Vehicle ECU Update Packages Using Hash-Based Difference Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing systems for rewriting application programs in vehicle electronic control units (ECUs) face challenges due to the large size of distribution packages, which results in significant time and effort required for generating and delivering updates, making it impractical for efficient vehicle-specific customization.
Innovation Solution
A center device manages data for ECUs by generating and storing hash values for difference data between update and previous data, allowing for the creation of distribution packages that include these hash values, enabling efficient and secure updates by verifying the integrity of the difference data during the update process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the distribution package includes complete update data for ECUs, then the update content is comprehensive and complete, but the package size becomes large and processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential verification element (hash value) from the complete update data package. Instead of distributing full update packages, the system sends compact hash values that represent the update content, thereby reducing package size while maintaining update completeness through verification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hash values as digital copies or representations of the complete update data. These hash values serve as compact proxies that enable verification of update integrity without requiring transmission of the actual update content, thus reducing processing time while ensuring completeness
2Productivity
If the distribution package is reduced in size using hash values, then processing time decreases and efficiency improves, but verification of data integrity becomes critical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the ECU calculates hash values of received update data and compares them against expected hash values. This feedback loop ensures data integrity verification is automatically performed, making the verification process seamless and integrated into the update workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The ECU performs self-verification by independently calculating hash values of received update packages and comparing them against stored reference hash values. This self-service approach to integrity verification eliminates the need for complex external verification mechanisms while maintaining high productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A center device includes a vehicle information storage unit, a hash value generation unit, and a package generation unit. The vehicle information storage unit stores identification information for electronic control devices mounted in a vehicle and information of software architecture of the electronic control devices together with a type of the vehicle. The hash value generation unit is configured to generate difference data, calculate a hash value of the difference data, and store the calculated hash value in a hash value storage unit, for each electronic control device that is an update target. The package generation unit is configured to generate distribution package for the update target using corresponding hash value stored in the hash value storage unit.