RU2758168C2 - Method for controlling the system for entering a vehicle identification number (vin) - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: data processing.

SUBSTANCE: proposed is a method for entering a vehicle identification number (VIN) using a scanning tool acting as an external vehicle diagnostic apparatus. The vehicle identification information is received from the vehicle. It is determined whether rewriting of the vehicle Identification number (VIN) assigned to the vehicle using the vehicle identification information is allowed or prohibited. If rewriting of the VIN is prohibited, a signal is transmitted to the vehicle, issuing a command to the vehicle to enter the VIN into the non-volatile memory wherein rewriting of the VIN is prohibited. Also proposed are a method for entering the vehicle identification number, a method for controlling the system for entering the vehicle identification number, a machine-readable storage medium.

EFFECT: rewriting of the VIN number is achieved.

10 cl, 3 dwg

Description

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0084372, filed July 3, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference as set forth in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention relates to a method for entering a vehicle identification number (VIN) into a vehicle, and more specifically, to a method for re-entering a vehicle identification number (VIN) into a vehicle.

Description of the state of the art

Typically, a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is used to identify each vehicle. A vehicle manufacturing company can include various types of information (for example, country of vehicle production, vehicle model and type, engine model, engine displacement, protective device, maximum weight, vehicle manufacturing sequence, etc.). ) in the VIN. As a result, during the vehicle manufacturing process, different VINs can be assigned to individual vehicles according to the vehicle specification information.

The VIN of each vehicle can include various types of vehicle information, and can be used to prevent theft of the vehicle, as well as to track vehicle defects.

For the reasons mentioned above, a unique VIN, once assigned to each vehicle, was regulated by law in each country in order to prevent illegal removal and modification. However, a VIN once assigned to one vehicle in one country is sometimes required to be reassigned to the same vehicle in another country due to differences in manufacturing standards and export / import conditions of individual countries.

Therefore, a way is needed to provide a VIN assigned to one vehicle in one country to be able to be reassigned to the same vehicle in another country.

The essence of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method for controlling a vehicle identification number (VIN) input system that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling a VIN input system that determines whether overwriting of a vehicle identification number (VIN) is permitted or prohibited according to vehicle specification information, and stores the VIN in any one of overwrite-enabled memories. and overwrite-prohibited memory according to the determined result of whether or not VIN overwrite is possible.

Additional advantages, objects and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by construction shown in detail in its written description and claims, as well as in the accompanying drawings.

To achieve these goals and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, which is embodied and generally described in the materials of this application, a method for entering a vehicle identification number (VIN) using a scanning tool acting as an external vehicle diagnostic device includes: receiving vehicle identification information from the vehicle; determining whether overwriting the vehicle identification number (VIN) assigned to the vehicle is permitted or prohibited using the vehicle identification information; and if VIN overwriting is prohibited, transmitting a signal that instructs the vehicle to enter the VIN into a non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is prohibited into the vehicle.

Determining whether VIN rewriting is permitted or prohibited may include determining whether VIN rewriting is permitted or prohibited using the sales region information contained in the vehicle identification information.

The method may further include, upon receiving a signal to request a VIN from the vehicle, transmitting the VIN to the vehicle.

The method may further include transmitting a command signal for inputting the VIN assigned to the vehicle to the vehicle's volatile memory.

Determining whether VIN overwriting is enabled or disabled can be performed prior to transmitting the command signal to enter the VIN into volatile memory.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for inputting a vehicle identification number (VIN) using a vehicle controller includes transmitting a signal for requesting a vehicle identification number (VIN) to a scanning means acting as an external vehicle diagnostic device ; upon receiving the first VIN input signal from the scanning means, inputting the VIN received from the scanning means into volatile memory; and upon receiving the second VIN input signal from the scanning means, inputting the VIN into a non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is prohibited, wherein the second VIN input signal is a command signal for indicating that VIN overwriting is prohibited.

VIN input to nonvolatile memory may include VIN input from volatile memory to nonvolatile memory in which VIN overwriting is prohibited.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a vehicle identification number (VIN) input system includes: receiving, by a scanning means acting as an external vehicle diagnostic device, vehicle identification information from a vehicle controller; determining by the scanning means whether overwriting of the vehicle identification number (VIN) assigned to the vehicle is permitted or prohibited using the vehicle identification information; if VIN overwrite is enabled, the scanning means transmitting a first command signal that instructs the vehicle controller to enter the VIN into a non-volatile memory in which VIN overwrite is enabled into the vehicle controller; and if VIN overwriting is prohibited, the scanning means transmitting not only the first signal but also a second command signal that instructs the vehicle controller to input the VIN into another non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is prohibited into the vehicle controller.

