Method for installing data packet on electronic computing device for motor vehicle, computer program product, computer-readable storage medium, and electronic computing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for installing a data packet (32) on an electronic computing device (12) for a motor vehicle (10) by means of the electronic computing device (12), comprising the following steps: detecting at least one component (20) connected at at least one connection point (22) of the electronic computing device (12) by means of a detection device (14) of the electronic computing device (12); performing a self-diagnosis of the electronic computing device (12) by means of the electronic computing device (12) with respect to an existing data packet (32) for the detected component (20); downloading a data packet (32) from an electronic computing device (18) outside the motor vehicle by means of a communication device (16) of the electronic computing device (12) according to the self-diagnosis; and installing the downloaded data packet (32) for the component (20) by means of an electronic computing device (12). Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer program product, a computer-readable storage medium and an electronic computing device (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for installing a data packet on an electronic computing device for a motor vehicle by means of an electronic computing device according to claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program product, a computer-readable storage medium, and an electronic computing device. Background Art

[0002] It is already known from the prior art that control devices are often developed as modular components and these modular components are used in different application areas without modification. An example of this is control devices in motor vehicles or electrified vehicles. Here, the control devices are developed according to module requirements and are installed in various vehicles or vehicle types without adjustment. Nevertheless, necessary changes are often made to various integrations and thus accompanying different requirements due to adjustments to surrounding peripheral devices or components. This is in most cases more cost-effective than adjusting the control device itself geometrically and / or in terms of hardware for each integration requirement.

[0003] Adjustments must also be made according to the integration within the software, because for example, power requirements are different for different vehicle types. The same applies to the software function scope or voice packages. For this purpose, the control device is flashed or coded after or during vehicle assembly, so as to set these requirements and store them in the control device.

[0004] This adjustment of the software is based on available vehicle information. For example, the Chinese implementation of the vehicle configuration is read from a database, and thereby the motor vehicle and its control device are adjusted in the software. This involves additional costs regarding the software adjustment process itself, as well as additional costs regarding vehicle configuration evaluation, database maintenance, and logistics tracking.

[0005] EP1516291B1 describes a method for vehicle-related telecontrol technology services, the telecontrol technology services having a terminal device arranged in a motor vehicle and the terminal device establishing a communication connection with a central computer, wherein the telecontrol technology services are divided into individual sub-functions.

[0006] EP2425333B1 relates to a method for updating at least one software component of a motor vehicle, the method at least comprising the following steps: determining vehicle configuration information by a status determination device, the vehicle configuration information at least comprising the following information: which hardware components and / or which software components are present in a specific vehicle; providing a communication connection between a service interface inside the vehicle and a service device outside the vehicle; sending the vehicle configuration information determined by the status determination device and the identification data of the motor vehicle involved from the motor vehicle to the service device outside the vehicle via the communication connection; checking by the service device outside the vehicle according to the vehicle configuration information whether one or more software components are to be updated according to control rules available at the service device outside the vehicle; providing corresponding update rules by the service device outside the vehicle and updating the software components to be updated according to the update rules. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a method, a computer program product, a computer-readable storage medium and an electronic computing device by means of which a data packet can be efficiently installed in the electronic computing device.

[0008] The object is achieved by a method, a computer program product, a computer-readable storage medium and an electronic computing device according to the independent claims. Advantageous design variants are given in the dependent claims.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for installing a data packet on the electronic computing device for a motor vehicle by means of an electronic computing device. At least one component connected at at least one connection point of the electronic computing device is detected by means of a detection device of the electronic computing device. A self-diagnosis of the electronic computing device is carried out by means of the electronic computing device with respect to existing data packets for the detected components. A data packet is downloaded from an electronic computing device outside the motor vehicle by means of a communication device of the electronic computing device according to the self-diagnosis, and the downloaded data packet for the component is installed by means of the electronic computing device.

[0010] Therefore, in particular, independent coding and software enabling are carried out on the electronic computing device according to the equipment. No other additional coding actions are required. The logistics cost or logistics complexity and coding complexity in the assembly line are minimized. Independent recoding can also be carried out subsequently when additional equipment is installed in the motor vehicle, for example at a dealership.

[0011] Thus, the concept lies particularly in independently diagnosing and evaluating the peripheral devices around an electronic computing device and subsequently making independent software adjustments based thereon. When the electronic computing device is installed in a motor vehicle, it can analyze specific peripheral devices. This can be achieved by detecting the individual components. Here, the components can be vehicle-specific or vehicle-configuration-specific. Then the electronic computing device can autonomously enable or disable software components. The electronic computing device detects at a so-called wire interface, for example, a wire interface for a charging device, whether a charging device is connected. Existing interlock attachment structures or temperature sensor attachment structures can be used here, for example.

