Controller Software Delta Extraction for Faster ECU Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for updating software in controllers, such as ECUs, are inefficient due to the need to download and install entire software images, which consume bandwidth and processing resources, and can lead to delays and memory issues, especially when controllers are outdated or have malware vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
The use of delta files, which represent the differences between software versions, allows for efficient software updates by transmitting only the necessary changes, enabling faster and more reliable updates without the need for full image downloads, and can be flashed over a communication bus in vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If entire software images are downloaded and installed for controller updates, then complete software updates are achieved, but bandwidth consumption and processing resources are excessively used
Solution Approach 1:
The software update process is segmented into two parts: a base image that remains stored and a delta file that contains only the differences. Instead of transmitting and installing the entire software image, the system transmits only the delta file representing the changes, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption and processing resources while maintaining update completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the necessary changes (delta) from the complete software image. By calculating and transmitting only the differential portion between the old and new software versions, the system eliminates the need to transmit redundant data, thus reducing bandwidth usage and processing requirements while achieving the same update result.
2Reliability
If entire software images are downloaded for controller updates, then complete software updates are achieved, but update time is significantly delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The update process is divided into storing the complete base image and transmitting only the delta file. This segmentation allows the system to avoid downloading and processing the entire software image again, significantly reducing update time while ensuring complete software updates through the application of delta changes to the stored base image.
Solution Approach 2:
The base software image is downloaded and stored in advance before the update is needed. When an update is required, only the small delta file needs to be transmitted and applied, rather than re-downloading the entire image. This preliminary action of storing the base image significantly accelerates the update process.
3Reliability
If entire software images are installed on controllers, then complete software updates are achieved, but memory space requirements and processing overhead are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The software update mechanism is segmented into a stored base image and a transmitted delta file. The controller only needs to store and process the delta file (representing changes) rather than the entire software image, thereby reducing memory space requirements and processing overhead while maintaining complete software updates through delta application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential change information (delta) from the complete software image for transmission and installation. By removing redundant data that already exists in the stored base image, the system reduces the memory space and processing requirements needed for updates while ensuring complete software updates are achieved.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are techniques for efficiently providing controller data as part of a maintenance or update process. Techniques include receiving, from a first remote computing device, a message associated with at least one controller extracting, based on the received message, an image of software associated with the at least one controller; accessing, based on the extracted image, a delta file; and transmitting the accessed delta file to a second remote computing device.