IP Library Granted Patent US 11,740,889
Granted Patent B2
US 11,740,889 · App. 17/368,397 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Software update apparatus, software update method, non-transitory storage medium storing program, vehicle, and OTA master

Inventors: Satoru Fukuyo (Nisshin, JP); Tomoyasu Ishikawa (Nagoya, JP); Yusuke Satoh (Nisshin, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G06F8/65B60R16/0231H04L67/12H04L67/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,740,889
App. No.
17/368,397
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A software update apparatus includes a communication unit that sends a request for downloading update data to a center, a storage unit that stores the downloaded update data, a control unit that executes, based on the update data, a control for installing, or installing and activating update software on one or more target electronic control units from among a plurality of electronic control units connected to each other via an in-vehicle network, and a determination unit that determines whether the vehicle is stopped and can be maintained in a stopped state. When a determination result of the determination unit is positive, the control unit restricts operations of the target electronic control units and executes the control for installing, or installing and activating.

Claims (44)

1. A software update method executed by a computer of a software update apparatus, the software update method comprising:

sending a request for downloading update data to a center;

storing the downloaded update data;

determining whether a vehicle is stopped and is able to be maintained in a stopped state; and

executing, based on the update data, a control for installing update software on one or more dual bank target electronic control units from among a plurality of electronic control units connected to each other via an in-vehicle network, and executing the control for installing the update software to one or more single bank target electronic control units after a determination result is positive and after installing the updated software in the one or more dual bank target electronic control units.

2. A software update apparatus comprising:

a transmitter/receiver configured to send a request for downloading update data to a center;

a memory configured to store the downloaded update data; and

an electronic control unit that is configured to:

install, based on the update data, update software on one or more dual bank target electronic control units from among a plurality of electronic control units connected to each other via an in-vehicle network; and

determine whether a vehicle is stopped and is able to be maintained in a stopped state, after installing the updated software in the one or more dual bank target electronic control units,

wherein the electronic control unit is configured to, when a determination result of the electronic control unit is positive, install the update software to one or more single bank target electronic control units.

3. The software update apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to, based on a state of surroundings of the vehicle, determine whether the vehicle is able to be maintained in the stopped state.

4. The software update apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to determine that the vehicle is able to be maintained in the stopped state when detecting absence of a person or an object within the surroundings of the vehicle as the state.

5. The software update apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to determine that the vehicle is able to be maintained in the stopped state when detecting no movement of a person or an object within the surroundings of the vehicle as the state.

6. The software update apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to detect the state using a sensor included in the vehicle.

7. The software update apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to detect the state using wireless communication with another vehicle.

8. The software update apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to detect the state using wireless communication with a device provided on a road.

9. The software update apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to, upon receiving a notification from the center using wireless communication that the center has determined that the vehicle is able to be maintained in the stopped state based on a current position of the vehicle, determine that the vehicle is able to be maintained in the stopped state.

10. The software update apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to determine that the vehicle is able to be maintained in the stopped state when detecting connection between a cable and the vehicle.

11. The software update apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to, before restricting operations of the target electronic control units, execute at least one of turning off power of the vehicle, setting a shift position to parking, and causing a power source to stop generation of driving force.

12. A vehicle comprising the software update apparatus according to claim 2 .

13. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program executable on a computer of a software update apparatus, the program causing the computer to execute the following functions:

sending a request for downloading update data to a center;

storing the downloaded update data;

determining whether a vehicle is stopped and is able to be maintained in a stopped state: and

executing, based on the update data, a control for installing update software on one or more dual bank target electronic control units from among a plurality of electronic control units connected to each other via an in-vehicle network, and executing the control for installing the update software to one or more single bank target electronic control units when a determination result is positive and after installing the updated software in the one or more dual bank target electronic control units.

14. An Over The Air (OTA) master comprising:

a transmitter/receiver configured to send a request for downloading update data to a center;

a memory configured to store the downloaded update data;

an electronic control unit that is configured to:

install, based on the update data, a control for installing update software on one or more dual bank target electronic control units from among a plurality of electronic control units connected to each other via an in-vehicle network; and

determine whether a vehicle is stopped and is able to be maintained in a stopped state, after installing the updated software in the one or more dual bank target electronic control units,

wherein the electronic is configured to, when a determination result of the electronic control unit is positive, install the update software to one or more single bank target electronic control units.

15. A software update method executed by a computer of an Over The Air (OTA) master, the software update method comprising:

sending a request for downloading update data to a center;

storing the downloaded update data;

determining whether a vehicle is stopped and is able to be maintained in a stopped state; and

executing, based on the update data, a control for installing update software on one or more dual bank target electronic control units from among a plurality of electronic control units connected to each other via an in-vehicle network, and executing the control for installing the update software to one or more single bank target electronic control units after a determination result is positive and after installing the updated software in the one or more dual bank target electronic control units.

16. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program executable on a computer of an Over The Air (OTA) master, the program causing the computer to execute the following functions:

sending a request for downloading update data to a center;

storing the downloaded update data;

determining whether a vehicle is stopped and is able to be maintained in a stopped state; and

executing, based on the update data, a control for installing update software on one or more dual bank target electronic control units from among a plurality of electronic control units connected to each other via an in-vehicle network, and executing the control for installing the update software to one or more single bank target electronic control units when a determination result is positive and after installing the updated software in the one or more dual bank target electronic control units.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2021
From: FUKUYO, SATORU; ISHIKAWA, TOMOYASU; SATOH, YUSUKE
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 056765/0487 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-117812 · Jul 8, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220012039A1 · Jan 13, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,574,455 US 12,724,597