Wireless Vehicle Feature Retrofitting Through OTA Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles often come with optional features that are not fully implemented due to customer financial constraints, limiting the ability to easily add or gift additional features to the vehicle owner.
Innovation Solution
A method for retrofitting vehicle features wirelessly through a computer-implemented process, allowing users to identify their vehicle, select and acquire authorization for optional features, and transfer data for enabling or activating these features via a human-machine interface, using a smartphone or app, enabling the addition of comfort, safety, and infotainment features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If optional features are not fully implemented at purchase due to financial constraints, then initial vehicle cost is reduced, but the ability to easily add features later is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is pre-configured with all necessary hardware components during manufacturing, but the optional features are deactivated through software configuration. This preliminary preparation allows features to be easily activated later without physical installation, resolving the contradiction between reducing initial cost and enabling easy future feature addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's feature set is made dynamic through OTA (Over-The-Air) update technology, allowing features to be activated or deactivated remotely after purchase. This dynamic capability enables customers to start with a base configuration and easily add features later, eliminating the fixed nature of traditional feature implementation.
2Reliability
If features are activated through traditional physical installation methods, then feature functionality is ensured, but installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical installation methods with electronic/software-based activation. Features are enabled through OTA updates that transmit activation codes or configuration data wirelessly to the vehicle, eliminating the need for physical installation while ensuring feature functionality through proper software configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle system automatically processes feature activation through automated software configuration and registration with the manufacturer's server. The system performs self-service operations including validating activation codes, downloading necessary software components, and configuring features without requiring manual intervention or physical installation procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all optional features are pre-installed, then feature availability is maximized, but vehicle purchase cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
All necessary hardware for optional features is pre-installed during vehicle manufacturing, but the features themselves are deactivated through software. This allows the vehicle to have full feature availability potential without incurring the full cost, as customers only pay for and activate features they actually use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the activation state parameter of features from permanently active to dynamically controllable. Through OTA technology, the activation status of each feature can be changed remotely, allowing customers to start with minimal features and progressively activate additional features as needed, thereby reducing initial cost while maintaining future adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for retrofitting a feature of a vehicle is described, wherein the vehicle is designed for wireless data transmission and is designed for at least one optional feature, wherein the feature can be retrofitted wirelessly. The method comprises the following steps: entering data for identifying a vehicle using an HMI; receiving the data for identifying a vehicle by method of a data processing device and identifying a vehicle in a database; retrieving from the database and outputting via the HMI at least one optionally retrofittable feature of the identified vehicle; selecting at least one feature of the optionally retrofittable features retrieved; acquiring authorization to use the at least one selected feature; transferring data for retrofitting the at least one selected feature to the vehicle; and retrofitting the at least one selected feature during the next commissioning of the vehicle.