Vehicle update system
The system improves vehicle update efficiency by selecting a representative vehicle for data distribution through inter-vehicle communication, addressing update malfunctions in unstable environments.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle update systems face issues with malfunctions during batch updates due to varying communication quality and storage states of vehicles in a factory yard, leading to inefficiencies.
A system utilizing an inter-vehicle communication network and a mobile communication network to select a representative vehicle for software updates, where data is transmitted to this vehicle and then distributed to others via vehicle-to-vehicle communication, enabling simultaneous updates across multiple vehicles.
This approach ensures efficient software updates across multiple vehicles, even in unstable communication environments, by leveraging vehicle-to-vehicle communication to stabilize the update process.
Smart Images
Figure 2026122801000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to a vehicle update system.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, technologies related to vehicle update systems are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for updating (OTA) vehicle software via wireless communication.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] For example, vehicles approaching factory shipment are placed in a state where multiple vehicles are placed in a factory yard or the like. In such a situation, when performing OTA updates in a batch for all of these multiple vehicles using a predetermined server or the like, there is a problem that malfunctions occur in the updates depending on the quality of the communication situation and / or the storage state of each vehicle.
[0005] Thus, there has been room for improvement in the technology related to vehicle update systems.
[0006] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technology related to vehicle update systems.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] A system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a system including a plurality of vehicles capable of wireless communication with each other via an inter-vehicle communication network, and a server capable of wireless communication with the plurality of vehicles via a mobile communication network. The aforementioned server, Select one vehicle from the aforementioned multiple vehicles as the representative vehicle. The data used for software updates of the multiple vehicles is transmitted to the representative vehicle via the mobile communication network. The representative vehicle transmits the data to each of the other vehicles via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication network. Each of the aforementioned vehicles uses the received data to perform a software update on its own vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the technology relating to a vehicle update system is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0009] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows a schematic configuration of a system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the vehicle update system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0010] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below.
[0011] (Summary of the embodiment) Referring to Figure 1, an overview of System 1 according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described. System 1 comprises an in-vehicle device 100 mounted on a vehicle 10 and a server 20. The in-vehicle device 100 and the server 20 are connected to a network 30, including, for example, a mobile communication network and the Internet. On the other hand, in this embodiment, it is assumed that there are multiple vehicles 10, so communication between the vehicles 10 is possible when they are in close proximity to each other, via short-range wireless communication, including, for example, Wi-Fi®, between the in-vehicle devices 100.
[0012] Vehicle 10 is, for example, an automobile, but is not limited to that and may be any vehicle. The automobile may be a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), but is not limited to these. The number of vehicles 10 provided by System 1 is assumed to be multiple, but may be determined arbitrarily.
[0013] The on-board device 100 is a device mounted on the vehicle 10. The on-board device 100 stores electronic control system software (also simply referred to as software). For example, the on-board device 100 may be an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). Specifically, an ECU is a device that independently controls each of the components that make up the vehicle 10, such as the body, engine, brakes, and steering. The vehicle 10 may have multiple on-board devices 100, such as an engine control ECU, a brake control ECU, or a steering ECU. In this embodiment, the on-board device 100 has a function to subsequently perform software updates for the vehicle 10 (hereinafter also referred to as the "update function"). For example, to update the engine control software to the latest version, the update will target the software of the engine control ECU. In this embodiment, "performing an update" means performing a "software update" without particularly limiting the components.
[0014] Server 20 comprises one or multiple computers capable of communicating with each other. Server 20 can communicate with vehicle 10 via network 30.
[0015] First, the outline of this embodiment will be described, and the details will be described later. The system 1 includes a plurality of vehicles 10 that can communicate wirelessly with each other via a vehicle-to-vehicle communication network, and a server 20 that can communicate wirelessly with the plurality of vehicles 10 via a mobile communication network 30. The server 20 selects one vehicle from the plurality of vehicles 10 as the representative vehicle 10. Then, data used for software updates of the plurality of vehicles 10 is transmitted to the representative vehicle 10 via the mobile communication network 30. Next, the representative vehicle 10 transmits the data to each of the plurality of vehicles 10 excluding the representative vehicle 10 via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication network. And each of the plurality of vehicles 10 executes a software update of its own vehicle using the received data.
[0016] Thus, according to this embodiment, when it is necessary to update a plurality of vehicles 10 simultaneously, without depending on the communication state of each vehicle, by selecting one representative vehicle, the vehicle-to-vehicle communication can be utilized to deploy the update to all other vehicles. Therefore, the technology related to the vehicle update system is improved in that the updates of the plurality of vehicles 10 can be efficiently executed even in an environment where the communication state is likely to become unstable.
