Providing feature updates for a vehicle

Abstract

Method for providing function updates (F) for a vehicle (20), comprising the following steps: - Detecting a connection between an inductive charging infrastructure (30, 31) and the vehicle (20) for inductive power transfer, - Providing at least one first data packet (D1) of a function update (F) to the charging infrastructure (30, 31) for modulating a data signal (D) with the at least first data packet (D1) onto a power signal (L) during inductive power transfer to the vehicle (20), - Determining at least one further charging infrastructure (30, 32, 33) in a specified area (U) around the charging infrastructure (30, 31), and - Providing at least one further data packet (D2) of the function update (F) to the at least one further charging infrastructure (30, 32, 33), wherein the respective charging infrastructure (30, 31) is integrated into a roadway (2) and has a plurality of integrated inductive includes charging pointswherein each charging point comprises an electrical coil, wherein at least two immediately adjacent charging points are grouped together for the provision of the respective data packet (D1, D2) and the group of charging points forms the respective charging infrastructure (30, 31, 32, 33), and the respective data packet (D1, D2) is provided to the at least two grouped charging points.

Description

The invention relates to a method for providing function updates or product updates to a vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a server device for providing corresponding function updates for the vehicle. Finally, the invention relates to a system having a corresponding server device, at least two charging infrastructures and at least one vehicle.A function update is, for example, a software update for a software or a computer program of the vehicle. This involves updating the software, for example for a control device of the vehicle. As a result, an associated function, which is implemented by the control device during the processing or execution of the software, can be supplemented or extended or improved.Such function or product updates for a vehicle, in particular its control device(s), are currently applied to the product, in this case therefore the vehicle or the control device, either by means of an exchange medium (USB / SD card), or by cable by means of a diagnostic interface or, for example, wirelessly by means of WLAN, Bluetooth or by means of other (mobile) radio technologies, such as, for example, 3G, 4G or 5G.For electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, i.e. a vehicle with an electric drive, it has proven advantageous to transmit function updates during the charging of an electrical energy store. This makes use of the fact that the vehicle generally remains at one location for several minutes or preferably several hours for charging. Various possibilities are known from the prior art, in which function updates take place, for example, during inductive charging to the vehicle. In inductive charging, the energy transfer between charging infrastructure and vehicle takes place wirelessly or wirelessly in a known manner using electromagnetic fields. The principle of inductive charging is based on electromagnetic induction, in which an electric field arises as a result of a change in a magnetic flux.For example, DE 10 2017 200 857 A1 discloses a charging and diagnostic device for electric and / or hybrid vehicles. An electrical interface is used for the electrical energy transmission between the charging and diagnostic device and an electrical storage device of the electric or hybrid vehicle. Diagnostic data are exchanged with the electric or hybrid vehicle via an additional diagnostic interface. The diagnostic data can be, for example, software update for the control units installed in the vehicle. The diagnostic interface preferably enables a wireless data connection, for example by means of WLAN or Bluetooth.WO 2020 / 002228 A1 discloses an inductive vehicle charging system for charging a vehicle-side energy store. In this case, a floor module of the vehicle charging system is to be updated with current operating software. For this purpose, a communication device is used which uses a WLAN, NFC or Bluetooth protocol, for example.From DE 10 2019 122 669 A1 a peer-to-peer distribution system for providing vehicle updates is known. Here, file segments are provided to individual vehicles, which in turn provide the file segments to other vehicles for download, so that the file segments can be distributed efficiently throughout the fleet.DE 20 2010 014 316 U1 discloses the modulation of data packets onto an inductive power signal during inductive energy transmission to a motor vehicle.The disadvantage of the transmission methods to date is that unnecessary costs can arise for the manufacturer and / or the vehicle user. This is because, for example, the additional diagnostic interface must be implemented. In addition, a lot of time is usually required for transferring an entire function update. In this case, the time intervals for the load for transferring function updates may be too short or the data throughput may be too low, so that the function update cannot be transferred completely during the duration of the load.It is the object of the present invention to reliably provide function updates for a vehicle during inductive power transmission.The object is achieved by the subject matters of the dependent claims. Advantageous refinements of the invention are disclosed by the dependent patent claims, the description and the figures.The invention is based on the realization that reliable provision of function updates can be realized in that individual data packets of a function update can be dynamically transmitted to a network of inductive charging infrastructures. Thus, the function update, in particular its data packets, is provided at two or more different locations or locations, each with a charging infrastructure. The charging infrastructure can then transmit or provide the respective data packet to a vehicle