IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,164,910
Granted Patent B2
US 12,164,910 · App. 17/714,000 · Granted Dec 10, 2024

Vehicle software compatibility

Inventors: Karl Nathan Clark (Belleville, MI); Jason Michael Miller (Woodhaven, MI); John Caradillo (Windsor, CA); Vijayababu Jayaraman (Novi, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
G06F8/71
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,164,910
App. No.
17/714,000
Granted
Dec 10, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Tracking controller configuration is provided. Each ECU of a plurality of ECUs is queried for feature codes indicative of elements of functionality implemented by the respective ECU. Each of the feature codes corresponds to a target quantity of ECUs involved in implementing the functionality. An alert is indicated responsive to the querying returning a different quantity of ECUs implementing the functionality than the target quantity.

Claims (39)

1. A system for tracking controller configuration, comprising:

electronic control units (ECUs); and

a central gateway, programmed to:

maintain, in a storage, a feature dictionary specifying allowable feature code combinations across the ECUs,

query each ECU of the ECUs for feature codes indicative of elements of functionality implemented by the respective ECU, each feature code corresponding to a target quantity of ECUs involved in implementing the functionality, wherein each of the feature codes embeds the target quantity as a portion of the respective feature code,

indicate an alert responsive to the query returning a different quantity of ECUs implementing the functionality than the target quantity,

utilize the feature dictionary to include, in the alert, indications of which of the ECUs are missing feature codes for a feature or which report feature codes that are not specified for the feature, and

responsive to compatible software being available to address the alert, install a valid set of features per the feature dictionary.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the target quantity is a suffix of the respective feature code.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central gateway in communication with the ECUs over one or more buses, the central gateway being further programmed to query the ECUs for the feature codes over the one or more buses.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a vehicle, and the central gateway is further programmed to query the ECUs for the feature codes responsive to a key-on of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central gateway is further programmed to:

query the ECUs for the feature codes responsive to a request from a diagnostic device connected to the central gateway via a diagnostic port; and

indicate the alert as a message sent from the central gateway to the diagnostic device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alert indicates the feature codes for which the target quantity does not match the quantity of ECUs implementing the functionality.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the feature dictionary includes human readable names for the feature, and the alert includes the human readable names for which the feature codes for which the target quantity does not match the quantity of ECUs implementing the functionality.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central gateway is further programmed to provide the alert in a human machine interface (HMI).

9. A method for tracking controller configuration, comprising:

maintaining, in a storage, a feature dictionary specifying allowable feature code combinations across electronic control units (ECUs);

querying each ECU of a plurality of ECUs for feature codes indicative of elements of functionality implemented by the respective ECU, each feature code corresponding to a target quantity of ECUs involved in implementing the functionality, wherein each of the feature codes embeds the target quantity as a portion of the respective feature code;

utilizing the feature dictionary to include, in the alert, indications of which of the ECUs are missing feature codes for a feature or which report feature codes that are not specified for the feature;

indicating an alert responsive to the querying returning a different quantity of ECUs implementing the functionality than the target quantity; and

responsive to compatible software being available to address the alert, installing a valid set of features per the feature dictionary.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the target quantity is a suffix of the respective feature code.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein a central gateway in communication with the ECUs over one or more buses, and further comprising querying the ECUs for the feature codes by the central gateway over the one or more buses.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ECUs are components of a vehicle, and further comprising querying the ECUs for the feature codes responsive to a key-on of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

querying the ECUs for the feature codes responsive to a request from a diagnostic device; and

indicating the alert as a message to the diagnostic device responsive to the request.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the alert indicates the feature codes for which the target quantity does not match the quantity of ECUs implementing the functionality.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the feature dictionary includes human readable names for the feature, and the alert includes the human readable names for which the feature codes for which the target quantity does not match the quantity of ECUs implementing the functionality.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, providing the alert in a human machine interface (HMI).

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for tracking controller configuration that, when executed by a central gateway in communication over one or more buses with a plurality of ECUs, cause the central gateway to perform operations including to:

maintain, in a storage, a feature dictionary specifying allowable feature code combinations across the ECUs;

query each ECU of a plurality of ECUs for feature codes indicative of elements of functionality implemented by the respective ECU, each feature code corresponding to a target quantity of ECUs involved in implementing the functionality, wherein each of the feature codes embeds the target quantity as a portion of the respective feature code;

indicate an alert responsive to the query returning a different quantity of ECUs implementing the functionality than the target quantity;

utilize the feature dictionary to include, in the alert, indications of which of the ECUs are missing feature codes for a feature or which report feature codes that are not specified for the feature; and

responsive to compatible software being available to address the alert, install a valid set of features per the feature dictionary.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the central gateway, cause the central gateway to perform operations including to provide the alert in a human machine interface (HMI).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2022
From: CLARK, KARL NATHAN; MILLER, JASON MICHAEL; CARDILLO, JOHN; JAYARAMAN, VIJAYABABU
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 059509/0180 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230315440A1 · Oct 5, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,643,493