[0012] Especially in at least partially electrically operated motor vehicles or in fully electrically operated motor vehicles, there is an increasing focus on eliminating so-called alternating current charging (AC charging). Additionally, for example, in the Chinese market, direct current solutions (DC charging) are made available to the public and are gradually replacing AC charging. As a result, there will be a future market demand for fewer electric vehicles with AC charging solutions, and the AC charging devices installed in motor vehicles will also be phased out accordingly. AC charging may continue to be provided as a special equipment by different manufacturers or only for specific countries. The flexibility to equip motor vehicles with AC charging and DC charging or only with DC charging solutions is the core. Because in the case of AC charging in motor vehicles, this is not meaningless, as the surrounding peripheral devices are not needed or must be blindly shut down. This can, for example, involve the high-voltage connection structure from the charging device to the high-voltage memory. Therefore, the control device and the BUS integration into the vehicle surroundings also need to be adjusted. Based on self-diagnosis, it can now be determined by the electronic computing device itself which components are connected to the electronic computing device, and thus the corresponding data packets can be independently downloaded, enabled, installed, or disabled.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the installation is performed for the initial startup process of the electronic computing device. For example, the electronic computing device may only have a control program for the method. There are no data packets for the corresponding components on the electronic computing device yet. Then, the self-diagnosis is performed at the initial startup of the electronic computing device and the components are downloaded accordingly. Thus, only the data packets that are also necessary for the connected components are downloaded and installed on the electronic computing device. Thereby, the computational effort can be saved.

[0014] Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous to detect the at least one component by means of a voltage detection device serving as a detection device. For example, the resistance value at the connection point can then be detected by means of the voltage detection device, and the connected component can also be detected based on the resistance value. Thereby, it is possible to reliably determine, for example, whether a component is connected. In particular, in the case where the resistance value is substantially infinite, it can be inferred therefrom that no component is connected. In the case of a preset resistance value, it can be inferred again that, for example, a component is recognized. Furthermore, different components can be connected at the connection point by specifically adjusting the resistance value, and then the corresponding connected component can be inferred again based on the detected resistance value.

[0015] Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous to identify a blind plug at the connection point and to prevent the download of data packets when the blind plug is detected. Here, the blind plug can have a specific resistance value, so that it can be reliably recognized via an electronic computing device that the blind plug is arranged, and thus it can be detected that, for example, no component is connected to the connection point, thereby preventing the download of data packets.

[0016] Another advantageous embodiment provides for identifying an alternating current charging device as a component. In particular, the alternating current charging device refers to a component that can be correspondingly identified and that is present or absent, in particular country-specific. Thereby, it is possible to achieve independent controller coding based on the charging type.

[0017] It is also advantageous to provide a plurality of connection points for a plurality of different components on the electronic computing device and to download and install a plurality of data packets based on the self-diagnosis. Here, it is specifically provided, however, that only those data packets are downloaded whose components can also be reliably detected. Thus, the electronic computing device can be provided for a plurality of different components and still save computing power.

[0018] It is also advantageous to repeat the method according to a predefined triggering criterion. For example, the self-diagnosis can be performed at predefined time intervals or each time the motor vehicle is started and then it is checked whether, for example, new components have been connected to the electronic computing device. If new components are recognized, the data packets can be downloaded and installed. Thus, data packets can also be downloaded and components can be connected in the subsequent stage after the initial installation.

[0019] The proposed method is essentially a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product having program code segments which, when executed by an electronic computing device, cause the electronic computing device to perform the method according to the foregoing aspects.

[0020] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a computer-readable storage medium having the computer program product.

[0021] On the other hand, the present invention relates to an electronic computing device for a motor vehicle, the electronic computing device having at least one detection device and a communication device, wherein the electronic computing device is configured to implement the method according to the foregoing aspect. In particular, the method is implemented by means of the electronic computing device.

[0022] The electronic computing device has, for example, a processor, a switching circuit, in particular an integrated switching circuit, a memory device, and other electronic components in order to be able to implement the corresponding method steps.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle having an electronic computing device according to the foregoing aspect.

[0024] Advantageous designs of the method are to be regarded as advantageous designs of the electronic computing device and the motor vehicle. The electronic computing device and the motor vehicle have corresponding features for this purpose in order to be able to implement the corresponding method steps.

[0025] Other features of the present invention result from the claims, the drawings, and the description of the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the drawings and / or shown individually in the drawings can be used not only in the respectively given combinations, but also in other combinations or individually. Description of the Drawings

[0026] The present invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawings. In the figures:

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic side view of an embodiment of a motor vehicle having an embodiment of an electronic computing device is shown;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of the electronic computing device is shown; and

[0029] Figure 3 A further schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the electronic computing device is shown. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0030] In the drawings, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic side view of an embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 having an embodiment of an electronic computing device 12 is shown. In the present embodiment, the electronic computing device 12 particularly has at least one detection device 14 ( Figure 2), and a communication device 16. The communication device 16 is configured to communicate with an electronic computing device 18 outside the motor vehicle. In particular, the electronic computing device 12 is configured to detect a component 20 connected at a connection point 22 of the electronic computing device 12 ( Figure 2 ).

