OTA center, update management method, non-transitory storage medium, OTA master, and update control method

An update management method executed by a computer including one or more processors and one or more memories, the update management method comprising:

• storing regulation information based on which a software update is determined whether or not to be a specific software update that needs to be executed only when a vehicle is positioned in a predetermined place;
• receiving, via a network and from an over-the-air (OTA) master mounted on the vehicle, a first request for a software update for a target electric control unit (ECU) mounted on the vehicle;
• making, based on the regulation information, a determination whether the software update to be executed is the specific software update;
• when the determination is positive:
• transmitting, to the OTA master, request information for requesting execution of the specific software update in the predetermined place;
• upon receipt of a second download request from the vehicle that has moved to the predetermined place based on the request information, transmitting update data for software of the target ECU to the OTA master;
• and
• executing, by transmitting the update data, control for causing the OTA master to execute the software update for the target ECU of the vehicle at the predetermined place;
• and
• when the determination is negative:
• transmitting the update data to the OTA master without transmitting the request information;
• and
• executing the control for causing the OTA master to execute the software update for the target ECU.

An over-the-air (OTA) master mounted on a vehicle, the OTA master comprising one or more processors configured to:

• transmit, to an OTA center via a network, a first request for a software update for a target electric control unit (ECU) mounted on the vehicle;
• cause, when receiving from the OTA center via the network request information for requesting execution of the software update in a predetermined place, a display unit mounted on the vehicle to display the predetermined place;
• transmit, to the OTA center and once the vehicle has moved to the predetermined place based on the request information, a second download request;
• receive, from the OTA center and in reply to the second download request, update data for software of the target ECU;
• and
• control software update for the target ECU using the update data.

An update control method executed by a computer including one or more processors and one or more memories and mounted on a vehicle, the update control method comprising:

• transmitting, to an over-the-air (OTA) center via a network, a first request for a software update for a target electric control unit (ECU) mounted on the vehicle;
• causing, when receiving from the OTA center via the network request information for requesting execution of the software update in a predetermined place, a display unit mounted on the vehicle to display the predetermined place;
• transmitting, to the OTA center and once the vehicle has moved to the predetermined place based on the request information, a second download request;
• receiving, from the OTA center and in reply to the second download request, update data for software of the target ECU mounted on the vehicle;
• and
• controlling the software update for the target ECU using the update data.