IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,423,430
Granted Patent B2
US 12,423,430 · App. 18/237,128 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Firmware update method and apparatus for a MCU of a vehicle

Inventor: JaeHyun Lim (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR CORP.
G06F21/572H04L9/0816H04L9/3242
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,423,430
App. No.
18/237,128
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A firmware update method includes requesting a hardware security module (HSM) to store version information of a current firmware stored in a flash memory and storing, by the HSM, the version information of the current firmware. The firmware update method also includes erasing the flash memory when the version information of the current firmware is stored by the HSM and writing new downloaded firmware to the flash memory; verifying an integrity of the new firmware. The firmware update method further includes requesting the HSM to sense downgrade of the new firmware when the integrity is verified. The firmware update method additionally includes determining, by the HSM, whether the firmware is downgraded by comparing the stored version information and the version information of the new firmware. The firmware update method also includes confirming a reprogramming success when it is determined that the firmware is not downgraded by the HSM.

Claims (41)

1. A firmware update method, comprising: requesting a hardware security module (HSM) to store version information of a current firmware stored in a flash memory;

storing, by the HSM, the version information of the current firmware;

erasing the flash memory when the version information of the current firmware is stored by the HSM;

writing new downloaded firmware to the flash memory;

requesting the HSM to sense downgrade of the new firmware when the integrity of the new firmware is verified;

based on comparison, by the HSM, of the stored version information and the version information of the new firmware, terminating the firmware update by the HSM as part of confirming a reprogramming success when the firmware is not downgraded by the HSM, and

based on comparison, by the HSM, of the stored version information and the version information of the new firmware, erasing the flash memory and generating a negative response code (NRC) as part of confirming a reprogramming failure when the firmware is downgraded by the HSM.

2. The firmware update method of claim 1 , further comprising:

erasing the flash memory when the integrity is not verified.

3. The firmware update method of claim 1 , wherein storing the version information of the current firmware by the HSM comprises storing the version information of the current firmware in a secure storage.

4. The firmware update method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to storing the version information of the current firmware by the HSM, verifying, by the HSM, validity of the version information of the current firmware.

5. The firmware update method of claim 4 , wherein:

the version information includes a version value, a salt value, a message authentication code (MAC), and a pre-shared key (PSK) index, and

verifying the validity of the version information comprises verifying the validity by using PSKs corresponding to the version value, the salt value, the MAC, and the PSK index.

6. The firmware update method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to determining whether the firmware is downgraded by the HSM, verifying, by the HSM, the validity of version information of the new firmware.

7. The firmware update method of claim 6 , wherein:

the version information includes a version value, a salt value, a message authentication code (MAC), and a pre-shared key (PSK) index, and

verifying the validity of the version information comprises verifying the validity by using PSKs corresponding to the version value, the salt value, the MAC, and the PSK index.

8. A firmware update apparatus, comprising:

a host core configured to perform firmware update of a flash memory;

the flash memory and

a hardware security module (HSM),

wherein:

the host core is configured to request the HSM to store version information of current firmware stored in the flash memory when requesting the firmware update,

the HSM is configured to store the version information of the current firmware in response to the request of the host core,

the host core is configured to, when the version information of the current firmware is stored by the HSM, erase the flash memory, write new firmware downloaded to the flash memory, and request the HSM to sense downgrade of the new firmware when the integrity is verified,

based on comparison of the stored version information and the version information of the new firmware, the host core is configured to terminate the firmware update by the HSM as part of confirming a reprogramming success when the firmware is not downgraded by the HSM, and

based on comparison, by the HSM, of the stored version information and the version information of the new firmware, the host core is configured to erase the flash memory and generate a negative response code (NRC) as part of confirming a reprogramming failure when the firmware is downgraded by the HSM.

9. The firmware update apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the host core is configured to, when the integrity is not verified, erase the flash memory.

10. The firmware update apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the HSM is configured to store the version information of the current firmware in a secure storage.

11. The firmware update apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the HSM is configured to, prior to storing the version information of the current firmware, verify validity of the version information of the current firmware.

12. The firmware update apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:

the version information includes a version, a salt value, a message authentication code (MAC), and a pre-shared key (PSK) index, and

the HSM is configured to verify the validity of the version information by using PSKs corresponding to the version, the salt value, the MAC, and the PSK index.

13. The firmware update apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the HSM is configured to, prior to determining whether the firmware is downgraded, verify validity of version information of the new firmware.

14. The firmware update apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:

the version information includes a version, a salt value, a message authentication code (MAC), and a pre-shared key (PSK) index, and

the HSM is configured to verify the validity of the version information by using PSKs corresponding to the version, the salt value, the MAC, and the PSK index.

15. The firmware update apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the host core is configured to eras the flash memory without requesting the HSM to store the version information of the current firmware stored in the flash memory when reprogramming is unsuccessful in previous firmware update when the firmware update is requested.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2023
From: LIM, JAEHYUN
To: HYUNDAI AUTOEVER CORP.
Reel/Frame 064681/0866 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0106171 · Aug 24, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240070282A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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