Software authentication before software update
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJason Michael Miller, Xin Ye, Aldi Caushi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A programming session may be initiated to a vehicle ECU by an update device. A software update for the ECU may be authenticated by the update device using an authentication key. When an authentication result indicates successful authentication, the ECU software update is sent by the update device over the in-vehicle network to the ECU. The ECU may then flash a memory with the ECU software update. The authentication key may be obtained from the ECU. The update device may be a vehicle telematics control unit or a service tool coupled to a connector of the vehicle.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- initiating a programming session of a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) by a service tool in communication with the ECU over a diagnostic port connection to a vehicle bus;
- authenticating, by the service tool, a software update for the ECU using an authentication key received to the service tool from the ECU;
- and
- responsive to successful authentication, sending the software update from the service tool over the vehicle bus to the ECU.
A vehicle system comprising:
- a Telematics Control Unit (TCU) connected to an in-vehicle network, configured to
- receive a software update for an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) over a wireless network;
- initiate a programming session with the ECU via the in-vehicle network;
- authenticate the software update using an authentication key received from the ECU via the in-vehicle network to obtain an authentication result;
- and
- responsive to the authentication result indicating successful authentication, send the software update over the in-vehicle network to the ECU to cause the ECU to flash a memory of the ECU with the software update.
An apparatus for flashing software of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of a vehicle, comprising:
- a connector configured to couple the apparatus to an in-vehicle network of the vehicle;
- a memory configured to store an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software update;
- and
- a processor configured to
- initiate a programming session to the ECU via the connector;
- authenticate the ECU software update using an authentication key to obtain an authentication result;
- and
- when the authentication result indicates successful authentication, send the ECU software update over the in-vehicle network to the ECU to cause the ECU to flash with the ECU software update.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.