connected thereto, while the vehicle is charged inductively, for example.To this end, according to one aspect, the invention proposes a method for providing function updates for a vehicle. The method may be carried out, for example, by means of a server device, such as a backend server or a cloud server. The method comprises the following steps: First, a connection of an inductive charging infrastructure and the vehicle for inductive energy transmission is detected. That is, the backend checks or determines whether the charging infrastructure and the vehicle are coupled or connected to each other. The connection should be designed in such a way that, for example, bidirectional power and data transmission between the charging infrastructure and the vehicle is possible. For example, to detect the connection, the charging infrastructure may transmit a connection status indicating the state of the connection (connected or unconnected) to the backend.Thereafter, at least a first data packet of a function update is provided to the charging infrastructure. The at least first data packet is one of two or more data packets from which the function update is composed.The charging infrastructure is designed to modulate a data signal with the at least first data packet onto a power signal during the inductive energy transmission to the vehicle. The power signal is understood to mean the signal with which an electrical energy store of the vehicle is charged, that is to say electrical energy is provided to the energy store. The power signal thus carries or transmits an electric power. In contrast, the data signal is, for example, a pure message signal. The data signal thus does not carry or transmit power that can be used for charging the electrical energy store. This technique of modulating a data signal onto a power signal is known per se from the prior art. It is used, for example, for contactless transmission of sensor data, such as a temperature and / or a fill level. This means that the capability or property for inductive energy transmission of the charging infrastructure and of the vehicle is simultaneously also used for bidirectional transmission of messages or data signals.According to this, at least one further charging infrastructure in a predefined surrounding area around the charging infrastructure is ascertained in the method. That is, one or more further charging infrastructures can be selected in the environment or in the environment of the first or original or previous charging infrastructure. The further charging infrastructure or infrastructures can be, for example, a respective charging infrastructure adjacent to the original charging infrastructure. Alternatively or additionally, it can be, for example, a respective charging infrastructure which is present with the original charging infrastructure in a network of charging infrastructures.The determination of the respective further charging infrastructure can be effected, for example, as a function of a probability criterion. The probability criterion specifies a probability value for each charging infrastructure in the environment, for example. The probability value describes how likely the vehicle will reach or start the surrounding area or the respective further charging infrastructure in the future. Preferably, according to the probability criterion, only those charging infrastructures in the surrounding area are selected whose probability value exceeds a predetermined threshold value or limit value. It can thus be ensured that, for example, only charging infrastructures are selected which can reach or will likely reach the vehicle at all.In the method, at least one further data packet of the function update is then provided to the at least one further charging infrastructure. That is, the server device can transmit or transmit a further data packet of the function update to the ascertained charging infrastructure. In particular, the respective further data packet is different from the first data packet. The respective further data packet is thus preferably transmitted or provided to the further charging infrastructure without a connection having to exist between charging infrastructure and vehicle or without the vehicle having to stay at the location of the charging infrastructure. Thus, the respective further data packets can be stored in the respective further charging infrastructures until the vehicle arrives there and connects to the respective further charging infrastructure. Only when the vehicle connects to one of the respective further charging infrastructures is the respective further data packet transmitted.The function update is thus divided into at least preferably two or more data packets and can be provided selectively or dynamically at charging infrastructures in the environment of the vehicle. In the connected state with a charging infrastructure, the vehicle can retrieve or receive the respective data packet from there together, in particular as superposition with the power signal (by the modulation). Thus, the function update may be transmitted to the vehicle piece by piece or on a packet basis. There is no need to dwell on a time-consuming or long stay at a particular location of a charging infrastructure. The packet size of the respective data packet can also be selected such that a low data throughput is harmless or unproblematic for the transmission of the respective data packet. Overall, this allows function updates to be reliably provided to the vehicle.The method described is preferably carried out dynamically and / or repeatedly, preferably until the function update is completely complete. Complete means here that all data packets assigned to the function update have been transmitted to the vehicle in the described manner.Preferably, the method is repeated altogether for each charging infrastructure to which the vehicle connects. Alternatively, the acquisition of the connection and provision of the further data packet from the second charging infrastructure to which the vehicle connects are no longer carried out when transmitting