USB Flash Drive Vehicle Software Installation and Diagnostics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle software installation, upgrade, and diagnostic systems rely on slow and costly proprietary serial buses, requiring physical connections and specialized hardware, limiting flexibility and efficiency in assembly, upgrade, and repair processes.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a portable memory device, such as a USB flash disk, with an open architecture communications port for transferring vehicle software and diagnostic information between vehicle processors and an external processor, enabling high-speed, cost-effective, and flexible software installation, upgrade, and diagnostic procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary serial bus is used for vehicle software installation and diagnostics, then reliable communication is achieved, but system cost increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a single USB interface to perform multiple functions: software installation, software updates, and vehicle diagnostics. The USB port replaces multiple specialized interfaces (ALDL, dealer-specific ports, technician handheld devices), allowing one standardized interface to handle diverse communication tasks that previously required proprietary dedicated connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a USB flash drive as an intermediary device that mediates between the external computer and the vehicle's internal systems. This intermediary enables data transfer and diagnostics without requiring direct connection between the computer and vehicle processors, facilitating communication through a portable intermediate storage device that bridges the two systems.
2Measurement precision
If proprietary serial bus with dedicated external processor is used, then diagnostic accuracy is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by using a standard USB flash drive—a widely available, inexpensive device—to replicate the functionality of expensive proprietary diagnostic processors. Instead of requiring specialized hardware with dedicated communication ports, the system copies the essential diagnostic capability onto a universal, low-cost storage device that can be used across different vehicles and systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive USB flash drives as disposable or reusable media for software transfer and diagnostics. These cheap, readily available devices replace costly dedicated external processors, allowing dealers and technicians to perform installations and diagnostics using standard consumer electronics rather than specialized expensive equipment.
3Reliability
If physical connection to ALDL port is required, then software installation reliability is ensured, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical connection system (physical cable insertion into ALDL port) with an electronic file transfer system using USB flash drives. Instead of requiring physical connection and prolonged vehicle downtime for software installation, the system uses portable storage devices that can be quickly connected to transfer software files, significantly reducing the time vehicles remain non-operational while maintaining installation reliability through standardized protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle software installation, upgrade, and diagnostic system for use in vehicle assembly, upgrade, and repair, includes a portable memory device, such as a USB flash disk. The device receives diagnostic information via an open architecture communications port of a vehicle, such as a USB port. An external processor has a complimentary open architecture communications port and is adapted to receive and analyze the diagnostic information from the portable device. According to various aspects, analysis of the diagnostic information verifies successful installation and testing of vehicle software transferred from the portable device to vehicle processors, identifies software versions resident on the vehicle and related upgrade history for download and installation of an appropriate software upgrade, and/or diagnoses vehicle problems in accordance with sensed vehicle conditions and predetermined fault detection criteria.