Vehicle ECU Update Coordination for OTA Version Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems face challenges in managing software states of electronic control units (ECUs) and updating application and data collecting programs in a synchronized manner, leading to inconsistencies and inefficiencies in data collection and management.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that collectively transmits update states of programs to an update server, receives corresponding update versions, and executes synchronized updates of ECU applications and data collecting programs to ensure software states match between the vehicle and the center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data collecting function is customized by OTA to collect new information, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple ECUs requiring coordinated updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management ECU as an intermediary that coordinates updates between the data collecting program and application programs across multiple ECUs. This mediator manages the software states and ensures synchronized updates, resolving the complexity of coordinating multiple ECUs while maintaining adaptability of the data collecting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The management ECU serves multiple functions: it manages software states of other ECUs, coordinates update timing, and ensures version consistency. This multi-functional approach consolidates the complexity of managing multiple ECUs into a single universal controller, simplifying the overall system while enabling flexible data collection customization.
2Productivity
If ECU application and data collecting program are updated by OTA, then productivity is improved through remote updates, but reliability decreases due to potential version mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The management ECU continuously monitors and manages the software states of other ECUs, providing feedback information about current versions and update status. This feedback mechanism ensures that updates are coordinated properly and version mismatches are prevented, maintaining reliability while enabling efficient remote updates through OTA.
Solution Approach 2:
Before executing OTA updates, the management ECU prepares by managing the software states and coordinating the update timing for all relevant ECUs. This preliminary action ensures that all components are ready for synchronized updates, preventing version mismatches and ensuring reliable remote updates.
3Ease of operation
If software states of multiple ECUs are managed independently, then ease of operation is improved for individual ECU updates, but manufacturing precision worsens due to inconsistent software versions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of individual ECU updates into a unified system controlled by the management ECU. While individual ECUs can still be updated independently when needed, the management ECU coordinates these updates to ensure version consistency across the system, combining the benefits of both independent operation and centralized control.
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a program update technique capable of easily managing a software state of an electronic control unit (ECU), and updating an ECU application and a data collecting program in association with each other with management information about the software states matching between a vehicle and a center. A vehicle control device of the present invention collectively transmits a first update state of a first program executed by the vehicle control device and a second update state of a second program executed by a second vehicle control device to an update server, receives an update version of the program corresponding to the first update state and an update version of the program corresponding to the second update state from the update server, and executes update processing (FIG. 1).