a function update. Instead, the second and each further or subsequent charging infrastructure retrieves the further data packet stored there in the manner described above. Thereafter, the ascertainment of further charging infrastructures in the surrounding area of the currently connected charging infrastructure and the provision of associated further data packets are carried out in the usual manner if data packets are still left. Overall, this allows a dynamic provision of updates for a vehicle function, in particular a control device of the vehicle, to be implemented at various charging points or in a network.In the present case, a function update means, in particular, an update, an upgrade or a patch. These can be recognizable or distinguishable, for example, on the basis of their version numbers. This may be, for example, a function update for a control device of the vehicle. The function update may relate to, for example, an operating system or other function or application, inductive charging software, driver assistance system software, or infotainment system software.The charging infrastructure can in the present case be, in particular, a charging station or charging column. Alternatively, the charging infrastructure can be, for example, a charging infrastructure integrated into the environment. For example, the charging infrastructure may be installed in a roadway or road, for example, in front of a traffic light or a stop area. Such lanes for inductive charging are also referred to as an E highway or induction line. The respective charging infrastructure can have a data memory. The respective data packets can be stored in the data memory at least temporarily or temporarily. The data packets are preferably stored until they have been transmitted to the vehicle, or a clear request is made from the backend, or a predefined storage time interval has elapsed.The data memory can preferably be present as a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may be provided at least partially as a non-volatile data memory (e.g. as a flash memory and / or as an SSD-solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data memory (e.g. as a RAM-random access memory). The storage medium can be arranged in a computer or computer network of the charging infrastructure. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with, for example, at least one microprocessor.The server device or the backend can have, for example, a data processing device or a processor device which is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (field programmable gate array) and / or at least one DSP (digital signal processor). Furthermore, the processor device can have program code which is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device as has been described above by way of example. The processor device can be based on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (system on chip), for example. The program code can be provided as binary code and / or as assembler code and / or as source code of a programming language (e.g. C) and / or as a program script (e.g. Python).The server device may include, for example, artificial intelligence. For this purpose, the server device can have, for example, an artificial neural network. Here and in the following, an artificial neural network can be understood as software code which is stored on a computer-readable storage medium and represents one or more networked artificial neurons or can simulate their function. Preferably, it is a convolutional neural network CNN. The neural network can be trained, for example, with suitable training data, in particular for selecting the further charging infrastructure in the surrounding area.The vehicle is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle. This means that the vehicle preferably has an electric drive and an electric energy store, in particular a traction battery or traction battery. The vehicle can be designed, for example, as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.In order to avoid unauthorized accesses to the function update, an authorization check can be carried out in the method. In this case, in addition to detecting the connection, for example, an identification feature of the vehicle and / or of the charging infrastructure can be detected. Depending on the identification feature, it is possible to check whether the vehicle and / or the charging infrastructure are known and enabled or authorized for the function update. Only if the authorisation check is affirmative is the method then continued as described above. Otherwise, for example, an error message can be output or the method can be terminated. The identification feature may be, for example, an identifier of the vehicle, such as a serial number or a key, or it may be, for example, a license plate of the vehicle.The charging infrastructure is integrated into a roadway or a roadway. The charging infrastructure is thus realized by an induction line. The roadway comprises a plurality of integrated inductive charging points. A charging point can be designed, for example, as a transmission interface for electromagnetic induction. Each of the charging points comprises an electric coil. In this case, at least two directly adjacent charging points, that is to say two or more mutually adjacent charging points, are combined for the provision of the respective data packet. The respective data packet is then provided to the at least two combined load points. Thus, a group of charging points is formed as a respective charging infrastructure. By connecting a plurality of charging points, it can be ensured that the vehicle has enough time when driving on the roadway to acquire the respective data packet, i.e. the first or each further data packet.Embodiments of the invention are disclosed below, which result in additional advantages.In one embodiment, a plurality of further charging infrastructures are determined in the predefined surrounding area around the (original or currently connected) charging infrastructure. Preferably, the determining comprises