JP2007133601A - Software package, system management device, and onboard information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve efficiency in updating of software, in a system having a plurality of processing units. <P>SOLUTION: A system management section 22 in a main unit 20 holds system information for identifying a processing unit configuration of an onboard system 1. An update processing section 23 refers to update information that is managed for each system configuration by an application update server 2, and determines whether or not update is necessary for its own system. Furthermore, software operating on the processing unit is divided by a function unit and an update unit, and the size of update data is set as a necessary minimum. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a software package for updating software of a system including a plurality of functional units, a system management apparatus for updating software of a system including a plurality of functional units, and an in-vehicle information device.

  When updating software of a computer system, it is necessary to use update data corresponding to the system. Therefore, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a technique for automatically identifying software to be installed from a single installation medium storing software corresponding to a plurality of different architectures has been used.

  Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, in a multi-CPU system having a plurality of CPUs, a technique for reducing the influence on services being executed by other CPUs during software download processing for each CPU has also been devised. .

JP-A-6-44110 JP-A-10-260845

  By the way, in a system having a plurality of processing units, when software that operates on each processing unit is updated, it is necessary for each processing unit to individually determine the necessity of updating and to execute the updating process.

  For example, an in-vehicle system is configured by a combination of various processing units such as a processing unit for vehicle operation such as EFI and ABS, and a processing unit for controlling in-vehicle functions such as a navigation unit and an audio unit. Therefore, when these processing units individually perform update processing, there is a problem that much time and labor are required.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and provides a software package, a system management apparatus, and an in-vehicle information device that improve the efficiency of software update in a system having a plurality of processing units. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a software package according to the invention of claim 1 is a software package for updating software of a system including a plurality of functional units, and the plurality of functional units are It includes a plurality of update software for updating, and management data for determining whether update is possible for each of the plurality of functional units.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the software package includes a plurality of update software for updating a plurality of functional units and management data for determining whether or not the plurality of functional units can be updated.

  A system management apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention is a system management apparatus for updating software of a system including a plurality of functional units, the update software for updating a plurality of functional units from the outside, and the plurality A read unit that reads management data for determining whether or not each functional unit can be updated, and a storage unit that stores software update states of the plurality of functional units, and read by the read unit Whether to update each of the plurality of functional units is determined based on management data and an update state of software stored in the storage unit.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the system management apparatus includes management data for determining whether or not each of the plurality of functional units read from the outside can be updated, and software update states of the plurality of functional units of the own system. To determine whether or not updating is possible for each of the plurality of functional units.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the system management apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention executes update processing of the functional unit when there is an updatable functional unit as a result of the determination as to whether or not update is possible. An update processing unit is further provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the system management apparatus includes management data for determining whether or not each of the plurality of functional units read from the outside can be updated, and software update states of the plurality of functional units of the own system. And whether or not updating is possible for each of the plurality of functional units. When there is a functional unit that can be updated, the functional unit is updated.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an in-vehicle information device including the system management device according to the second or third aspect.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the in-vehicle information device is configured to update the management data for determining whether or not each of the plurality of functional units read from the outside can be updated and the software of the plurality of functional units of the own system. The status is compared to determine whether or not updating is possible for each of the plurality of functional units.

  According to the invention of claim 1, the software package includes a plurality of update software for updating a plurality of functional units and management data for determining whether or not the plurality of functional units can be updated. There is an effect that it is possible to obtain a software package that can efficiently update software in a system having a plurality of processing units.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the system management apparatus includes management data for determining whether or not each of the plurality of functional units read from the outside can be updated, and software updates for the plurality of functional units of the own system. Since it is determined whether or not updating is possible for each of the plurality of functional units by comparing the status, it is possible to obtain a system management apparatus that can efficiently determine the necessity of software update in a system having a plurality of processing units. Play.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the system management apparatus includes management data for determining whether or not each of the plurality of functional units read from the outside can be updated, and software updates for the plurality of functional units of the own system. Software in a system having a plurality of processing units because the state is compared, a determination is made as to whether updating is possible for each of the plurality of functional units, and when there is a functional unit that can be updated, the functional unit is updated. There is an effect that it is possible to obtain a system management apparatus that improves the efficiency of updating.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the in-vehicle information device includes management data for determining whether or not each of the plurality of functional units read from the outside can be updated, and software of the plurality of functional units of the own system. Since the update state is compared and whether or not the update is possible for each of the plurality of functional units is determined, there is an effect that it is possible to obtain an in-vehicle information device that efficiently updates software in a system having a plurality of processing units.

