Vehicle Onboard Update Packages for Control Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle onboard systems inefficiently update control and application programs separately, leading to suboptimal synchronization and potential failure recovery issues.

Innovation Solution

An onboard device that acquires an update package containing both control and application programs, allowing simultaneous updating and efficient recovery from failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If control program and application program are updated separately on different recording media, then each program can be updated independently, but the updating process becomes inefficient and not synchronized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdating efficiencyVSAvoidupdating time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines control programs and application programs into a single update package that is processed together. The updating section updates both types of programs in one unified operation, merging what were previously separate update processes into a single synchronized operation, thereby improving efficiency and reducing total update time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification of the update package before executing updates. The updating section verifies the update package first, then proceeds with updates only if verification succeeds. This preliminary action ensures safe synchronized updating and provides rollback capability if verification fails, preventing wasted update time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If updates are performed separately on different recording media, then flexibility in updating is maintained, but synchronization between programs is poor and recovery from failure is complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate reliabilityVSAvoidupdate management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging control and application program updates into a single unified process managed by the updating section, the system ensures that both programs are updated together atomically. This reduces update management complexity while improving reliability, as the system no longer needs to coordinate separate update processes across different recording media.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback through verification before update and rollback capability after update. The updating section verifies the update package before execution, and can rollback to previous versions if verification fails or updates encounter errors. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable updates while keeping management simple through automated error handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If control program is updated first, then application program is updated separately, then control functionality is improved first, but overall system update efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem update throughputVSAvoidtotal update duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the update operations for control programs and application programs into a single concurrent process. The updating section handles both update types simultaneously within one unified operation, eliminating the sequential execution delay and reducing total update duration while maintaining system update throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4191403B1Onboard device, vehicle, control method and non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing an onboard program
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4191403B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4191403B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4191403B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An onboard device comprising: a recording section (220) that, at an onboard device (20) installed at a vehicle (12), records a control program (110) that is recorded in a first recording medium (20B) and that carries out processing for controlling the onboard device (20), and an application program (130) that is recorded in a second recording medium (20D) different than the first recording medium (20B) and that carries out processing on the onboard device (20); an acquiring section (200) that acquires an update package (140) including at least one of a first program that updates the control program (110), or a second program that updates the application program (130); and an updating section (210) that carries out updating of the control program (110) and the application program (130) in accordance with the acquired update package (140).