Update information notification device, vehicle system, and storage medium storing update information notification program

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing software update systems fail to appropriately notify drivers and occupants about software updates based on the vehicle's state and occupant presence, potentially distracting drivers or unnecessarily consuming battery power.

Innovation Solution

An update information notification device that determines a notification mode based on a combination of occupant and vehicle states, adjusting the display mode, information amount, and operational priority to optimize notification during different scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If software update notifications are always displayed to ensure drivers are informed, then information delivery is improved, but driver distraction and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate information deliveryVSAvoiddriver distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time vehicle state and occupant detection. When a driver is detected, notifications are suppressed or modified to prevent distraction. When no occupants are present, notifications can be displayed more prominently. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the notification system flexible rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes notification parameters (display timing, modality, intensity) based on detected conditions. Notifications are delayed until the vehicle is parked, changed from visual to audio format, or adjusted in prominence based on whether occupants are present. These parameter changes allow full information delivery without causing driver distraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If software update notifications are displayed during vehicle operation to ensure timely information delivery, then notification timeliness is improved, but driver attention is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification delayVSAvoiddriver attention

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary checks for occupant presence before displaying notifications. By detecting the driver's presence in advance and preemptively adjusting notification behavior, the system avoids the need to choose between timely notification and driver safety. The notification is prepared but its display is conditionally delayed until it is safe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If notifications are displayed whenever the vehicle is stationary to maximize information delivery, then update information visibility is improved, but battery power is unnecessarily consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate information visibilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system applies different quality levels of notification based on local conditions (occupant presence, vehicle state). When no occupants are present, notifications are displayed with higher prominence and duration. When occupants are present, notifications are minimized or suppressed. This local quality adjustment ensures information is delivered when needed while conserving energy when unnecessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If a single notification mode is used for all situations to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but notification appropriateness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification system complexityVSAvoidnotification appropriateness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system is segmented into multiple modes (suppressed, delayed, modified, full display) that are selected based on detected conditions. Rather than one complex adaptive system, the patent uses discrete notification modes that can be switched based on simple occupancy detection and vehicle state checks. This segmentation maintains relative system simplicity while achieving high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250388228A1Update information notification device, vehicle system, and storage medium storing update information notification program

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 DENSO CORP

AI summary

An update information notification device causes a notification device to notify update information related to a software update when software of an electronic control device to be updated is updated by update software acquired from a distribution device. The update information notification device is configured to acquire the update information, specify an occupant state indicating a state of an occupant, specify a vehicle state indicating a state of a vehicle, and determine a notification mode of the update information and cause the notification device to notify the update information in accordance with a determined notification mode. The update information notification device determines a notification mode of the update information based on a case classified according to a combination of the specified occupant state and the specified vehicle state.