Vehicle ECU Specification Data for Accurate Multi-ECU Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of vehicle control systems and the need for frequent software updates in electronic control units (ECUs) due to advanced features like autonomous driving and connected car technologies pose challenges in efficiently managing and distributing update data across multiple ECUs, particularly in ensuring accurate and flexible control of update processes.
Innovation Solution
A center device is configured to generate and distribute specification data, including information about the update target ECU, its attributes, and rewrite environment details, to facilitate proper selection and updating of ECUs, enabling flexible and synchronized updates across multiple ECUs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ECUs are updated with different application programs to support diversified vehicle control functions, then the functional capability of the vehicle control system is improved, but the complexity of managing and distributing update data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments update data into two distinct types: specification data (containing ECU identification information, version information, and update conditions) and application programs (actual update content). This segmentation allows the center device to manage different types of data separately, reducing the complexity of handling diversified update requirements for multiple ECUs while maintaining the ability to support various vehicle control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a center device as an intermediary between the data management server and multiple ECUs. The center device receives specification data, determines target ECUs based on this data, and then distributes appropriate application programs. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall system by centralizing the decision-making logic for update distribution, reducing the complexity that would otherwise exist in managing direct connections between the server and numerous ECUs.
2Productivity
If update data is distributed to multiple ECUs simultaneously, then the productivity of the update process is improved, but the accuracy of selecting the correct target ECU decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by first distributing specification data to the center device before distributing application programs. The center device uses this specification data to pre-determine which ECUs are the correct targets for updates by comparing ECU identification information, version information, and update conditions. This preliminary determination step ensures high accuracy in target ECU selection while maintaining efficient simultaneous distribution to multiple identified targets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where ECUs transmit their identification information to the center device, and the center device uses this feedback to accurately determine target ECUs. The specification data itself acts as a feedback reference, containing information about which ECUs should be updated. This feedback loop ensures that even when distributing to multiple ECUs simultaneously, the system maintains high accuracy in selecting the correct targets by continuously verifying ECU identities against the specification data.
Data Source
AI summary
In an ECU reprogram data DB of a center device, data of an update program for a target ECU for a program update among a plurality of EUCs mounted in a vehicle is stored. In a configuration information DB, an “ECU ID” corresponding to each ECU and vehicle-related information such as an “ECU SW ID” for each application program stored in the ECU are stored along with the vehicle type. An ECU metadata database stores update data-related information pertaining to update data and attributes of the rewrite target ECU. A specification data generation unit generates specification data, based on the information stored in the configuration information database and the information stored in the ECU metadata database, to be transmitted to the vehicle together with update data to be written in the target ECU such that the data includes information related to the type, attributes, and update data for the target ECU and information indicative of a rewrite environment related to the data update.