DE102015219837A1 - Method for providing software - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing software for a control device (64, 66) in a technical device, in which the software is transferred from a remote data unit (58) via a connectivity unit (60) in the technical device to a mobile telephone (54 ) and after the software has been completely stored on the mobile telephone (54) is subsequently transmitted from the mobile telephone (54) to the control device (64, 66) in the technical device.

Description

The invention relates to a method for providing a software, in particular a control unit software in a motor vehicle, a technical device and a connectivity unit, which is used in the technical device and serves to carry out the method.

State of the art

Control units are electronic units or modules that are used to control and regulate technical equipment and processes. In motor vehicles, control devices are used to control and regulate components, for example the internal combustion engine. The control units are to be regarded as embedded systems. In operation, controllers typically process data collected from sensors that represent physical characteristics such as speed, pressure, temperature, and so forth. Taking into account the detected variables, signals are generated in the control unit, with which in turn actuators in the motor vehicle are actuated. These actuators intervene in ongoing processes during operation of the motor vehicle.

In addition to hardware components, such as, for example, arithmetic units, memory, input / output units, etc., a software is stored in a control unit, which is adapted to the use of the control unit. This software typically needs to be updated periodically. This process is also known as an update. Furthermore, it may be necessary to extend the software with software components, so that it includes other functions. This is called upgrading or upgrading.

In today's motor vehicles, the update or update of new software in the motor vehicle control units by a supply line between the service tester and a central diagnostic connector of the vehicle in the workshop. In order to carry out the update of software without workshop visit, this must take place wirelessly by WLAN, LTE or other wireless radio systems. This is also referred to as "software-over-the-air". In the event that a wireless connection is disturbed and / or temporarily unavailable, the software update must be cached, which is complicated and expensive.

A caching of software means in the worst case or worst case a doubling of the memory of the ECU or that an additional central memory in the vehicle is required, which in all cases causes higher costs.

In order not to increase the cost of software-over-the-air, other approaches are needed.

From the publication US 2014/0068596 A1 A method for transferring software from a cloud server to a control unit of a motor vehicle is known. In this case, an entertainment unit, for example a radio receiver, is used. The method is used in particular for updating the ECU software. Software updates are received and processed by the radio receiver and then forwarded to a vehicle communications network.

The publication US 2014/0088794 A1 describes a method for updating software of a communication control device by means of a smartphone. This is done via Wi-Fi communication by actuating an update switch in the motor vehicle. The software is then deployed from a cloud.

In the method described data packets are received on the smartphone, cached and then forwarded to the motor vehicle. This means that the entire software is never cached in the smartphone. If the connection between the smartphone and the cloud is interrupted, the update process must be repeated from the beginning. The control unit is not ready for operation during this period. This can be critical especially in the case of a safety-relevant control unit.

Disclosure of the invention

Against this background, a method having the features of claim 1, a technical device according to claim 7 and a connectivity unit according to claim 10 are presented. Embodiments emerge from the dependent claims and from the description.

The presented method serves to provide software for a control unit, in particular for a control unit in a motor vehicle. The method may be used to first provide software for the controller, to update software residing on the controller, referred to as an update, or to upgrade the software residing on the controller, which is also referred to as an upgrade. It is important that the process can simultaneously transfer software to multiple ECUs.

The method is characterized in that the software, which is provided by a remote data unit, for example a cloud, as a whole is temporarily stored in the mobile telephone, for example the smartphone. If the connection is interrupted between the mobile phone and the remote central data unit, this has no effect on the process, for example, the update process, the controller, because the process for the controller is not executed until the software is completely stored on the mobile phone.

In addition, the presented method achieves a cost reduction since it uses a system architecture which has changed compared with known methods. In particular, the method is characterized by the use of a connectivity unit.

The software is, for example, provided by a cloud. A cloud is a remote data center that stores data that authorized users or users of this cloud can access. This data can also be used by several users at the same time, if necessary.

• – keine Kostensteigerung durch ein Software-over-the-Air Update, da kein zusätzliches Steuergerät im Fahrzeug und keine zusätzliche Infrastruktur im Fahrzeug erforderlich ist,
• – Nutzung der Technologiefortschritte der Verbraucherelektronik bezüglich Speichertechnologie.

