Vehicle Communication Software Reset Timing

Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle communication apparatuses struggle to stabilize software operations when the vehicle power source switches between on and off states, leading to instability and inability to reset software effectively, which is critical for urgent services like emergency calls.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a reset object portion, a reset portion, a power source determination portion, and a reset execution portion to determine and execute software resets at a predetermined time when the vehicle power source is off, ensuring the reset does not conflict with service durations, thus stabilizing software operations without interrupting services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle communication apparatus executes software both in on state and off state of the vehicle power source, then the apparatus can provide services in both states (such as emergency call in on state and vehicle tracking in off state), but the software operation becomes unstable after a long period of use because the software cannot be reset when the power source switches

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availability in both power statesVSAvoidsoftware operation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining a reset time point in advance when the vehicle power source switches to off state. The reset execution portion is configured to reset the software operation at this predetermined time point, before any potential software instability occurs. This advance planning ensures that the software is reset proactively rather than reactively, maintaining stability while allowing services to run in both power states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by having the power source determination portion continuously monitor the vehicle power source state and provide this information to the reset execution portion. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically trigger software reset operations based on power source switching events, ensuring the software operation is stabilized appropriately without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the software operation is reset automatically after abnormality detection (as in Patent Literature 1), then the software operation can be stabilized, but the automatic reset is not suitable for vehicle communication apparatus that needs operation with high urgency such as emergency call

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware operation stabilityVSAvoidservice continuity during reset

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining a reset time point in advance when the vehicle power source switches to off state. The reset execution portion is configured to reset the software operation at this predetermined time point, before any potential software instability occurs. This advance planning ensures that the software is reset proactively rather than reactively, maintaining stability while allowing services to run in both power states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by carefully selecting the reset time point to occur when the vehicle power source is in off state and no critical services are running. This timing strategy allows the software reset to occur without interrupting emergency calls or other time-sensitive services, maintaining both stability and service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If the navigation device resets software operation when the vehicle power source switches from off state to on state, then the software operation can be stabilized at switching time, but the vehicle communication apparatus that executes software in both states cannot benefit from this reset mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware operation stability at switchingVSAvoidsoftware execution in both power states

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining a reset time point in advance when the vehicle power source switches to off state. The reset execution portion is configured to reset the software operation at this predetermined time point, before any potential software instability occurs. This advance planning ensures that the software is reset proactively rather than reactively, maintaining stability while allowing services to run in both power states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by resetting the software operation when the power source switches to off state rather than when it switches to on state. This inverted timing allows the vehicle communication apparatus to maintain stable software operation while executing services in both power states, as the reset occurs during the off state when no critical services are running.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10296420B2Vehicle communication apparatus, program product and communication system

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A vehicle communication apparatus includes a reset object portion, a reset portion, a power source determination portion, and a reset execution portion. The reset object portion executes a software in both an on state and an off state of a vehicle power source. The reset portion resets an operation of the software executed by the reset object portion. The power source determination portion determines whether the vehicle power source is in the on state or the off state. The reset execution portion controls the reset portion to reset the operation of the software executed by the reset object portion at a reset time point that is preliminary determined in the off state of the vehicle power source. The reset portion resets the operation of the software when the power source determination portion determines that the vehicle power source is in the off state.