Vehicle Cluster OTA Updates Using Nearby Relay Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional OTA update technologies for vehicle ECUs face delays due to limited bandwidth allocation and interruptions, leading to prolonged update times, especially when vehicles cannot access the data server.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where vehicles form clusters to share update data through nearby communication, using MIMO antenna technology, and request takeover services from a data server when communication is interrupted, allowing for sequential data transmission and reception among vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vehicle receives update data directly from a data server through allocated bandwidth, then update data can be received reliably, but update time is prolonged due to limited bandwidth and server congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate vehicles as mediators in the update data transmission process. Instead of all vehicles receiving data directly from the server, some vehicles act as intermediaries that receive data from the server and relay it to other vehicles. This multi-hop transmission approach bypasses the bandwidth limitation of direct server connections and reduces update time while maintaining reliability through redundant transmission paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the update data transmission process into multiple stages and multiple transmission paths. Data is divided and transmitted through different vehicle intermediaries in parallel, rather than as a single sequential download. This segmentation allows simultaneous transmission through multiple channels, significantly reducing the total update time while ensuring reliable delivery through multiple redundant paths.
2Reliability
If a vehicle waits for server connection to perform OTA update, then update data can be received through allocated bandwidth, but update process is delayed when bandwidth is not allocated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by allowing vehicles to perform update operations using data received through alternative paths (from intermediate vehicles) while still connected to the server, rather than waiting for explicit bandwidth allocation. Vehicles can begin the update process in advance using available data, and complete or update the process later, eliminating the delay caused by waiting for server bandwidth allocation while maintaining data integrity.
3Reliability
If multiple vehicles receive update data directly from the data server, then each vehicle can be updated independently, but server bandwidth is consumed rapidly and update speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple transmission paths by combining direct server-to-vehicle connections with vehicle-to-vehicle relay connections. Instead of all vehicles competing for direct server bandwidth, the system merges the transmission network to include intermediate vehicles that share the data load. This combining approach maintains independent update capability for each vehicle while significantly improving overall update speed by distributing the bandwidth consumption across multiple relay nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive over-the-air (OTA) update control device includes a first communication device that provides a communication interface with a data server and a second communication device that provides a communication interface between vehicles. The automotive OTA update control device also includes a controller that requests cluster update from the data server and allows the first communication device and the second communication device to transmit received update data to a vehicle located nearby while receiving a plurality of pieces of update data for a first Electronic Control Unit (ECU) from the data server and to receive a plurality of pieces of update data for a second ECU from the vehicle located nearby.