The method may further include transmitting a command signal for inputting the VIN assigned to the vehicle to the vehicle's volatile memory.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the present invention can provide a machine-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon for performing the above method.

It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are combined in and form part of this application, illustrate embodiment (s) of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for inputting a vehicle identification number (VIN) into a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for entering a VIN into a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for entering a VIN into a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SEPARATE IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS

Hereinafter, an apparatus and a method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the suffixes "module" and "block", contained in terms of constituent elements to be described, will be selected or used in conjunction, solely considering the convenience of writing the following description, and the suffixes "module" and "block" are not necessary. have different meanings or roles.

Although all the elements making up the embodiments of the present invention have been described to be combined into a single element or controlled as a single element, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such embodiments. That is, all of the elements can be selectively combined into one or more, and can be operated as one or more, within the purpose and scope of the present invention. In addition, each of the elements can be implemented as independent hardware. Alternatively, some or all of the elements may be selectively grouped into a computer program having a software module performing some or all of the functions combined in one or more pieces of hardware. The plurality of codes and code segments that make up a computer program can be easily understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The computer program may be stored on computer readable media such that the computer program is readable and executed by a computer to implement embodiments of the present invention. Storage media for a computer program may include magnetic recording media, optical recording media, and carrier wave media.

In the following description, provided that some object is formed above (above) or below (below) the respective constituent elements, it means that two constituent elements are brought into direct contact with each other, or one or more constituent elements are located and formed between two constituent elements. In addition, provided that some object is formed above or below the respective constituent elements, this means that the object can also be located in upward and downward directions based on the position of one constituent element.

The term "contains", "includes" or "has" described in the materials of this application, should be construed not to exclude other elements, but additionally include other such elements, since the corresponding elements may be integral, unless otherwise indicated. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meanings as those generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, unless otherwise indicated. Commonly used terms, such as those defined in a vocabulary, are to be construed concurrently with those of the prior art in context. Unless explicitly defined in the present invention, such terms should not be construed as having ideal or unnecessarily strict meanings.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used throughout this application to describe various elements of the present invention, these terms are used solely to distinguish one element from another element, and the essence, order, or sequence of the respective elements is not limited to these terms. It will be understood that when one element is referenced as being “attached to,” “associated with,” or “accessible” by another element, one element may be “attached to,” “associated with,” or “accessed” by the other element via an optional element, although one element can be directly attached to or directly accessed by another element.

In the following description, known functions or constructions that may confuse the essence of the present invention are not explained.

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) must be entered not only on every vehicle sold in the Republic of Korea, but also on every vehicle sold in other countries. If the VIN is entered into the vehicle for the first time, it is necessary that the entered VIN remains unchanged.

It is essential that the VIN assigned to each vehicle is permanently stored in the vehicle. In general, a VIN assigned once to a vehicle was regulated by law in each country so that deletion or overwriting of the assigned VIN is prevented. However, individual countries may have different laws and regulations regarding the VIN entry. In more detail, during the vehicle manufacturing process, the VIN entry time at which the VIN is entered into each vehicle may be different in individual countries. That is, individual countries may have different VIN entry procedures.

While there are no restrictions on the import of finished vehicles, each with a VIN, in China, Brazil, or North American countries, some vehicles assembled and made ready in Russia must have new VINs assigned by the Russian government.

Therefore, provided that the vehicles to be exported to Russia are assembled in another country (for example, the Republic of Korea), although the assembly of each vehicle is completed, the assembled vehicle is disassembled into many modules, then the disassembled modules for each vehicle are transported to Russia, the modules are reassembled into one finished vehicle at a local industrial plant located in Russia, and the VIN provided by the Russian government is assigned to the finished vehicle according to SKD technology. The above vehicle is generally commonly referred to as SKD vehicle.

Before SKD vehicles are exported to Russia, each SKD vehicle may be assigned an original VIN in another country. Therefore, an SKD vehicle that has an original VIN in another country can be sent to a local industrial plant located in Russia.

The VIN contains various types of vehicle information and can be used to prevent theft of the vehicle as well as to track vehicle defects. As a rule, a VIN, once assigned to each vehicle, was regulated by law in each country in order to prevent illegal removal and modification. However, each SKD vehicle that is to be reassembled by a local industrial facility in Russia must be assigned a different VIN issued in Russia.

