Granted Patent B2

US 12,466,418 · App. 18/303,994 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Inventors: Johannes Lang (Poxdorf, DE); Claudia Tischendorf (Ingolstadt, DE)

Assignee: AUDI AG

B60W50/06B60W50/14G06F8/62H04W76/10

Abstract

Claims (47)

1 . A method for operating a control device for a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

determining usage data describing a usage behavior for a function of a plurality of functions using a first software provided to the control device;

checking, whether the usage data for the function is below a predetermined minimum usage based on the determined usage data;

based on the determining, using the checking, that the usage data for the function is below the predetermined minimum usage, providing a removal option for removing the function from the control device;

uninstalling the function for removal of the function from the control device;

in response to activating the removal option, providing a second software for the control device having a respective removed function in a non-executable state; and

operating the control device using the second software.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

establishing a communication connection between a communication interface of the motor vehicle and a communication interface of an external computing device;

transmitting request data describing the activated removal option via the communication connection to the external computing device; and

receiving, by the motor vehicle, the second software generated based on the transmitted request data.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising, generating the second software using the external computing device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising describing the usage behavior during a predetermined time interval by the determined usage data, wherein the predetermined time interval is function-dependent.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing content data generated in response to use of the function in a storage device before the uninstallation.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, to a user of the motor vehicle, a functional overview in which the removed function is marked as a currently removed function;

providing, for the currently removed function, an installation option for installing the removed function on the control device;

providing a third software for the control device, upon activation of the installation option; and

using the third software for executing the removed function on the control device.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining, whether content data were stored with regard to the function that is executable based on the third software; and

providing the stored content data by a storage device for the control device, if the content data were stored with regard to the function that is executable based on the third software.

8 . A motor vehicle comprising a control device, wherein the control device is configured to:

determine usage data describing a usage behavior for a function of a plurality of functions using a first software provided to the control device;

check, whether the usage data for the function is below a predetermined minimum usage based on the determined usage data;

based on the determining, using the checking, that the usage data for the function is below the predetermined minimum usage, provide a removal option for removing the function from the control device for the function;

uninstall the function for removal of the function from the control device;

in response to activating the removal option, provide a second software for the control device having a respective removed function in a non-executable state; and

operate the control device using the second software.

9 . A method for operating a control device for a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

determining usage data describing a usage behavior for a function of a plurality of functions using a first software provided to the control device;

checking, whether the usage data for the function is below a predetermined minimum usage based on the determined usage data;

based on the determining, using the checking, that the usage data for the function is below the predetermined minimum usage, providing a removal option for at least partially removing the function from the control device;

establishing a communication connection between a communication interface of the motor vehicle and a communication interface of an external computing device;

transmitting request data describing an activated removal option via the communication connection to the external computing device;

receiving, by the motor vehicle, a second software generated based on the transmitted request data;

in response to activating the removal option, providing the second software for the control device having a respective removed function in a non-executable state; and

operating the control device using the second software.

10 . A motor vehicle comprising a control device, wherein the control device is configured to:

determine usage data describing a usage behavior for a function of a plurality of functions using a first software provided to the control device;

check, whether the usage data for the function is below a predetermined minimum usage based on the determined usage data;

based on the determining, using the checking, that the usage data for the function is below the predetermined minimum usage, provide a removal option for at least partially removing the function from the control device for the function;

establish a communication connection between a communication interface of the motor vehicle and a communication interface of an external computing device;

transmit request data describing an activated removal option via the communication connection to the external computing device;

receive, by the motor vehicle, a second software generated based on the transmitted request data;

in response to activating the removal option, provide the second software for the control device having a respective removed function in a non-executable state; and

operate the control device using the second software.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (19)