Charging Station OTA Update Timing for Reliable Vehicle Software
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the automotive industry, over-the-air (OTA) software updates for vehicles often risk interrupting 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, ensuring the update is completed without interrupting the charging process, using a digital communication interface for secure and reliable data transmission.
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 determining whether the vehicle is currently charging and comparing the expected update duration with the expected charging duration. This preliminary assessment ensures that updates are only started when charging is ongoing and will complete before charging finishes, preventing interruption and ensuring reliable update completion.
2Reliability
If OTA update is performed while vehicle is charging, then update completion is ensured, but the system complexity increases due to time comparison and condition checking
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station's control system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it not only manages the charging process but also determines charging duration, compares it with update duration, and controls update initiation. This multi-functionality consolidates the complexity within the existing charging station controller rather than requiring separate update management hardware, making the solution more efficient.
3Reliability
If update time is strictly less than charging time, then complete update is guaranteed, but the flexibility in scheduling updates is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts update scheduling based on real-time charging conditions. By continuously monitoring charging status and calculating expected durations, the system can flexibly determine optimal update windows while ensuring the update completes within the charging period. This dynamic approach balances safety requirements with scheduling flexibility.
Data Source
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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.