Vehicle Control Program Updates During Stop-State Windows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing program update processes in vehicles are prone to interruptions due to the need to temporarily pause the update process when the vehicle is not in a stop state, prolonging the overall duration from start to completion.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device with separate storage areas for current and update programs, allowing the update process to be initiated only when the vehicle is in a stop state, such as with the ignition off or parked, and displaying estimated update times and permission requests on terminals to ensure uninterrupted execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the program update process is executed during vehicle operation, then the update can be performed without stopping the vehicle, but the update process must be interrupted when the vehicle starts moving

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate process continuityVSAvoidtotal update duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The update program is downloaded and stored in the second storage area before the actual update execution. This preliminary action allows the update to be ready and wait for the appropriate timing (vehicle stop state) without losing progress, thus avoiding interruptions and reducing total update duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the update process is interrupted when the vehicle starts moving, then safety is maintained, but the update duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate safetyVSAvoidupdate process time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The update execution timing is dynamically adjusted based on the vehicle's operational state. The controller monitors whether the vehicle is in a stop state or moving state, and only executes the update when the vehicle is stopped, thereby ensuring safety while minimizing update duration by avoiding unnecessary interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If the update program is stored in the same memory as the current program, then storage space is saved, but the update process cannot proceed without risking system stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidsystem stability during update

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The memory is segmented into a first storage area for the current program and a second storage area for the update program. This segmentation allows both programs to coexist without interfering with each other, ensuring system stability during the update process while utilizing available storage space efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250348307A1Vehicle control device, program update method, and program update system

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A vehicle control device includes a memory having a first storage area for storing a program related to vehicle control and a second storage area for storing an update program for updating the program, and a controller 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 determines that the vehicle is in the stop state.