Vehicle ECU Update Control With Exit-Predicted User Consent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing program update systems in mobile objects like vehicles face inefficiencies when IG power supply is off, leading to interrupted updates and prolonged wait times due to delayed consent acquisition and notification processes, especially when users exit the vehicle before completing the update.

Innovation Solution

A program update control apparatus that utilizes a step-down converter to supply power from a high-voltage system to a low-voltage system, enabling continuous program updates even when the IG power supply is off, and provides timely notifications and consent acquisition screens based on user exit predictions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If program update is performed only when IG power supply is on, then power consumption is reduced, but update efficiency deteriorates and wait time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate efficiencyVSAvoidwait time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs user exit prediction and prepares notification content in advance before the actual program update execution. When user exit is predicted, the notification is prepared and queued, allowing the update to proceed seamlessly without delaying for user interaction, thus reducing wait time while maintaining power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The program update process is designed to continue uninterrupted even when user exit is predicted. The system maintains the update workflow continuity by preparing notifications in advance and executing the update without requiring user presence, ensuring productive action continues without idle wait time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Reliability

If consent acquisition is performed before update execution, then user control is ensured, but update completion rate deteriorates when users exit before consent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate completion rateVSAvoiduser interaction requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs user exit prediction in advance and prepares notification content before the update execution. This preliminary preparation ensures that when users do exit, the notification is already ready to be displayed, allowing the update process to continue without requiring reacquisition of user consent, thereby maintaining both user control and high completion rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses user exit prediction as feedback to adjust the notification timing and content preparation. When exit is predicted, the system proactively prepares and queues the notification, creating a feedback loop that adapts the update process to user behavior patterns, ensuring completion without excessive user interaction requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If notification is provided immediately during update, then user awareness is improved, but user exit before notification delivery increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification deliveryVSAvoidupdate completion

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs user exit prediction and prepares notification content in advance before the actual notification delivery point. This preliminary preparation ensures that the notification is ready to be immediately displayed if the user is still present, or has been prepared for subsequent display if the user exits, ensuring no information loss and maintaining update completion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification delivery timing is made dynamic based on user exit prediction. The system adapts the notification strategy by preparing it in advance and adjusting when it is actually displayed based on predicted user presence, optimizing both information delivery and update completion rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates seamless and timely program updates by reducing wait times and ensuring completion without reacquiring user consent, even when power is interrupted, thus enhancing user convenience and update efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a program update control apparatus that utilizes a step-down converter to supply power from a high-voltage system to a low-voltage system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical energy transformation:

Data Source

PatentUS12524224B2Program update control apparatus, program update control method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A program update control apparatus acquires new program from an external apparatus via a network and rewrites a program of an electronic control unit equipped with a mobile object during drive of the mobile object is disabled. When it is determined that a user of the mobile object is predicted to get off the mobile object, the program update control apparatus performs a first notification, and provides a second notification or makes the second notification ready to provide. The first notification is a notification to obtain a consent from the user on execution of program update, and the second notification is a notification to provide detail of the program update.