selecting only those charging infrastructures that are present immediately adjacent to the original charging infrastructure. In this case, the at least one further data packet is provided to a multiplicity of further charging infrastructures. That is to say that a network of two or more charging infrastructures is supplied with the respective further data packet.It can thus be ensured that the vehicle finds at least one charging infrastructure in the surrounding area, which charging infrastructure holds the further data packet. The surrounding area can be, for example, a circle or area at a predefined distance from the corresponding charging infrastructure. For example, a circle of one to five kilometers around the original charging infrastructure may limit the surrounding area.In one embodiment, the surrounding area, i.e. in particular its size, diameter or orientation, is defined for ascertaining the respective charging infrastructure or the aforementioned charging point as a function of a travel speed of the vehicle and / or as a function of traffic data which are assigned to the charging infrastructure. As a result, the respective charging infrastructures can be selected in a particularly skillful manner, namely in such a way that the vehicle can reach them at all and / or can even remove or acquire the respective data packet at all.For example, the number and / or length of the charging points of an induction road can be selected depending on the driving speed or a predefined speed limit for the roadway. For example, 50 or 100 meters of the induction line can each form a charging infrastructure within the meaning of the invention.The travel speed and / or the traffic data can be transmitted or provided by the vehicle or the charging infrastructure, for example. Alternatively, the traffic data may be known, for example, by the location of the charging infrastructure. The traffic data can be, for example, a category of the roadway, i.e., for example, a road type such as a freeway, country road or a road through a dock or a city on which the vehicle is moving. From this, for example, the predefined assigned speed limit, an allowed direction of travel or another parameter relevant to a direction of movement or speed of movement of the vehicle can be determined. Thus, for example, only further charging infrastructures can be selected which are located in the current direction of travel of the vehicle.In one specific embodiment, a predefined navigation route or route of travel of the vehicle is detected and the surrounding area is predefined by the navigation route. As a result, the respective further charging infrastructure or the respective further charging point along the navigation route is determined. This means that preferably only those charging infrastructures are selected for the provision of the data packets which are located on the navigation route, that is to say share a location with the route or intersect it. The navigation route can be transmitted or transmitted, for example, from a navigation device of the vehicle to the charging infrastructure and via this to the backend.In one specific embodiment, termination or interruption of the connection of the inductive charging infrastructure of the vehicle is detected. The respective data packet provided at the time of the abort is then provided to the at least one further charging infrastructure at least as a further data packet. Thus, gaps can be prevented from occurring in the function update. Preferably, the data packet which was provided in a predetermined time interval, for example one to ten seconds before the termination, can also be transmitted again.Preferably, on the basis of the aforementioned traffic data which are assigned to the charging infrastructure, a connection interval for the connection between vehicle and charging infrastructure can be estimated. The connection interval may indicate, for example, how long a vehicle typically or on average remains or stops at the respective charging infrastructure. A data packet parameter, such as a data packet size or the number of data packets to be transmitted, can then be evaluated or provided depending on the determined connection interval. It can thus be ensured that the vehicle remains connected to the charging infrastructure for a long enough time to transmit the data packet or packets as completely as possible.In one embodiment, an update request of the vehicle is additionally detected with the detection of the connection. The update request thereby comprises information about a function of the vehicle to be updated for determining the required function update. This means that the vehicle can report to the backend via the charging infrastructure, for example, that and which update is required for the control device or devices. The server device can thereby acquire all necessary information for determining a product update. For this purpose, the update request can comprise, for example, update data relating to the functions present or software modules present in the vehicle. For example, a version number of the respective function can be provided for the update determination.In one embodiment, each of the data packets is assigned an update feature of the function update, as well as a data packet feature and a modulation parameter for modulating the data signal. These features are provided to the charging infrastructure together with the respective data packet. The update feature can be, for example, a version number of the function update, i.e. of the software update. The data packet feature may be, for example, a numbering of the data packet with respect to the total number of data packets into which the function update is divided. The modulation parameter may be, for example, a frequency or an amplitude that the charging infrastructure is to use for the modulation. If two or more function updates are provided, the data packets can thus be uniquely assigned to the respective function in the vehicle.For use cases or application situations which can arise in the method and which are not