Vehicle Charging Station OTA Update Timing During Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing over-the-air (OTA) software update processes for vehicles often interrupt the update process, potentially leaving the vehicle in a non-operational state, which can be unsafe and inconvenient, especially if initiated during use or when the vehicle is not fully charged, leading to reliability and usability issues.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a vehicle charging station determines if the expected time for an OTA update is less than the charging time and sends an instruction to execute the update while the vehicle is charging, using a dedicated digital communication channel to ensure uninterrupted and secure data transfer, reducing the likelihood of interruptions and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If OTA update is initiated during vehicle use or when not fully charged, then update can be performed, but the update process may be interrupted leaving the vehicle in a non-operational state
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checks before initiating the OTA update by evaluating the state of charge (SOC) of the battery and estimating the charging time. If the SOC is below a threshold or the charging time exceeds the update duration, the update is deferred until conditions are favorable, preventing interruptions and ensuring reliable completion
2Reliability
If OTA update is performed while the vehicle is charging, then update can be completed without interruption, but requires coordination between charging process and update execution
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station continuously monitors the charging state and communicates real-time feedback to the vehicle's control system. The system adjusts the update execution timing based on this feedback, dynamically coordinating between charging progress and update requirements to maintain reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The charging station acts as an intermediary that mediates between the power supply system and the software update process. It manages the coordination by controlling when power is supplied and when update operations are performed, simplifying the overall system architecture while ensuring reliable update completion
3Reliability
If dedicated digital communication channel is used during charging, then data transfer is secure and uninterrupted, but requires additional communication infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the communication channel with the existing charging infrastructure by utilizing the control and communication interfaces already present in the charging station. This approach provides secure and reliable data transfer for OTA updates without requiring separate dedicated communication hardware, thus avoiding additional infrastructure complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle charging station, comprising: a charging processor configured for, when a vehicle is connected to the charging station: sending to the vehicle a request for at least one power level value; and in response to receiving the at least one power level value from the vehicle: computing an expected amount of time for charging at least one battery of the vehicle; computing an expected amount of time for executing an update of digital data of the vehicle, where the expected amount of time includes an amount of time for reverting the update; and subject to identifying that the update time is less than the charging time according to a time comparison test, sending the vehicle an instruction to execute the update while charging the at least one battery.