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for inputting a VIN into a vehicle not used as a vehicle SKD so that overwriting the VIN into the vehicle is prohibited. FIG. 2 and 3 illustrate methods for storing a VIN in a vehicle SKD so that overwriting a VIN in a vehicle SKD is permitted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for inputting a vehicle identification number (VIN) into a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the vehicle identification number (VIN) inputted to the vehicle controller 200 through the scanning means 100 serving as an external diagnostic device can be stored in different locations according to ignition states.

The vehicle controller 200 may be an engine control unit (ECU) or an engine management system (EMS). However, the scope or essence of the vehicle controller 200 is not limited thereto, and the vehicle controller 200 may be, as an example, installed in an ECU configured to store and manage a VIN.

Scanner 100 for use in vehicles sold in some countries that prohibit rewriting VIN by law and regulation can transmit and receive the VIN of each vehicle to and from the vehicle controller 200 contained in each vehicle via a wired or wireless network communication. A predetermined protocol for diagnostics can be placed between the scanning means 100 and the vehicle controller 200.

Scanning means 100, capable of communicating with a vehicle via a wired or wireless communication network, may pre-store the VIN of the corresponding vehicle connected to the communication network.

Provided that the vehicle's ignition is activated (i.e., the ignition on state), the VIN of the vehicle may be input to the volatile memory of the vehicle controller 200 by the scanning vehicle 100, and may be stored in the volatile memory of the vehicle controller 200.

The scanning means 100 can confirm communication with the vehicle controller 200 and can transmit a sleep signal for transmitting the VIN to the vehicle controller 200 via a predetermined diagnostic protocol. For example, the standby signal may have a signal ID of 3Bh (SID 3Bh).

The vehicle controller 200 receiving the standby signal can transmit a signal for requesting a VIN to the scanning means 100, and the scanning means 100 receiving the request signal can transmit the VIN.

The vehicle controller 200 that has received the VIN may temporarily store the received VIN in a volatile memory located inside or outside the vehicle controller 200.

If the vehicle's ignition is taken out of service (i.e., the ignition off state), the VIN temporarily stored in the volatile memory may be stored in the non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is permitted. In other words, when the vehicle's ignition is taken out of service, power is not supplied to the vehicle, so that the vehicle controller 200 can store the VIN temporarily stored in the volatile memory into a non-volatile memory configured to hold its own stored data even when powered. the vehicle is turned off.

Thereafter, when the power lock mode is completed after the ignition is deactivated, the vehicle controller 200 may store the VIN stored in the nonvolatile memory (hereinafter referred to as the first nonvolatile memory), in which the VIN overwrite is enabled, in another nonvolatile memory (hereinafter referenced as second non-volatile memory) in which VIN overwriting is prohibited. In other words, when the vehicle's ignition is taken out of operation, the vehicle controller 200 can store the VIN written in the volatile memory in the first non-volatile memory in which the VIN overwrite is enabled. Thereafter, after completion of the power lock mode, the vehicle controller 200 may store the VIN in a second non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is prohibited, so that deletion or overwriting of the VIN is prevented.

The power block mode can be defined as follows. Although the vehicle is transferred from the ignition on state to the ignition off state, the power lock relay may remain energized for a predetermined time (e.g., approximately 3 seconds) so that the electrical / electronic components of the vehicle can be powered for a predetermined time (e.g. , approximately 3 seconds). The aforementioned mode of operation can be defined as the power blocking mode.

In accordance with one embodiment, the non-volatile memory in which VIN overwrite is enabled may be a "short-lived channel" and the other non-volatile memory in which VIN overwrite is prohibited may be a "persistent storage".

Meanwhile, the vehicle controller 200 to which the VIN is input can perform self-diagnostics at intervals of a predetermined duration (eg, 100 ms) to determine if the VIN is correctly input and stored in the non-volatile memory. If the VIN is not stored in non-volatile memory, the alarm function can be triggered by a warning light. Scanner 100 may determine if the VIN is stored in non-volatile memory at intervals of a predetermined length. The scanning means 100 does not distinguish between a first state in which the VIN is stored in a memory area in which VIN overwrite is permitted and a second state in which a VIN is stored in a memory area in which VIN overwrite is prohibited. In other words, as long as the VIN is stored in non-volatile memory, it doesn't matter at all whether VIN overwrite is enabled or disabled.

