Software update management for vehicles
The disclosure refers to a system for managing software updates for vehicles, comprising a server computing device configured to provide at least one software update from a software repository, and a plurality of vehicles, each of the vehicles having a vehicle computing device configured to receive and execute the at least one software update.
1 . A database management system implemented on one or more computing devices, the database management system comprising a non-transitory storage medium and a first database on the storage medium for storing a software update repository and for providing at least one software update, and comprising a second database on the storage medium for storing at least one dedicated identifier representing type approval information about software of an electronic control system relevant to a type approval of a vehicle; wherein
a database management computing device of the database management system is configured to determine whether an additional or changed functionality of a defined software update affects certification criteria of the vehicle; and
in case the additional or changed functionality affects certification criteria, to conduct at least one of: await an extension or a new certificate of an approval authority before providing the software update, update the dedicated identifier, and perform a functional breakdown of at least the additional or changed functionality of the software update or the whole software update.
2 . The database management system of claim 1 , wherein the software update repository of the first database comprises a versioned list of software updates, wherein the different versions of software updates with the same functionality are associated with different possible configurations of a vehicle type or with different vehicle types.
3 . A method for managing software updates for vehicles, the method comprising:
defining a software update that includes additional or changed functionality compared to a previous software package,
providing at least one software update from a software repository; wherein
the software update comprises a dedicated identifier representing type approval information about a software of an electronic control system relevant to a type approval of the vehicle, the method further comprising:
determining whether the additional or changed functionality affects certification criteria of the vehicle, and in case the additional or changed functionality affects certification criteria, conducting at least one of: awaiting an extension of a new certificate of an approval authority before providing the at least one software update, updating the dedicated identifier, and performing a functional breakdown of at least the additional or changed functionality of the software update or the whole software update.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
providing integrity validation data associated with the software update.
5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
transmitting the software update in form of a software container to at least one vehicle.
6 . A data processing device comprising a processor and a memory configured to perform the method of claim 3 .
7 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to carry out the method of claim 3 .
8 . A system for managing software updates for vehicles, the system comprising:
a data processing device according to claim 6 , and
a plurality of vehicles, each of the vehicles having a vehicle computing device configured to receive and execute information from the data processing device.