explicitly described here, provision can be made for an error message and / or a request for inputting a user feedback to be output and / or for a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state to be set according to the method.In one aspect, the invention relates to a server device for providing function updates to a vehicle. The server device is configured to perform a method as described above. The server device, as described above, can be, for example, the backend or the cloud server.According to one aspect, the invention relates to a system having a server apparatus as described above, at least two charging infrastructures and at least one vehicle. The server device and the at least two charging infrastructures each have a communication interface for establishing a communication connection for the data transmission. The communication connection can be used, for example, for transmitting the connection status and / or the data packets or further transmission of data. The data transmission can preferably take place wirelessly or wirelessly. That is, for example, a radio connection such as a WLAN connection, a Bluetooth connection or a mobile radio connection can be realized. For this purpose, the respective communication interface can have an antenna module, for example. Alternatively, the communication connection can be configured to be wired or wired. For this purpose, the respective communication interface can have, for example, an Ethernet module or an optical waveguide module.The at least two charging infrastructures and the vehicle accordingly each have a charging interface for inductive energy transmission. The respective charging infrastructure is designed to modulate a data signal with the respective data packet onto a power signal during inductive energy transmission. That is, a power and data transmission can take place simultaneously or simultaneously via the charging interface. The respective charging interface can be designed, for example, as an inductive charging device, as is known per se from inductive energy transmission. The charging device may comprise, for example, at least one or more electrical coils, converter modules or drivers.The invention also includes developments of the server device according to the invention and of the system according to the invention, which have features as have already been described in connection with the developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding developments of the server device according to the invention and of the system according to the invention are not described again here.The invention also includes the combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also comprises implementations which each have a combination of the features of a plurality of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. The following shows: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system for providing function updates to a vehicle; and FIG. 2 is a schematic method flow diagram for a method for providing function updates to a vehicle.The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another and that also develop the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention that have already been described.In the figures, identical reference numerals designate functionally identical elements.FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a system 1 for providing function updates F for a vehicle 20.The server device 10 is illustrated in the present exemplary embodiment as a cloud server by way of example. The server device 10 may include a data processing device and, for example, a computer readable storage medium (not shown in FIG. 1 ).In the present exemplary embodiment, vehicle 20 includes a control unit 21. Of course, vehicle 20 may also include more than one control unit 21, in particular a plurality of control units, for example. A predetermined vehicle function can be implemented or executed by means of the respective control unit 21. The control device 21 can be, for example, a control device for a driver assistance system or an infotainment system. The function of the control unit 21 can thus consist in operating the driver assistance system, i.e. for example sensors and actuators, of the vehicle 20 in the desired manner. For this purpose, the control device 21 is available software which can be stored, for example, in a data memory in the form of program code.Updates may be provided for this software from time to time, which are referred to below as function update F. A function update F is installed on the control device 21 for this purpose. The function update F may be provided by the server device 10, for example. How the provision of the function update F can be implemented exactly is described in more detail in the later course.The vehicle 20 is preferably designed as an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle. That is, the vehicle 20 includes an electric energy storage and an electric drive (not shown in the figures) used to operate the vehicle 20. The vehicle 20 also comprises an inductive charging device 22. By means of the inductive charging device 22, the vehicle 20 can receive or record electrical energy or electrical power according to the principle of electromagnetic induction. The energy store of the vehicle can be charged with the detected electrical energy, for example. The charging device 22 may include, for example, an electric coil or electric inductance, a converter device, and a corresponding driver.The required electrical energy for charging may be provided to the vehicle 20 from, for example, one of the charging infrastructures 30. In the present exemplary embodiment, three charging devices 30, namely a first charging infrastructure 31, a second charging infrastructure 32 and a third charging infrastructure 33, are illustrated by way of example. The respective charging infrastructure 30 can have a corresponding charging device (not shown in FIG. 1 ) in a similar manner to the vehicle 20.For inductive energy transfer, the respective charging infrastructure 30 and the