  Exemplary embodiments of an in-vehicle system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the in-vehicle system 1 includes an MFP 1a in which a navigation function and an audio function are integrated, and an operation control system unit such as an EFI unit 31 and an ABS unit 32. Etc.). The multifunction device 1a includes an external communication unit 11, an optical disk drive 12, an HD (Hard Disc) drive 13, an input device 14, an output device 15, a main unit 20, a navigation unit 33, an audio unit 34, and a television unit 35. Have

  The external communication unit 11 is a communication device that performs communication with the outside through DCM communication, wireless LAN communication, or the like. The optical disk drive 12 is a device that reads information recorded on a CD (Compact Disc) 4 or a DVD 5, and the HD drive 13 is a device that reads from or writes to an HD (Hard Disc). The input device 14 is an input device group that receives input from the user such as a switch or a touch panel, and the output device 15 is an output device group such as a display or a speaker.

  The EFI unit 31 is a processing unit that controls fuel injection of the engine, and its operation content is determined by the application 41. The ABS unit 32 is a processing unit that controls braking by a brake, and the operation content is determined by the application 42.

  The navigation unit 33 is a processing unit that guides the route to the destination designated by the user, and the operation content is determined by the application 43. The audio unit 34 is a processing unit that reproduces music data read by the optical disk drive 12 and the HD drive 13, receives radio broadcasts, and the like, and its operation content is determined by the application 44. The television unit 35 is a processing unit that receives television broadcasts, and its operation content is determined by the application 45.

  The main unit 20 is a unit that functions as a system management device that manages the in-vehicle system 1, and includes an input / output control unit 21, a system management unit 22, and an update processing unit 23 therein. The input / output control unit 21 manages the input / output of each processing unit, thereby realizing sharing of the external communication unit 11, the optical disk drive 12, the HD drive 13, the input device 14, and the output device 15.

  The system management unit 22 retains system information that uniquely identifies the processing unit configuration of the in-vehicle system 1, that is, which processing unit is connected to the in-vehicle system 1. The update processing unit 23 performs processing for confirming whether or not software (applications 41 to 45) operating on each processing unit needs to be updated.

  Information related to application updates and update data are provided by the application update server 2 outside the system. The update processing unit 23 compares the system information held by the system information management unit 22 with the system update information provided by the application providing server 2 and determines whether or not an update is necessary.

  A specific example of the system information held by the system information management unit 22 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the system information stores processing units constituting the in-vehicle system 1. At this time, for example, if there are a plurality of types of navigation units that can be connected to the system, information for specifying the types of navigation units connected to the in-vehicle system 1 is also stored. For other processing units, information specifying the type is stored in addition to the functions of the other processing units.

  Further, the system information stores, for each processing unit, what functional unit the software (applications 41 to 45) operating on the processing unit is divided into.

  Furthermore, the functional unit is composed of a plurality of update units (components) that can be individually updated, and the system information stores what update unit each functional unit is divided into.

  The system information stores version information or the latest update date for each processing unit, functional unit, and update unit.

  On the other hand, the application update server 2 holds a software package in which update information is associated with update data for each system information, that is, for each processing unit configuration in the system, as shown in FIG. The update information is specifically the version information attached to the entire system, each processing unit, functional unit, update unit, etc., or the latest update date. The update data is update software for updating a processing unit, a function unit, or an update unit.

  Note that the personal computer 3, CD 4, DVD 5, etc. may hold the software package instead of the application update server 2.

  Therefore, the in-vehicle system 1 refers to system information corresponding to its own configuration among a plurality of system information provided by a server, another computer, a predetermined recording medium such as a CD or DVD, and is indicated in the update information. If the version information (or the latest update date) is newer than the version information (or the latest update date) in the own system, it can be determined that the update is possible.

  Here, it is desirable that the determination of whether or not update is possible and the execution of the update be performed for each update unit, which is the smallest unit. However, when version information and the latest update date are attached to each functional unit and not attached to the update unit, whether the update is possible or not is performed for each functional unit. Similarly, when version information and the latest update date are attached to each unit and not attached to the functional unit, it is determined whether the update is possible or the update is executed for each processing unit.

  Note that the personal computer 3 can also acquire update information and update data from the application update server 2 by communication. When the in-vehicle device directly communicates with the server, a mobile phone or the like is used, resulting in a high communication fee. On the other hand, since low-speed and high-speed communication lines such as ADSL and FTTH are widespread between personal computers and servers, data is once downloaded from the server to the PC and then transferred to the in-vehicle device using a wireless LAN or the like. By transferring, the communication charge can be kept low.