Memory can generally be classified into random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). RAM is a memory from which stored information is read and into which other information is written. When the power of the RAM is turned off, the information stored in the RAM may disappear, so that RAM can also be called volatile memory. Therefore, RAM can be used for the main memory of a computer, and can also be used not only for temporarily loading application programs, but also for temporarily loading data.

ROM is non-volatile memory (NVMY) capable of retaining stored information even when the power is off. The ROM is designed to perform predefined processing in the same way as in a character (or letter) pattern generator or code converter. In the case of using multiple ROMs, different kinds of information to be stored in the respective ROMs can be simultaneously created in advance in the process of making the memory. Therefore, each ROM is designed to store necessary information in the form of a memory structure, so that the information stored in the ROM cannot be changed in the future.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for entering a VIN into a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 2, although the VIN is overwritten in each SKD vehicle, the VIN storage location does not change according to ignition states other than FIG. 1 way.

The VIN storage location does not change according to ignition states, but changes according to transmit / receive (TX) signals transmitted between the scanning means 100 and the vehicle controller 200.

The VIN input method shown in FIG. 2 can use a communication protocol between the scanning means 100 and the vehicle controller 200. Although an SKD vehicle is assigned a VIN at a local manufacturing facility located in another country (e.g. Republic of Korea), an SKD vehicle may be definitively assigned a local VIN, which must be obtained when an SKD vehicle is reassembled at a local manufacturing facility located in Russia. ...

The VIN input process may start with a step in which the scanning means 100 receives vehicle identification information from the vehicle controller 200. The vehicle identification information can be a barcode for each vehicle. The scanning means 100 can recognize the vehicle performance information from the vehicle barcode.

The scanning means 100 may determine whether overwriting of the VIN assigned to the corresponding vehicle controller 200 is permitted from the vehicle specification information. The vehicle specification information may include information about the sales region of the vehicle, and the scanning means 100 can determine the presence or absence of different VIN codes of individual countries from the sales region information.

If overwriting the VIN to the corresponding vehicle is permitted, the scanning means 100 may transmit the first VIN input signal. The vehicle controller 200 receiving the first VIN input signal may temporarily store the VIN received from the scanning means 100 in volatile memory (eg, RAM).

The first VIN input signal is a signal to request a VIN input. Thereafter, the vehicle controller 200 can store the VIN in a non-volatile memory in which the VIN overwrite is enabled. If the VIN is stored in a non-volatile memory (such as a short-term channel) that allows VIN rewriting, the VIN can be permanently deleted and rewritten in the future.

Consequently, the SKD vehicle can store its own VIN in a non-volatile memory (VNMY) in which VIN rewriting is allowed, so that a new VIN can be entered into the SKD vehicle by a local manufacturing plant located in the sales region.

In contrast, when overwriting the VIN to the corresponding vehicle is prohibited, the scanning means 100 can transmit the first VIN input signal and can receive a signal confirming that the VIN is stored in the non-volatile memory in which the overwriting of the VIN is enabled from the vehicle controller 200.

If the vehicle controller 200 receives the above signal confirming that the VIN is stored in the non-volatile memory, the scanning means 100 may transmit the second VIN input signal to the vehicle controller 200. The vehicle controller 200, having received the second VIN input signal, may store the VIN stored in a non-volatile memory in which VIN overwrite is enabled in another non-volatile memory in which VIN overwrite is prohibited.

The second VIN input signal is a signal to request a VIN overwrite. Therefore, the VIN recorded in the vehicle controller 200 is no longer deleted, and it is impossible to overwrite the VIN in the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for entering a VIN into a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 3, the scanning means can receive vehicle identification information from the vehicle controller, and can recognize the vehicle identification information by a separate device contained in the scanning means (S310).

The scanning means recognizing the vehicle identification information can determine whether a VIN once assigned to a vehicle connected to the scanning means via wired or wireless communication can be overwritten in the same vehicle in the future (S320). The scanning means can determine whether it is necessary for the VIN to be overwritten to the same vehicle in the country of the sales region using the sales region information contained in the vehicle identification information.

If VIN overwrite is allowed ('Yes' in S320), the scanning means can transmit a command signal to instruct the vehicle controller to input the VIN into the non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is enabled (S330), and the vehicle controller can store the VIN received from the vehicle. scan, in non-volatile memory, in which VIN overwrite is enabled (S335). Therefore, although the SKD vehicle is reassembled at a local manufacturing facility located in the country of the sales region, the VIN can be rewritten into the finished vehicle.

