Vehicle ECU Wireless Updating Across Multiple Vendors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for updating electronic control units (ECUs) in vehicles require physical wired connections, making the process inconvenient and inefficient, especially when multiple ECUs from different vendors need to be updated, and there is no efficient way to update multiple vehicles simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows for wireless communication over cellular or Wi-Fi networks to update ECUs, using an update server that manages and distributes software updates to multiple vehicles, enabling simultaneous updates of ECUs from various vendors while the vehicle is operational or idle, and includes an update management engine to handle package delivery and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical wired connections are used for ECU updates, then update reliability is ensured, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inconvenience and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. The update gateway uses wireless transceivers to communicate with remote servers, eliminating the need for physical cable connections between the vehicle and update equipment, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining update reliability through protocol-level error handling and authentication mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an update gateway as an intermediary component between the ECUs and the external network. This gateway manages wireless communications, handles package reception and distribution, and coordinates updates across multiple ECUs, ensuring reliable update delivery while enabling convenient wireless operation.
2Productivity
If multiple ECUs from different vendors are updated simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal update gateway that can handle updates for multiple ECU types from different vendors through a standardized interface. The gateway receives update packages, identifies target ECUs, and coordinates installations across diverse ECU families, enabling simultaneous multi-ECU updates while managing complexity through standardization and centralized control.
3Ease of operation
If wireless update distribution is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but use of energy increases due to wireless communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic update checks and batched data transmission where the update gateway communicates with remote servers at scheduled intervals and transmits update packages in optimized batches. This reduces the total wireless communication time and energy consumption compared to continuous or on-demand updates, while maintaining the convenience of wireless operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
In some examples, a service receives releases including machine-readable instructions from different vendors, the releases for respective controller units of a vehicle. The service communicates the releases wirelessly to the vehicle to update machine-readable instructions executing on the respective controller units of the vehicle.