Vehicle Software Update Device Door Unlock Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

During software updates in vehicles, in-vehicle devices may become non-operational, restricting vehicle functions and potentially causing user inconvenience, such as delayed door unlocking, especially if the update fails.

Innovation Solution

A software update device that performs door unlocking control before the in-vehicle device's functions are restricted, ensuring the door is unlocked, thereby preventing user inconvenience during updates or failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If software update is performed during vehicle operation, then software functionality is improved, but vehicle function restriction occurs during update process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware functionalityVSAvoidvehicle function availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door unlocking function is activated in advance before the software update process begins. By performing this action preliminarily, the system ensures that door unlocking remains available even when the in-vehicle device becomes non-operational during the update, thus resolving the contradiction between software update reliability and vehicle function availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If software update is performed, then in-vehicle device is updated, but door unlocking function may be delayed or restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update successVSAvoiddoor unlocking delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The door unlocking function is activated before the software update process starts. This preliminary activation ensures that the function is already available and will not be delayed or restricted even if the update process takes time or encounters issues, thus resolving the contradiction between update success and unlocking timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By activating the door unlocking function in advance, the system creates a buffer or cushion that protects against potential delays or failures during the software update process. This beforehand cushioning ensures that the unlocking function remains available throughout the update period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If in-vehicle device becomes non-operational during update, then software installation is in progress, but user inconvenience occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware installation progressVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door unlocking function is activated before the software installation process begins. This preliminary action ensures that even when the in-vehicle device becomes non-operational during installation, critical user functions like door unlocking remain available, thus resolving the contradiction between installation progress and user convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3961379B1Software update device, software update method, non-transitory storage medium, and vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.04.26 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

A software update device (50) connected to an in-vehicle network including a plurality of in-vehicle devices (11, 12, 21, 22) includes one or a plurality of processors configured to: perform an update of software of at least one of the in-vehicle devices (11, 12, 21, 22); and perform a control of setting a door of a vehicle in an unlocked state before performing predetermined processing included in processing for the update, when performing the update.