If VIN overwrite is prohibited ('No' in S320), the scanning means may transmit a command signal to instruct the vehicle controller to input the VIN into the non-volatile memory in which VIN overwrite is allowed (S340). If the scanning means receives a response signal indicating the execution of VIN storage from the vehicle controller, the scanning means may re-transmit the command signal to instruct the vehicle controller to input the VIN into the non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is prohibited to the vehicle controller (S343). The vehicle controller receiving the above signal can input the originally entered VIN into the non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is prohibited (S345), so that the laws and regulations of each country of the sales region in which VIN overwriting is prohibited can be satisfied.

As apparent from the above description, a method for controlling a VIN input system according to embodiments of the present invention has the following effects.

First, the method for controlling the VIN input system can adaptively input the VIN to the vehicle according to different technology regulations of individual countries.

Second, the method for managing the VIN input system can determine whether VIN rewriting is permitted, thereby complying with the law and regulations of all exporting and importing countries.

The aforementioned embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as code that can be written on a machine-readable recording medium and thus can be read by a computer. A machine-readable recording medium can be any type of recording device in which data can be stored in a machine-readable form. Examples of machine-readable recording media include HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), SDD (Solid State Drive), ROM, RAM, CD-ROM (CD ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage and carrier wave (for example, data transmission over the Internet). Computer-readable recording media can be distributed across computer systems connected to each other through a network so that computer-readable code is stored or executed in a distributed manner. In addition, the functional program, code, and code segments for implementing the above method can be easily understood by programmers in the field of the invention.

Specialists in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in other specific ways than set forth in the materials of this application, without departing from the essence and inherent characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the above embodiments are to be construed in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be determined in accordance with the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes falling within the range of meaning and equivalence of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (26)

1. A method for entering a vehicle identification number (VIN) using a scanning tool acting as an external vehicle diagnostic device comprises the steps of: receive vehicle identification information from the vehicle; determining whether overwriting of the vehicle identification number (VIN) assigned to the vehicle is permitted or prohibited using the vehicle identification information; and if VIN overwriting is prohibited, a signal is transmitted that instructs the vehicle to enter the VIN into a non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is prohibited into the vehicle. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which determining whether VIN rewriting is allowed or prohibited comprises a stage at which: determine whether VIN rewriting is permitted or prohibited using the sales region information contained in the vehicle identification information. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: upon receiving a signal for requesting a VIN from the vehicle, transmitting the VIN to the vehicle. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: transmitting a command signal for inputting the VIN assigned to the vehicle to the volatile memory of the vehicle. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether overwriting the VIN is enabled or disabled is performed prior to transmitting a command signal to input the VIN into volatile memory. 6. A method for entering a vehicle identification number (VIN) using a vehicle controller, comprising the steps of: transmitting a signal for requesting a vehicle identification number (VIN) to a scanning means acting as an external vehicle diagnostic device; upon receiving the first VIN input signal from the scanning means, inputting the VIN received from the scanning means into the volatile memory; and upon receipt of the second VIN input signal from the scanning tool, enter the VIN into the non-volatile memory, in which the overwriting of the VIN is prohibited, the second VIN input signal being a command signal for indicating that VIN overwrite is prohibited. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein entering the VIN into the nonvolatile memory comprises: enter the VIN entered in the volatile memory into the non-volatile memory, in which the overwriting of the VIN is prohibited. 8. A method for managing a vehicle identification number (VIN) input system, comprising the steps of: receiving the vehicle identification information from the vehicle controller by scanning means acting as an external vehicle diagnostics device; determining by the scanning means whether overwriting of the vehicle identification number (VIN) assigned to the vehicle is permitted or prohibited using the vehicle identification information; if VIN overwrite is enabled, transmitting by the scanning means a first command signal that instructs the vehicle controller to input the VIN into a non-volatile memory in which VIN overwrite is permitted into the vehicle controller; and if VIN overwrite is prohibited, transmitting by the scanning means not only the first signal but also a second command signal that instructs the vehicle controller to enter the VIN into another non-volatile memory in which VIN overwriting is prohibited into the vehicle controller. 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of: transmitting a command signal for inputting the VIN assigned to the vehicle to the volatile memory of the vehicle. 10. Machine-readable recording medium having a program recorded on it for performing the method according to any one of claims. 1-9.

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