vehicle 20 can be connected or coupled to one another via a respective charging interface in an energy transfer connection E. For this purpose, the vehicle 20 should be located in a close range of the charging infrastructure 30 in a manner known per se. In particular, the respective charging devices 22 should be positioned suitably with respect to one another. Preferably, for example, a coil of the charging device 22 and a coil of the charging infrastructure 30 are arranged one above the other substantially congruently in the vehicle vertical direction. In the connected state, i.e. when the energy transmission connection E exists, a power signal which carries electrical power can be transmitted from the respective charging infrastructure 30 to the vehicle, in particular the charging device 22, according to the principle of electromagnetic induction.In the present exemplary embodiment, the three charging infrastructures 30 are designed as induction roadway or induction road 3. In this case, a roadway 2 along which the vehicle 20 can move is divided into three roadway sections 2 a, 2 b, 2 c. The roadway section 2 aconstitutes the first charging infrastructure 31. The roadway section 2 bconstitutes the second charging infrastructure 32. The roadway section 2 cconstitutes the third charging infrastructure 33. Preferably, each of the roadway sections 2 a, 2 b, 2 cmay comprise a plurality of charging points, i.e. for example a plurality of charging devices. In this case, two or more of the charging points can always be combined to form a charging infrastructure 30. Each of the roadway sections can thus be composed of a plurality of charging infrastructures 30.Each of the charging infrastructures 30 may be connected or coupled to the server device 10 via a suitable communication interface. In the connected state, the server device 10 can be connected to the respective charging infrastructure 30 via a communication connection K. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, it is preferably a wireless or wireless communication connection K. For example, it can be a radio connection, in particular a mobile radio connection or a WLAN connection. To establish the communication connection K, the server device 10 and the respective charging infrastructure 30 can comprise, for example, a radio module, in particular, for example, an antenna module. A data transmission, preferably a bidirectional data transmission or message transmission, can be realized between server device 10 and the respective charging infrastructure via communication link K. In particular, the function update F can be transmitted via this communication link K, preferably on a packet-by-packet basis.In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the vehicle 20 is located on the first roadway section 2 aand is connected or coupled to the first charging infrastructure 31. That is, the power signal L may be transmitted from the first charging infrastructure 31 to the vehicle 20. The second and third charging infrastructures 32, 33 are located in a predefined surrounding area U around the first charging infrastructure 31. The surrounding area U is an area or section in the surrounding area that can be reached by the vehicle 20 starting from the first charging infrastructure 31 and that comprises the second and third charging infrastructure 32, 33.In order to provide the function update F from the server device 10 to the vehicle, in particular the control device 21, the following method can now be carried out by the system 1, in particular the server device 10. A method flow diagram with exemplary method steps for the method is shown, for example, in FIG. 2.In this case, the product, i.e. the vehicle 20 here, establishes a communication connection to the backend, i.e. the server device 10, via the charging points, i.e. the first charging infrastructure 31 here. For this purpose, the vehicle 20 uses the energy transmission connection E. This can namely be used not only for transmitting the electrical energy in the form of the power signal L but also for data transmission or message transmission. For this purpose, a data signal or message signal with the desired information can be modulated onto the power signal L. Thus, an inductive bidirectional transmission of message signals or data signals D. This technique is known, for example, from the transmission of sensor data, such as a temperature and a fill level.Via the energy transmission connection E, the vehicle 20 can contain an update request as a data signal to the first charging infrastructure 31. The update request can have, for example, a version number of the software currently included in the control device 21.The first charging infrastructure 31 in turn establishes the communication connection K with the server device 10. Via the communication connection K, the charging infrastructure 31 can forward or transmit the update request to the server device 10. The server device 10 can then check in a manner known per se whether and which function update is required for the current software of the control unit 21.If a function update is required for the vehicle 20, the server device 10 registers that the energy transmission connection E exists between the vehicle 20 and the first charging infrastructure 31. For this purpose, in a step S 1 of the illustrated method, the server device 10 detects, for example, a connection status V of the inductive charging infrastructure 31 and of the vehicle 20 for the inductive energy transmission. The charging infrastructure 31 may transmit the connection status V to the server device 10 via the communication link K, for example.The server device 10 can additionally also check, for example, the authorisation of the vehicle 20 and / or of the charging infrastructure 31. For this purpose, for example, an identification feature, such as an identification number of the respective charging infrastructure 30 and of the vehicle 20, can be checked with stored comparison data.The vehicle 20 then receives the information from the backend via the first charging infrastructure 