Vehicle Update Messaging Based on ECU Configuration Timing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle information communication systems struggle to ensure timely program updates for electronic control units (ECUs) when users do not have opportunities to access their vehicles, leading to delayed or missed updates due to lack of ignition-on states.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle information communication system where an in-vehicle device transmits configuration information to a center device, which stores this information in a manner that specifies transmission timings, and when no updates are received from target vehicles for a predetermined period, the center device sends a message urging data updates to the in-vehicle device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system waits for the vehicle ignition-on state to transmit update information, then power consumption is reduced and communication resources are saved, but update timeliness deteriorates when users do not access their vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The center device performs preliminary actions by storing transmission timing specifications for configuration information and proactively monitoring whether vehicles have received updates within expected timeframes. When the current time exceeds the stored transmission timing, the system sends urging notifications before the vehicle is accessed, ensuring updates are prompted in advance rather than waiting passively for ignition-on events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the center device monitors update status by comparing current time against stored transmission timings, detects when updates are overdue, and sends urging notifications to in-vehicle devices. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures timely detection and correction of update delays without continuous active communication.
2Reliability
If the center device continuously monitors all vehicles for update status, then update reliability is improved, but communication load and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The center device performs preliminary action by storing transmission timing information when configuration information is initially sent to vehicles. This pre-stored timing data enables later passive comparison with current time to determine if updates are overdue, eliminating the need for continuous active monitoring while maintaining reliable update tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring mechanism serves itself by using pre-stored transmission timing data that automatically becomes checkable against current time. The system design allows the center device to determine update status through simple time comparison rather than requiring complex continuous communication protocols, reducing system complexity while maintaining monitoring capability.
Data Source
AI summary
In a vehicle information communication system, a center device includes an individual vehicle configuration information storage unit in which configuration information transmitted from a plurality of vehicles is stored in such a form that transmission timings are specifiable, a campaign information storage unit in which campaign identification information and target vehicle identification information for identifying data update target vehicles are stored as campaign information related to data update for vehicle. The center device refers to the campaign storage unit and the individual vehicle configuration information storage unit, and when there is no transmission of the configuration information from the target vehicle for a predetermined period of time, transmits a message for urging data update to the in-vehicle device of the target vehicle.