The presented method has, at least in some of the embodiments, a number of advantages:

• - No cost increase due to a software-over-the-air update, since no additional control unit in the vehicle and no additional infrastructure in the vehicle is required,
• - Utilization of technology advances in consumer electronics regarding memory technology.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Brief description of the drawings

1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the device described.

2 shows in a flow chart an embodiment of the presented method.

Embodiments of the invention

The invention is schematically illustrated by means of embodiments in the drawings and will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of an arrangement shown as a whole by the reference numeral 50 is designated. The illustration shows a motor vehicle 52 as a technical device, a mobile phone 54 For example, a smartphone, and a wireless connection 56 for a software update over the air to a remote data unit 58 , eg a cloud.

In the motor vehicle 52 are a connectivity unit 60 , a man-machine interface 62 and a first controller 64 and a second controller 66 intended. In this playback, for ease of illustration, only two controllers 64 . 66 shown. Of course, more than two control devices can be provided. Furthermore, a vehicle communication network 68 provided.

In the smartphone 54 is a store 70 for temporarily storing software or software components. Furthermore, a second connection 72 , which may be wireless or wired.

The device 50 essentially has the connectivity unit 60 to receive the software over the first connection 56 and the second connection 72 , the vehicle communication network 68 leading to flash control devices 64 . 66 as well as via the smartphone 54 ,

The connectivity unit has data exchange 60 via a first interface 80 and the smartphone 54 via a second interface 82 ,

2 shows in a flow chart an embodiment of the presented method.

The process, which is also referred to as a flash process, is carried out in the following steps:
In a first step 10 the notification of the vehicle user via an existing update of the software via the human-machine interface or the HMI (Human Machine Interface) of the vehicle. This is then done in one step 12 confirmation of the vehicle user to flash a control unit or control unit.

In a subsequent step 14 the connection of the smartphone with the connectivity unit and a confirmation whether memory of the smartphone is sufficient. This coupling can be wireless or wired. In a subsequent step 16 Data packets of the software to be flashed are received via the connectivity unit. Then be in one step 18 Data packets sent to the memory of the smartphone via an interface between the vehicle and the smartphone.

After completion of the reception of the software and the storage on the smartphone and taking into account a safe driving condition takes place in one step 20 confirmation of the driver to flash control units in the vehicle. Subsequently, in one step 22 Data packets are sent from the memory of the smartphone via an interface between the vehicle and the smartphone to the connectivity unit and forwarded to the vehicle network.

This is done in one step 24 the flashing of the control unit or the control units. Finally, in one step, the vehicle driver is notified of a successful update of the software via the vehicle's HMI. Flashing is understood here as describing the memory of the controller with data representing the software.

It should be noted that the security of the entire data traffic can take place via an end-to-end protection of the data packets. This ensures that all software, ie. H. the entire data or software package has been transferred.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2014/0068596 A1 [0007]
• US 2014/0088794 A1 [0008]

Claims (10)

Method for providing software for a control unit ( 64 . 66 ) in a technical facility where the software is stored by a remote data 58 ) via a connectivity unit ( 60 ) in the technical device on a mobile phone ( 54 ) and after the software is fully loaded on the mobile phone ( 54 ) is then stored by the mobile phone ( 54 ) on the control unit ( 64 . 66 ) is transmitted in the technical facility.  The method of claim 1, wherein the software is provided by a cloud. Method according to claim 1 or 2, which is for providing software for a control unit ( 64 . 66 ) in a motor vehicle ( 52 ) is carried out.  Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the data is protected by an end-to-end protection.  Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein before the data transmission, a user is informed about the provided software and the transmission takes place after it has given an acknowledgment. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which prior to the data transmission to the mobile telephone ( 54 ) checks whether a memory ( 70 ) in the mobile phone ( 54 ) is sufficiently large. Device, in particular for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 6, with at least one control device ( 64 . 66 ) to which software is to be transferred, and a connectivity unit ( 60 ), which is set up to receive received software on a mobile phone ( 54 ) after this transfer the software from the mobile phone ( 54 ) and to the control unit ( 64 . 66 ) forward. Device according to Claim 7, which is a motor vehicle ( 52 ) is trained. Device according to claim 7 or 8, which via data network ( 68 ) for forwarding the software to the control unit ( 64 . 66 ). Connectivity unit for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 6, which is designed for use in a technical device, with a first interface ( 80 ) for receiving software from a remote data unit ( 58 ) to forward this software to a mobile phone ( 54 ) and to receive this software again from the mobile phone ( 54 ).

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