[0032] In this embodiment, the motor vehicle 10 further has an electrical energy storage device 24, in particular an electrical energy storage device in the form of a traction battery, for example. The component 20 can be configured as a DC charging device, for example. In particular, in this embodiment, the motor vehicle 10 has only a DC charging device and exactly no AC charging device.

[0033] Figure 2 A schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of the electronic computing device 12 is shown. In particular, in this embodiment, it is shown that a connection structure to the component 20 is connected at the connection point 22. For example, a cable harness interface 26 can be plugged in accordingly. Figure 2 The so-called low-voltage circuit 28 is also shown, which closes during the insertion of the component 20. Thereby, a resistance value occurs. A temperature sensor or the like in the cable harness interface 26 can also be detected accordingly.

[0034] According to the present invention, it is now provided that the detection device 14 detects at least the connected component 20 at the connection point 22. A self-diagnosis of the electronic computing device 12 is carried out with respect to the existing data packets for the detected component 20 by means of the electronic computing device 12. The communication device 16 of the electronic computing device 12 downloads a data packet from an electronic computing device 18 outside the motor vehicle according to the self-diagnosis, and installs the downloaded data packet for the component 20 by means of the electronic computing device 12.

[0035] Therefore, in particular, it is provided that an independent diagnosis and evaluation of the peripheral devices around the electronic computing device 12 are carried out based on the current independent software adaptation. When the electronic computing device 12 is installed in a specific motor vehicle 10, it can specifically analyze the peripheral devices. This can be achieved, for example, by analyzing the resistance value. Here, such a resistance value is specific to the motor vehicle 10 or the vehicle configuration. Then, the electronic computing device 12 can autonomously enable or disable software components. The electronic computing device 12 detects at a wire interface for a charging device, for example, whether a charging device is connected. For this purpose, an existing interlock attachment structure or a temperature sensor attachment structure can be used, for example.

[0036] A low-voltage connection structure can be introduced, for example, within the electronic computing device 12, which has a defined resistance value or acts as a closed / open switch once the plugging system is switched on via a cable harness contact. This low-voltage connection structure is diagnosed by the detection device 14.

[0037] Figure 3 Shows yet another schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of the electronic computing device 12. In this embodiment, in particular, it is shown that a blind plug 30 is mounted at the connection point 22. The blind plug 30 has a resistance value different from that of the actual cable harness plug 26, or the blind plug 30 does not close the low-voltage loop 28.

[0038] In particular, the charging device interface at the electronic computing device 12 that is not equipped in the motor vehicle 10 is covered according to the prior art by means of a blind plug 30 or a cover plate solution, and sealed if necessary. Here, the electronic computing device 12 can recognize a complete connection or only a partial connection. Thereby, only the desired functions are automatically activated in the software of the electronic device (in particular by means of the detection device 14). In this example, for example, only the function of DC charging is enabled, and the setting menu in the motor vehicle 10 is programmed accordingly. Thus, no further coding or flashing of the software is required.

[0039] List of reference numerals

[0040] 10 Motor vehicle

[0041] 12 Electronic computing device

[0042] 14 Detection device

[0043] 16 Communication device

[0044] 18 Electronic computing device outside the motor vehicle

[0045] 20 Component

[0046] 22 Connection point

[0047] 24 Electrical storage device

[0048] 26 Cable harness interface

[0049] 28 Low-voltage loop

[0050] 30 Blind plug

Claims

1. A method for installing data packets (32) on an electronic computing device (12) for a motor vehicle (10) by means of an electronic computing device (12), the method having the following steps: - Detecting at least one component (20) connected at at least one connection point (22) of the electronic computing device (12) by means of a detection device (14) of the electronic computing device (12); - Performing a self-diagnosis of the electronic computing device (12) with respect to existing data packets (32) for the detected component (20) by means of the electronic computing device (12); - Downloading a data packet (32) from an electronic computing device (18) external to the motor vehicle by means of a communication device (16) of the electronic computing device (12) according to the self-diagnosis; and - Installing the downloaded data packet (32) for the component (20) by means of the electronic computing device (12).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The installation is performed for an initial startup process of the electronic computing device (12).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The at least one component (20) is detected by means of a voltage detection device as the detection device (14).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein Detecting a resistance value at the connection point (22) and detecting the connected component (20) based on the resistance value.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, Identifying a blind plug (30) at the connection point (22) and preventing the download of the data packet (32) when the blind plug (30) is detected.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Identifying an alternating current charging device and / or a direct current charging device as the component (20).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Providing a plurality of connection points (22) for a plurality of different components (20) on the electronic computing device (12) and downloading and installing a plurality of data packets (32) according to the self-diagnosis.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Repeating the implementation of the method according to a pre-given triggering criterion.

9. A computer program product having a program code segment which, when executed by an electronic computing device (12), causes the electronic computing device (12) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. An electronic computing device (12) for a motor vehicle (10), said electronic computing device having at least one detection device (14), connection points (22) and a communication device (16), wherein, The electronic computing device (12) is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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