Vehicle Control Program Update Timing for Stop-State Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing program update processes for vehicle control devices often experience interruptions due to the need to execute current programs during updates, leading to prolonged completion times from the start to finish of the update process.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device with a memory system that separates current and update programs, allowing the update process to commence only when the vehicle is in a stop state, ensuring sufficient time for completion without interruption, and displaying an estimated update time to the user for informed permission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the program update process is started while the vehicle is in operation, then the update can be performed, but the update process may be interrupted leading to prolonged completion time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate process completion timeVSAvoidupdate process interruption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines whether the vehicle is in a stop state before starting the update process. By checking the vehicle state in advance and only initiating updates when the vehicle is stationary, the system prevents interruptions during the update process, ensuring reliable completion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the update process is started immediately when update data is available, then the update can be completed quickly, but the current program execution may be interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate process durationVSAvoidprogram execution continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a preliminary check of the vehicle state before starting the update. By determining that the vehicle is in a stop state in advance, the system ensures that the update process will not interrupt current program execution, while still enabling timely updates when conditions are appropriate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the system waits for the vehicle to be in stop state before updating, then interruption is prevented, but the update process may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate process continuityVSAvoidupdate process speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the update timing based on real-time vehicle state. Instead of using a fixed update schedule, the system continuously monitors whether the vehicle is in a stop state and initiates updates when conditions are favorable, optimizing both reliability and speed adaptively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the vehicle state detection to control the update process initiation. By continuously monitoring the stop state condition and using this information to decide when to start updates, the system ensures reliable execution while minimizing unnecessary delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3816795B1Vehicle control device, program update method, and program update system
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3816795B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3816795B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A
  • EP3816795B1 patent drawingFigure 4B

AI summary

A vehicle control device (120) includes a memory (123) having a first storage area (1231) for storing a program related to vehicle control and a second storage area (1232) for storing an update program for updating the program, and a controller (122) configured to determine whether a vehicle is in a stop state and start an update process of updating the program stored in the first storage area with the update program stored in the second storage area when the controller (122) determines that the vehicle is in the stop state.