31, as to which software and / or data packets are necessary for updating. It can be, for example, metadata or information data that indicates, for example, the new version number of the software.In a step S 2 of the method, the server device 10 provides at least one first data packet D 1 of the function update to the first charging infrastructure 31. The vehicle F can download the at least first data packet D 1 from the first charging infrastructure 31 via the energy transmission connection E.The first data packet D 1 is one of two or more data packets from which the function update F is composed. That is, the server device 10 may transmit the function update F in parts or packet by packet. The respective charging infrastructure 30 is now designed to modulate a data signal D with the respective data packet, in the present case therefore for example the at least first data packet D 1, onto the power signal. The first data packet D 1 can thus be transmitted to the vehicle 20 together with the power signal L. In this case, the server device 10 can transmit together with the respective data packet D 1 an update feature of the function update, such as a version number, a data packet feature, that is to say an identifier or numbering, which of how many data packets it is, and / or a modulation parameter, such as a modulation frequency or an amplitude for modulating the data signal D. This allows the charging infrastructure 30 to interact unambiguously and in a manner that can be assigned to a plurality of vehicles F or function updates for a vehicle 20.In a step S 3 of the method, the server device 10 then determines at least one further charging infrastructure, here therefore for example the second and / or the third charging infrastructure 32, 33 in the predefined surrounding area U around the original charging infrastructure, i.e. the first charging infrastructure 31. That is, the server device 10 selects one or more other charging infrastructures 30 in the surrounding area U. To the selected charging infrastructures 30, i.e. here the second and third charging infrastructures 32, 33, the server device 10 provides at least one further data packet, here for example a second data packet D 2. That is, the second data packet D 2 is transmitted via the respective communication link both to the second and third charging infrastructure 32, 33 and held there or stored.If the vehicle 20 now moves further along the roadway 2 and reaches the second or third roadway section 2 b, 2 c, it can connect to the respective second or third charging infrastructure 32, 33, i.e. the selected further charging infrastructure 30. The respective charging infrastructure 30 can then identify the vehicle 20 and transmit the stored further data packet, in this case therefore the second data packet D 2, to the vehicle by the above-described modulation.The described method can be executed dynamically or repeatedly at the further charging infrastructure 30, for example. In this case, the further charging infrastructure 30 is again considered to be a first charging infrastructure 31 or an original charging infrastructure. When repeating the method, however, a first data packet D 1 does not need to be transmitted again to the respective charging infrastructure 30, since the vehicle 20 has already called up a data packet here, for example the previously transmitted second data packet D 2.Overall, the function update F can thus be provided via a dynamic network of charging infrastructures 30 by means of inductive energy transmission to the vehicle 20.For selecting the surrounding area U, the server device 10 may include, for example, a map or surrounding map of all charging infrastructures in the vicinity of the connected charging infrastructure 30. As a further charging infrastructure 30, it is then possible, for example, always to select the charging infrastructures 30 directly adjacent to the original charging infrastructure (first charging infrastructure 31).Preferably, the surrounding area U, in particular a size, a diameter or an orientation, can be defined as a function of a travel speed of the vehicle 20 or as a function of traffic data which are assigned to the respective charging infrastructure 30. It can thus be ensured, for example, that only charging infrastructures 30 in the direction of travel of the vehicle 20 or charging infrastructures which can be reached at all by the vehicle in a predefined time interval are selected. Alternatively, the vehicle 20 can transmit its navigation route to the server device 10 via the respective charging infrastructure 30, for example. The server device 10 may then set the navigation route as the surrounding area U and select only charging infrastructures 30 that are located along the navigation route.If the connection between the respective charging infrastructure 30 and the vehicle F is broken off or interrupted, the request for updating can be carried out again at another charging infrastructure 30, for example. The download of the respective data packet can be interrupted, for example, if the respective charging infrastructure 30 is prematurely left by the vehicle 20. In order to avoid gaps in the function update F, a data packet transmitted at the retrieval time can be transmitted again at the next charging infrastructure 30 approached.Today, charging infrastructures 30 for inductive power transmission are usually connected to the Internet for billing, for example. As a result, the software and data packets, i.e. the function update F, can be easily transmitted to the inductive charging point and are available there to the product to be updated, i.e. the vehicle 20, at the charging point connected thereto. Within a network or network of charging infrastructures 30, the download along the potential route can thereby always be prepared and the data throughput for the function update F can thus be increased.Overall, the exemplary embodiments show how a product or function update with modulated information packets or data packets can be reliably implemented within the scope of inductive charging.