[0017] Next, each component of the system 1 will be described in detail.
[0018] (Configuration of Vehicle 10) The vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 1 is composed of a plurality of units. Among them, any one is selected as the "representative vehicle 10". In that case, the remaining plurality of vehicles are defined as "peripheral vehicles 10". Regarding the reference numbers, regardless of whether it is a representative vehicle or a peripheral vehicle, "10" is attached to all vehicles.
[0019] (Configuration of In-Vehicle Device 100) As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 100 mounted on the vehicle 10 includes a communication unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a control unit 103.
[0020] The communication unit 101 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 30. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard such as 4G (4th Generation) or 5G (5th Generation), or a short-range wireless communication standard such as Wi-Fi, but is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the in-vehicle device 100 may communicate with the server 20 via the communication unit 101 and the network 30. Further, in the present embodiment, the in-vehicle devices 100 may perform vehicle-to-vehicle communication with each other via the communication units 101.
[0021] The storage unit 102 includes one or more memories. The memory is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Each memory included in the storage unit 102 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores any information used for the operation of the in-vehicle device 100. For example, the storage unit 102 may store a system program, an application program, embedded software, and the like. The information stored in the storage unit 102 may be updated with information acquired from the network 30 via the communication unit 101, or may be updated with information acquired via vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
[0022] The control unit 103 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited thereto. The programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited thereto. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited thereto. The control unit 103 controls the operation of the entire in-vehicle device 100.
[0023] (Configuration of Server 20) As shown in Figure 1, the server 20 comprises a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.
[0024] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 30. These communication interfaces may, for example, support mobile communication standards, wired LAN (Local Area Network) standards, or wireless LAN standards, but are not limited to these; they may support any communication standard. In this embodiment, the server 20 communicates with the vehicle 10 via the communication unit 21 and the network 30. The server 20 may also communicate with vehicles other than the vehicle 10 according to this embodiment via the communication unit 21 and the network 30.
[0025] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as, for example, a main memory, an auxiliary memory, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used for the operation of the server 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store system programs, application programs, databases, and map information. The information stored in the storage unit 22 may be updatable with information obtained from the network 30, for example, via the communication unit 21.
[0026] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 23 controls the operation of the entire server 20.
[0027] (Operation flow of System 1) The operation of System 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 2.
[0028] In this embodiment, the operation flow of System 1 will be described assuming that an update to Vehicle 10 is required. Furthermore, all of the multiple Vehicles 10 described (including the representative vehicle and surrounding vehicles) are assumed to be vehicles subject to the update.
[0029] S100: Server 20 selects one vehicle 10 from among several vehicles 10 as the representative vehicle.
[0030] Specifically, the control unit 23 of the server 20 selects one vehicle 10 from among multiple vehicles 10 as the representative vehicle. Any method can be used to select the representative vehicle. For example, one vehicle with the highest communication quality in mobile communication (e.g., RSSI, RSRQ, RSRP, or signal-to-noise ratio) may be selected as the representative vehicle from among multiple vehicles.
[0031] S101: Server 20 transmits data used for software updates of multiple vehicles 10 to the representative vehicle 10 via the mobile communication network 30.
[0032] Specifically, the control unit 23 transmits data used for software updates of multiple vehicles 10 to the representative vehicle 10 selected in S100 via the communication unit 21 and the mobile communication network 30. At this time, along with the data, the control unit 23 also transmits a list showing the VINs of all vehicles subject to the update and the progress of the update.
[0033] S102: The representative vehicle 10 transmits the data and list received in S101 to each of the other vehicles (surrounding vehicles) 10 via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication network.
[0034] Specifically, the control unit 103 of the representative vehicle 10 transmits the data and list received in S101 to each of the multiple vehicles (surrounding vehicles) 10 excluding the representative vehicle 10 via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication network provided by the communication unit 101. More specifically, the representative vehicle 10 first transmits the data and list to surrounding vehicle A, which is spatially nearby. Then, surrounding vehicle A further transmits the data and list to surrounding vehicle B, which is nearby. At this time, vehicle A may transmit the data if vehicle B satisfies predetermined conditions. For example, the predetermined conditions may include a first condition that vehicle B's VIN is listed in the list. In such a case, vehicle A may obtain vehicle B's VIN, compare it with the list, and determine that the first condition is met if the VIN is listed in the list. Alternatively, for example, the predetermined conditions may include a second condition that vehicle B has not yet obtained the data. In such a case, vehicle A may check whether vehicle B has obtained the data and determine that the second condition is met if the data has not been obtained. Such conditional checks and transmissions may be performed in a chain-like fashion, starting with Vehicle A, then Vehicle B, then Vehicle C, then Vehicle D, and so on, until the data and list reach all vehicles.
