Mobile Terminal OTA Rollback for Single-Bank Vehicle ECUs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single-bank microcomputers in vehicles cannot easily be updated via over-the-air (OTA) technology due to the lack of rollback capability, leading to increased costs when changing to dual-bank systems or adding external storage.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal mediates communication between vehicles with single-bank microcomputers and an OTA center, using its storage unit to virtually function as a dual-bank system, enabling rollback of software updates by storing pre-update software for failed activations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If single-bank microcomputer is used in vehicle ECU, then cost is reduced and device complexity is lowered, but rollback capability is lost when software update fails
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile terminal acts as an intermediary device between the vehicle's single-bank microcomputer and the external server. It temporarily stores the pre-update software in its own storage unit during the update process, enabling rollback capability without modifying the vehicle's ECU hardware. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing backup storage externally while keeping the internal system simple and cost-effective.
2Reliability
If dual-bank microcomputer or external storage is added to single-bank microcomputer, then rollback capability is achieved, but cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding external storage or changing to dual-bank architecture in the vehicle's ECU, the invention uses the mobile terminal as an external intermediary that provides the necessary backup storage. This approach achieves rollback capability without increasing the vehicle's hardware cost or complexity, as the mobile terminal already possesses sufficient storage resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile terminal's storage unit, originally designed for general data storage, is utilized for a specialized purpose: storing pre-update software for rollback operations. This multi-functional use of existing storage resources avoids the need for dedicated backup storage hardware in the vehicle's ECU, thereby reducing cost while maintaining rollback capability.
3Reliability
If pre-update software is stored in mobile terminal's storage unit, then rollback can be executed after failed activation, but storage space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by downloading and storing the pre-update software in the mobile terminal's storage unit before the actual software update is executed in the vehicle. This advance preparation ensures that rollback capability is immediately available if activation fails, without requiring continuous occupation of storage space during normal operation. The storage is temporarily utilized only when needed for update operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile terminal includes: one or more memories; and one or more processors configured to receive, from a vehicle, pre-update software of a single-bank computer mounted on the vehicle; and transmit, to the vehicle, update software acquired from a server after the received pre-update software is stored in the one or more memories.