  The update processing unit 23 acquires information related to the update and update data through communication by the DCM communication unit 11a and the wireless LAN communication unit 11b and reading from the recording medium using the optical disk drive 12.

  The specific processing operation of the update processing unit 23 is shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in the figure starts when there is a request for update confirmation from the user or when a predetermined update confirmation condition is satisfied.

  When the process is started, the update processing unit 23 first acquires system information held by the system management unit 22 (step S101). Then, with reference to the update history provided by the application update server, it is determined whether or not the own system can be updated (step S102). As a result, if the update is not possible (No in step S102), the process is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, if the own system is updatable (step S102, Yes), an updatable processing unit is specified (step S103). Subsequently, it is specified which package can be updated among the applications of the specified processing unit (step S104), and further, which component among the specified packages can be updated is specified (step S105). .

  Next, the update processing unit 23 acquires update data for updating the identified component and distributes it to the corresponding processing unit (step S106). Since each processing unit transmits an update completion notification to the main unit 20 when the update is completed using the update data, the update processing unit 23 receives the update completion notification (step S107, Yes) and then performs the system The information is updated (step S108), and the process ends.

  In this flowchart, the case where the software package is acquired from the application server update server has been described as an example. However, the same processing operation can be adopted even when the software package is acquired by another method.

  For example, when acquiring a software package from the personal computer 3, the external communication unit 11 acquires using the wireless LAN communication unit 11b. In addition, when acquiring a software package from a CD 4 or a DVD 5, it may be read using the optical disk drive 12. In addition, the software package held by the personal computer 3 is acquired via an optical recording medium such as a CD or DVD, a magnetic recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, an electronic recording medium such as a USB memory, or the like. The acquisition path can be arbitrarily changed.

  As described above, in the in-vehicle system 1 according to the present embodiment, the main unit 20 functioning as a system management apparatus holds system information for specifying the processing unit configuration of the system, and is updated information managed for each system configuration. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently check the necessity of updating the entire system collectively.

  In addition, the software running on the processing unit is divided into functional units and update units, and the size of the update data is kept to a minimum, thereby streamlining system update processing and reducing user effort, time, and communication costs. Can be reduced.

  Furthermore, when updating the software of a certain functional unit, only the program currently running on that functional unit is temporarily stopped, and after updating the program, the updated program is started to stop the entire function of the in-vehicle device. For example, it is possible to update the program of the audio unit while the navigation is functioning.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the processing units that have received the update data execute update processing and send update completion notifications to the main unit. For example, the main unit updates each processing unit. It is good also as composition to do.

  In this embodiment, the case where an optical recording medium such as a CD or DVD is used as a recording medium for recording application update data has been described. However, a magnetic recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a USB memory, or the like. Any recording medium such as an electronic recording medium can be used.

  Furthermore, although the present embodiment has been described by taking an in-vehicle system mounted on a vehicle as an example, the use of the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to any system.

  As described above, the software package, the system management apparatus, and the in-vehicle information device according to the present invention are useful for managing a system having a plurality of processing units, and are particularly suitable for managing software updates of the processing units.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a driving support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the system information shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the application update server shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation of the update process part shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle system 1a MFP 2 Application update server 11 External communication unit 11a DCM communication part 11b Wireless LAN communication part 12 Optical disk drive 13 HD drive 20 Main unit 21 Input / output control part 22 System management part 23 Update process part 31 EFI unit 32 ABS unit 33 Navigation unit 34 Audio unit 35 TV unit 41-45 application

Claims (4)

  A software package for updating software of a system including a plurality of functional units, for determining a plurality of update software for updating the plurality of functional units, and whether or not each of the plurality of functional units can be updated. Software package that includes management data. A system management apparatus for updating software of a system including a plurality of functional units,
A reading unit for reading update software for updating a plurality of functional units from the outside and management data for determining whether or not each functional unit can be updated;
A storage unit for storing update states of software of the plurality of functional units;
A system management device that determines whether or not each of the plurality of functional units can be updated based on management data read by the reading unit and an update state of software stored in the storage unit.   The system management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an update processing unit that executes an update process of the functional unit when there is an updatable functional unit as a result of the determination as to whether or not the update is possible. .   An in-vehicle information device equipped with the system management device according to claim 2.

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