Vehicle eSync Update Agent Architecture for Over-the-Air Software Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle software update processes are cumbersome and costly, requiring vehicles to be driven to service centers, leading to inefficiencies and high costs for OEMs and vehicle owners, as updating electronic hardware across multiple suppliers and vendors can take days and is often inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The eSync platform employs a 'Server-Client-Agent' model with multiple agents residing within the vehicle to perform software updates, allowing for over-the-air (OTA) updates, where update agents communicate with an eSync client to download and manage software updates, enabling decentralized intelligence and flexible activation of functions such as software updates, data gathering, and device control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vehicles are driven to service centers for software updates, then software updates can be performed on electronic hardware, but the process becomes cumbersome and costly with high operational costs and extended downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update reliabilityVSAvoidupdate process convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The update agent enables the electronic device to perform self-updating by automatically downloading, installing, and managing software updates without requiring external service center intervention. The device updates itself through the update agent's coordination with remote servers, eliminating the need for manual service center visits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of physically transporting vehicles to service centers with an electronic/telecommunications-based update agent system. The update agent communicates with remote servers through communication interfaces to download and install updates, substituting physical transportation with digital data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If vehicles are driven to service centers for software updates, then software updates can be performed on electronic hardware, but the process becomes costly with high operational costs for OEMs and vehicle owners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update reliabilityVSAvoidupdate cost efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple update agents are deployed in the vehicle, then decentralized intelligence and flexible activation of functions are achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction activation flexibilityVSAvoidagent architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The update agent is divided into multiple specialized components including a download manager for obtaining updates, an orchestrator for coordinating update processes, and a message broker for communication. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific tasks independently, improving flexibility while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The update agent is designed as a multi-functional system that can perform software updates, data gathering, and device control functions. The same update agent infrastructure supports multiple operations across different electronic devices in the vehicle, reducing overall system complexity through universal functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If software updates are performed through traditional service center processes, then updates can be installed on electronic hardware, but the update time extends over days with inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate installation reliabilityVSAvoidupdate process speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The download manager obtains and stores software updates in advance before they are needed for installation. Updates are downloaded and prepared ahead of time, allowing the actual update installation to proceed quickly without waiting for download processes during service center visits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The update agent enables continuous update operations by downloading, installing, and managing software updates automatically without interrupting vehicle operation. The system performs update actions continuously in the background, eliminating the downtime associated with traditional service center update processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11914987B2Master update agent and distributed update agent architecture for vehicles

Publication Date: 2024.02.27 EXCELFORE CORP

AI summary

A system and method for an eSync update agent is provided. The update agent can communicate with an eSync client, which receives software updates from an external server and transmits the software updates to the update agent. In turn, the update agent may use its programming to determine one or more aspects of the software update, such as when or whether to perform the software update on its associated electronic device and whether to rollback the update in response to a failure performing the software update on its associated electronic device. The update agent may also be tasked with performing one or both of data gathering from or device control of its associated electronic device. The various functions, including software updating, data gathering and device control, may be programmable and activatable, thereby tailoring the functions performed by the update agent to the lifecycle needs of its associated electronic device.