In-Vehicle ECU Update Activation Using a Substitute ECU
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-vehicle communication devices lack efficient processing mechanisms for updating control programs applied to Electronic Control Units (ECUs), leading to potential inconsistencies and operational failures during the update process.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle device with a control unit that obtains update programs from an external server, selects a substitute ECU whose program is not an update target, and performs activation processing to apply the update program, ensuring efficient and reliable program updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the in-vehicle communication device performs program update processing without considering processing to be performed at the time of updating, then the update process is simplified, but operational failures and inconsistencies may occur during the update process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the in-vehicle communication device determine processing to be performed at the time of program update before actually executing the update. The device receives update information, determines the appropriate processing in advance, and then executes the program update with the predetermined processing. This ensures that necessary preparations and considerations are made before the update occurs, preventing operational failures while maintaining a structured update process.
2Speed
If the in-vehicle device activates the update program immediately after obtaining it, then the update speed is improved, but system stability may be compromised due to potential inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the processing to be performed at the time of update before activation. The in-vehicle communication device receives update information, determines the appropriate processing in advance, and then activates the update program with the predetermined processing already planned. This ensures system stability is maintained while enabling relatively quick activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies feedback by having the control unit determine processing based on update information received from external devices. The system receives information about the update, processes this information to determine appropriate actions, and then executes the update with determined processing. This feedback loop ensures that activation only occurs after proper determination, maintaining system consistency while enabling efficient updates.
Data Source
AI summary
An in-vehicle device is an in-vehicle device including a control unit configured to obtain an update program transmitted from an external server outside a vehicle and to perform processing for updating a program of an in-vehicle ECU mounted in the vehicle, wherein the control unit obtains an update program to be applied to the in-vehicle device from the external server, selects, as a substitute ECU, one in-vehicle ECU whose program is not an update target among a plurality of in-vehicle ECUs mounted in the vehicle, and performs activation processing for applying the obtained update program to the in-vehicle device in response to an activation instruction from the selected substitute ECU.