Claims

Method for providing function updates (F) for a vehicle (20), comprising the following steps: - detecting a connection of an inductive charging infrastructure (30, 31) and of the vehicle (20) for inductive energy transmission, - providing at least one first data packet (D1) of a function update (F) to the charging infrastructure (30, 31) for modulating a data signal (D) with the at least first data packet (D1) onto a power signal (L) during inductive energy transmission to the vehicle (20), - determining at least one further charging infrastructure (30, 32, 33) in a predefined surrounding area (U) around the charging infrastructure (30, 31), and - providing at least one further data packet (D2) of the function update (F) to the at least one further charging infrastructure (30, 32, 33), wherein the respective charging infrastructure (30, 31) is integrated into a roadway (2) and comprises a plurality of integrated inductive charging points, wherein each charging point comprises an electric coil, wherein at least two directly adjacent ones of the charging points are combined to form a group for the provision of the respective data packet (D1, D2) and the group of charging points forms the respective charging infrastructure (30, 31, 32, 33), and the respective data packet (D1, D2) is provided to the at least two combined charging points.Method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of further charging infrastructures (30, 32, 33) are determined in the predefined surrounding area (U) around the charging infrastructure (30, 31), and the at least one further data packet (D2) is provided to the plurality of further charging infrastructures (30, 32, 33).Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surrounding area (U) for ascertaining the respective charging infrastructure (30, 31, 32, 33) is defined as a function of a travel speed of the vehicle (20) and / or as a function of traffic data which are assigned to the charging infrastructure (30, 31, 32, 33).Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a predefined navigation route of the vehicle (20) is detected and the surrounding area (U) is predefined by the navigation route, such that the respective charging infrastructure (30, 32, 33) is ascertained along the navigation route.Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a break-off of the connection of the inductive charging infrastructure (30, 31) and of the vehicle (20) is detected, and the respective data packet (D1, D2) provided at the time of the break-off is provided to the at least one further charging infrastructure (30, 32, 33) at least as a further data packet (D2).Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in addition to the detection of the connection, an update request of the vehicle (20) is detected, wherein the update request comprises information on a function of the vehicle (20) to be updated for determining the required function update (F).Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the data packets (D1, D2) is assigned an update feature of the function update (F) and a data packet feature and / or a modulation parameter for the modulation of the data signal (D) and these are provided with the respective data packet (D1, D2).Server device (10) for providing function updates (F) for a vehicle (20), which is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.System (1) having a server device (10) according to Claim 8, at least two charging infrastructures (30, 31, 32, 33) and at least one vehicle (20), wherein the server device (10) and the at least two charging infrastructures (30, 31, 32, 33) each have a communication interface for establishing a communication connection (K) for a data transmission, and the at least two charging infrastructures (30, 31, 32, 33) and the vehicle (20) each have a charging interface for the inductive energy transmission, wherein the respective charging infrastructure (30, 31, 32, 33) is designed to modulate a data signal (D) with the respective data packet (D1, D2) onto a power signal (L) of the inductive energy transmission, wherein the respective charging infrastructure (30, 31, 32, 33) is integrated into a roadway (2) and comprises a multiplicity of integrated inductive charging points, wherein each charging point comprises an electrical coil, wherein at least two directly adjacent ones of the charging points are combined to form a group for providing the respective data packet (D1, D2), and the group of charging points forms the respective charging infrastructure (30, 31, 32, 33).

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