System and method for providing predictive software upgrades

• US 9,086,941 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Siegel, Joshua Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Elchanti, Hussein A.
• Application Number:
  US14/289,975
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Abstract

A system and method for providing predictive software upgrades is provided. Generally, the method comprising the steps of: querying a virtual vehicle application that simulates a real vehicle to determine one or more time period when the vehicle will be in an off state for long enough for updating of software to take place without the vehicle operating status being changed; transmitting a push notification to a user portable interactive communication device providing the one or more time periods determined, to the user for selection of one or more time period; receiving a selected one or more time period for upgrading of the software; transmitting a request for confirmation of a first of the one or more time period to the user portable interactive communication device at a predefined time period prior to the first of the one or more time period; and if the user confirms the first time period, instructing the upgrading of the vehicle control module by the vehicle at the first time period.

Claims

1. A non-transitory system for providing predictive software upgrades, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of;

querying a virtual vehicle application that simulates a real vehicle, where the application is located at the system, to determine one or more time period when the vehicle will be in an off state for long enough for updating of software to take place without the vehicle operating status being changed;

transmitting a push notification to a user portable interactive communication device providing the one or more time periods determined, to the user for selection of one or more time period;

receiving a selected one or more time period for upgrading of the software;

transmitting a request for confirmation of a first of the one or more time period to the user portable interactive communication device at a predefined time period prior to the first of the one or more time period; and

if the user confirms the first time period, instructing the upgrading of the vehicle control module by the vehicle at the first time period.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the step of querying the virtual vehicle application further comprises the step of calculating the one or more time period by use of historic vehicle data provided by the virtual vehicle application, wherein the historic vehicle data is determined at least in part from data received from a vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the historic vehicle data received from the vehicle is at least partially received from a telemetry device located at the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is the real vehicle being simulated.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured by the memory to determine whether a software update is required for the vehicle control module of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured by the memory to transmit a software update for the vehicle control module to the vehicle if a determination is made that the software update is required.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein upgrading of the vehicle control module further comprises instructing a vehicle control module update application stored within the vehicle to upgrade the vehicle control module with vehicle control software previously stored within the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein if the request for confirmation is not received within a predefined time period, the processor is further configured by the memory to repeat the steps of querying the virtual vehicle application, transmitting a new push notification to the user portable interactive communication device providing a new one or more time period determined, to the user for selection of one or more time period, receiving a selected one or more time period for upgrading of the software, and transmitting a request for confirmation of a first of the new one or more time period to the user portable interactive communication device at a predefined time period prior to the new first of the one or more time period.

9. A non-transitory system for providing predictive software upgrades, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of;

determining one or more time period when a device having software to be upgraded will be in an off state for long enough for updating of software to take place without the device changing state from off to on;

transmitting a push notification to a user portable interactive communication device providing the one or more time periods determined, to the user for selection of one or more time period;

receiving a selected one or more time period for upgrading of the software;

transmitting a request for confirmation of a first of the one or more time period to the user portable interactive communication device at a predefined time period prior to the first of the one or more time period; and

if the user confirms the first time period, instructing the upgrading of the software at the first time period.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured by the memory to determine whether a software update is required.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein if the request for confirmation is not received within a predefined time period, the processor is further configured by the memory to repeat the steps of determining, transmitting a new push notification to the user portable interactive communication device providing a new one or more time period determined, to the user for selection of one or more time period, receiving a selected one or more time period for upgrading of the software, and transmitting a request for confirmation of a first of the new one or more time period to the user portable interactive communication device at a predefined time period prior to the new first of the one or more time period.

12. Method for providing predictive software upgrades, comprising the steps of:

querying a virtual vehicle application that simulates a real vehicle to determine one or more time period when the vehicle will be in an off state for long enough for updating of software to take place without the vehicle operating status being changed;

transmitting a push notification to a user portable interactive communication device providing the one or more time periods determined, to the user for selection of one or more time period;

receiving a selected one or more time period for upgrading of the software;

transmitting a request for confirmation of a first of the one or more time period to the user portable interactive communication device at a predefined time period prior to the first of the one or more time period; and

if the user confirms the first time period, instructing the upgrading of the vehicle control module by the vehicle at the first time period.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of querying the virtual vehicle application further comprises the step of calculating the one or more time period by use of historic vehicle data provided by the virtual vehicle application, wherein the historic vehicle data is determined at least in part from data received from a vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the historic vehicle data received from the vehicle is at least partially received from a telemetry device located at the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle is the real vehicle being simulated.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of determining whether a software update is required for the vehicle control module of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of transmitting a software update for the vehicle control module to the vehicle if a determination is made that the software update is required.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein upgrading of the vehicle control module further comprises instructing a vehicle control module update application stored within the vehicle to upgrade the vehicle control module with vehicle control software previously stored within the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein if the request for confirmation is not received within a predefined time period, the processor is further configured by the memory to repeat the steps of querying the virtual vehicle application, transmitting a new push notification to the user portable interactive communication device providing a new one or more time period determined, to the user for selection of one or more time period, receiving a selected one or more time period for upgrading of the software, and transmitting a request for confirmation of a first of the new one or more time period to the user portable interactive communication device at a predefined time period prior to the new first of the one or more time period.