherein the update is identified with an update type selected from a predefined set of update types;

determine a probability that the information handling system enters an essential operating state in less than a threshold time period, the threshold time period being determined in response to at least one of;

whether a key is in an ignition switch for the vehicle or is present in the vehicle, whether the vehicle is in a “

park”

mode, and whether a vehicular accident is imminent, an essential operating state being a state wherein interrupting operation of the information handling system will interrupt an in-progress call between a telematics unit with the vehicle and a call center; and

install the update only in response to the probability being less than a threshold probability.

5. The information handling system of claim 4, wherein the information handling system is further configured to install the update in response to determining the type of update.

6. The information handling system of claim 4, being further configured to store the update in an update queue and to validate the update to determine an authenticity of the update.

7. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer operable medium, the computer program product comprising software code comprising an information handling system for a vehicle, the software code being effective to:

receive an update, wherein the update is identified with an update type selected from a predefined set of update types;

determine a probability that the information handling system enters an essential operating state, in less than a threshold time period, the threshold time period being determined in response to at least one of;

whether a vehicle ignition key is in an ignition switch or present in the vehicle, whether the vehicle is in a “

park”

mode, and whether a vehicular accident is imminent, an essential operating state being a state wherein interrupting operation of the information handling system will interrupt an in-progress call between a telematics unit with the vehicle and a call center; and

install the update only in response to the probability being less than a threshold probability.

8. The product of claim 7, wherein the code is further effective to:

install the update in response to determining a type of update.

9. The product of claim 7, wherein the code is further effective to store the update in an update queue and to validate the update to determine an authenticity of the update.

10. A method for updating an electronic device having memory comprised of first and second memory blocks, one of the first and second memory blocks being active, the other being inactive, the method comprising:

providing, via a communications device of an information handling system, an update at the information handling system for updating the memory of the electronic device; and

determining a probability at the information handling system whether the electronic device is in an essential operating state, for a threshold time period, the threshold time period being determined in response to at least one of;

whether a vehicle ignition key is in an ignition switch or present in the vehicle, whether the vehicle is in a “

park”

mode, and whether a vehicular accident is imminent, an essential operating state being a state wherein interrupting operation of the information handling system will interrupt an in-progress call between a telematics unit and a call center; and

in response to determining that the probability that the electronic device is not in an essential operating state is below a threshold value;

resetting the electronic device; and

updating the inactive memory of the electronic device; and

changing the inactive memory to an active memory.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the updating occurs only when the electronic device is reset.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the updating comprises:

loading a block of memory to be updated from the electronic device;

comparing the block of memory to a corresponding memory block from the update;

updating the loaded block of memory using the corresponding memory block from the update;

replacing the block of memory with the updated loaded block of memory; and

deleting the loaded memory block in response to the replacing being completed.

13. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

a communications unit, the information handling system being configured to;

receive an update for updating an electronic device having first and second memory blocks; and

determine a probability of whether the electronic device is in an essential operating state, for less than a threshold time period, the threshold time period being determined in response to at least one of;

whether a vehicle ignition key is in an ignition switch or present in the vehicle, whether the vehicle is in a “

park”

mode, and whether a vehicular accident is imminent, an essential operating state being a state wherein interrupting operation of the information handling system will interrupt an in-progress call between a telematics unit and a call center; and

in response to determining that the electronic device is not in an essential operating state;

reset the electronic device; and

sequentially update the memory blocks by updating the second memory block after updating the first memory block of the electronic device.

14. The information handling system of claim 13, being configured to update the electronic device only when the electronic device is reset.

15. The information handling system of claim 13, the information handling system being further configured to:

load a block of memory to be updated from the electronic device;

compare the block of memory to a corresponding memory block from the update;

update the loaded block of memory using the corresponding memory block from the update;

replace the block of memory with the updated loaded block of memory; and

delete the loaded memory block in response to the replacing being completed.