Vehicle electronic control system, and method for updating program used therein

An electronic control device comprising:

• a storage unit including a data storage side;
• a second detection unit that detects a state of a vehicle;
• a rewrite execution unit that acquires update data from a master device and writes the update data to the data storage side to rewrite a program, the master device acquiring the update data from an external instrument;
• an activation determination unit that determines whether or not to activate the program rewritten with the update data;
• and
• an activation execution unit that activates the program,
• the rewrite execution unit writing the update data to the data storage side according to an instruction from a rewrite instruction unit of the master device, the rewrite instruction unit instructing the rewrite execution unit to write the update data to the data storage side,
• the activation execution unit activating the program according to an instruction from an activation instruction unit of the master unit, the activation instruction unit instructing the activation execution unit to activate the program when the master device determines that the vehicle is parked using a first detection unit after the rewrite execution unit writes the update data to the data storage side according to the instruction from the rewrite instruction unit, the first detection unit detecting the state of the vehicle, the first detection unit being different from the second detection unit,
• the activation determination unit determining whether or not the vehicle is parked using the second detection unit when the activation execution unit activates the program according to the instruction from the activation instruction unit,
• the activation execution unit activating the program when the activation determination unit determines that the vehicle is parked using the second detection unit,
• wherein the master device is connected to at least two or more groups of electronic control devices each comprising the electronic control device,
• wherein the activation determination unit determines whether or not the vehicle is parked using an index different from that for the activation instruction unit,
• wherein each of the first detection unit and the second detection unit acquires the state of the vehicle from a group of electronic control devices selected from the at least two or more groups of electronic control devices, and
• wherein the group of electronic control devices from which the first detection unit acquires the state of the vehicle is different from the group of electronic control devices from which the second detection unit acquires the state of the vehicle.

A master device that gives an instruction to an electronic control device having a storage unit including a data storage side, the master device comprising:

• an update data acquisition unit that acquires update data from an external instrument;
• a first detection unit that detects a state of a vehicle, the first detection unit being different from a second detection unit that is included in the electronic control device and detects the state of the vehicle;
• a rewrite instruction unit that instructs a rewrite execution unit of the electronic control device to write the update data to the data storage side to rewrite a program, the rewrite execution unit writing the update data acquired from the master device to the data storage side to rewrite the program;
• and
• an activation instruction unit that instructs an activation execution unit of the electronic control device to activate the program when determining that the vehicle is parked using the first detection unit after the rewrite execution unit writes the update data to the data storage side according to the instruction from the rewrite instruction unit, the activation execution unit activating the program rewritten with the update data,
• the electronic control device including an activation determination unit that determines whether or not to activate the program,
• the activation determination unit determining whether or not the vehicle is parked using the second detection unit when the activation execution unit activates the program according to the instruction from the activation instruction unit,
• the activation execution unit activating the program when the activation determination unit determines that the vehicle is parked using the second detection unit,
• wherein the master device is connected to at least two or more groups of electronic control devices each comprising the electronic control device,
• wherein the activation instruction unit determines whether or not the vehicle is parked using an index different from that for the activation determination unit,
• wherein each of the first detection unit and the second detection unit acquires the state of the vehicle from a group of electronic control devices selected from the at least two or more groups of electronic control devices, and
• wherein the group of electronic control devices from which the first detection unit acquires the state of the vehicle is different from the group of electronic control devices from which the second detection unit acquires the state of the vehicle.

A method for updating a program for vehicles, the method comprising:

• acquiring update data from an external instrument to a master device;
• writing the update data acquired to the master device to a data storage side of a storage unit included in an electronic control device according to an instruction from the master device;
• determining whether or not the vehicle is parked using a first detection unit after writing the update data to the data storage side;
• when determining that the vehicle is parked using the first detection unit, giving an instruction to the electronic control device to activate a program stored in the data store side and rewritten with the update data;
• when activating the program according to the instruction to activate the program, determining whether or not the vehicle is in a parking state using a second detection unit different from the first detection unit;
• and
• when determining that the vehicle is in the parking state using the second detection unit, activating the program,
• wherein different indices are used in determination of parking in the first detection unit and determination of parking in the second detection unit to determine whether or not the vehicle is parked,
• wherein the master device is connected to at least two or more groups of electronic control devices each comprising the electronic control device,
• wherein each of the first detection unit and the second detection unit acquires the state of the vehicle from a group of electronic control devices selected from the at least two or more groups of electronic control devices, and
• wherein the group of electronic control devices from which the first detection unit acquires the state of the vehicle is different from the group of electronic control devices from which the second detection unit acquires the state of the vehicle.