[0035] S103: Each of the 10 vehicles performs a software update on its own vehicle using the data received in S101 and S102.
[0036] Specifically, the representative vehicle 10 and each of the surrounding vehicles 10 use the received data to update the software contained in their respective vehicle control units 103. Each vehicle can perform the update at any time after receiving the data.
[0037] S104: Each of the surrounding vehicles 10 transmits information to the representative vehicle 10 via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication network indicating that the software update for its vehicle is complete.
[0038] Specifically, each of the surrounding vehicles 10 other than the representative vehicle 10 sends a list to the representative vehicle 10 via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication network indicating that its software update has been completed. In other words, the list received along with the data may serve as a report of the update completion. Furthermore, any method can be used for the transmission (retrieval) route of the list from the surrounding vehicles 10 to the representative vehicle 10. For example, the list may be retrieved sequentially by following the reverse route of "representative vehicle → surrounding vehicle A → surrounding vehicle B" described in S102, i.e., "surrounding vehicle B → surrounding vehicle A → representative vehicle".
[0039] S105: The representative vehicle 10 transmits information to the server 20 via the mobile communication network 30 indicating that the software update for multiple vehicles 10 has been completed.
[0040] Specifically, the representative vehicle 10 transmits a complete list, which includes the list collected from all surrounding vehicles in S104 plus a list indicating that its own vehicle's software update is complete, to the server 20 via the mobile communication network 30. The server 20 receives the lists from all of the multiple vehicles 10 and stores them in the storage unit 22, thereby recognizing the completion of the update. After recognizing the completion of the update, the server 20 may instruct the representative vehicle 10 to complete the update via the mobile communication network 30.
[0041] While this disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions, etc., included in each component or step can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or divided into two.
[0042] For example, in the above-described embodiment, it is also possible to distribute the configuration and operation of the server 20 across multiple computers that can communicate with each other. Furthermore, for example, it is also possible to provide some or all of the components of the server 20 in the vehicle 10. For instance, a navigation system mounted in the vehicle 10 may comprise some or all of the components of the server 20.
[0043] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, for example, in S101, if the mobile communication network 30 with the representative vehicle 10 is unstable, the server 20 may re-select the next vehicle as the alternative representative vehicle 10 according to the VIN in the list and transmit data, etc. With this configuration, the operation flow of the system of this embodiment can be successfully executed even when the mobile communication network 30 is unstable.
[0044] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, for example, in S102, the transmission of data and lists to surrounding vehicles by the representative vehicle 10 and / or surrounding vehicle A (and so on, B and subsequent vehicles) may be repeated multiple times. With this configuration, the inconvenience of being unable to transfer data and lists due to communication problems or other issues can be reduced.
[0045] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, for example in S104, the lists held by each surrounding vehicle 10 only need to be ultimately collected by the representative vehicle 10, and the collection route may be random.
[0046] Furthermore, it is also possible to use a general-purpose computer as the server 20 according to the above-described embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing content that realizes each function of the server 20 according to the above-described embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the processor reads and executes the program. Therefore, this disclosure can also be realized as a program that can be executed by a processor, or as a non-temporary computer-readable medium that stores said program. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0047] 1 System, 10 Vehicles (including representative vehicle and surrounding vehicles), 20 Servers, 21 Communication Unit, 22 Storage Unit, 23 Control Unit, 30 Network, 101 Communication Unit, 102 Storage Unit, 103 Control Unit
Claims
[Claim 1] A system comprising a plurality of vehicles capable of wirelessly communicating with each other via a vehicle-to-vehicle communication network, and a server capable of wirelessly communicating with the plurality of vehicles via a mobile communication network, The aforementioned server, Select one vehicle from the aforementioned multiple vehicles as the representative vehicle. The data used for software updates of the multiple vehicles is transmitted to the representative vehicle via the mobile communication network. The representative vehicle transmits the data to each of the other vehicles via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication network. Each of the aforementioned vehicles uses the received data to perform a software update on its own vehicle. system.