Vehicle OTA Upgrade Package Selection Without Location Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current over-the-air (OTA) vehicle software upgrade methods risk user privacy leakage due to real-time location tracking for vehicle upgrades, which are performed anytime and anywhere.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle determines its location relative to rescue ranges of service sites (e.g., 4S shops) and sends appropriate software upgrade packages (differential or full versions) based on its location, without revealing real-time location information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time location information is obtained during OTA upgrade, then upgrade success rate is improved (timely rescue is enabled), but user privacy security deteriorates (location information leakage risk)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary location information (rescue range determination) from the complete real-time location tracking system. The vehicle determines whether it is within the rescue range of a service site without continuously transmitting its precise location to the server, thus achieving rescue capability while protecting privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different location information handling strategies based on the vehicle's situation: within rescue range versus outside rescue range. When within range, the vehicle can proceed with upgrade; when outside, it waits or aborts. This localized approach ensures safety without continuous global tracking.
2Ease of operation
If OTA upgrade is performed anytime and anywhere, then ease of operation is improved (no time/location limitation), but reliability deteriorates (vehicle may be out of service with no rescue available)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary checks before upgrade: the vehicle first determines whether it is within the rescue range of a service site. Only after confirming rescue availability does the vehicle proceed with the upgrade. This preliminary action ensures that rescue support is available before the upgrade begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the vehicle about its location status relative to service sites. The vehicle receives information about whether it is within rescue range and adjusts its upgrade decision accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables informed decision-making while maintaining upgrade flexibility.
3Quantity of substance
If differential version package is used for upgrade, then data transfer volume is reduced, but upgrade failure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of package type selection based on the vehicle's location. When the vehicle is within rescue range, differential version is used to reduce data transfer. When outside rescue range, full version is used to ensure upgrade success. This dynamic parameter adjustment optimizes both data efficiency and reliability.
4Reliability
If full version package is used for upgrade, then upgrade failure risk is reduced, but data transfer volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the package type parameter based on rescue range determination. Full version is selected when the vehicle is outside rescue range to ensure reliability, while differential version is selected when within range to optimize data efficiency. This conditional parameter selection resolves the contradiction between reliability and data volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle software upgrade method for obtaining a to-be-upgraded software version of a vehicle. When a vehicle performs the software upgrade method, the vehicle determines a current location of the vehicle, and determines whether the vehicle is located within a rescue range of a service site. Then, the vehicle sends, to the cloud server, information that includes a determining result and a to-be-upgraded version of software currently installed on the vehicle. The cloud server pushes to the vehicle, based on the obtained information, an installation package type corresponding to the to-be-upgraded software version. Then, the vehicle determines, how to perform upgrade.