Software update apparatus, update control method, non-transitory storage medium storing update control program, server, OTA master, and center

A non-transitory storage medium storing a program executable on a computer including a processor, a memory, and a storage device to control software update of an electronic control unit, the program causing the computer to execute the following function:

• controlling, when a software update process of the electronic control unit is executed, a timing for executing an approval request process for requesting an approval for the software update process according to a type of non-volatile memory included in an electronic control unit to be updated;
• when the non-volatile memory included in the electronic control unit to be updated is a first type of memory, executing the approval request process before update data is installed in a storage area of the non-volatile memory;
• and
• when the non-volatile memory included in the electronic control unit to be updated is a second type of memory, executing the approval request process after the update data is installed in the storage area, which is not a target to be read, of the non-volatile memory and before the storage area in which the update data is installed is activated as a target to be read.

A server comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• store, for every piece of vehicle identification information for identifying a vehicle, a type of non-volatile memory included in an electronic control unit mounted on the vehicle;
• receive, from the vehicle, a confirmation request that includes the vehicle identification information;
• when the confirmation request is received, determine whether there is update data of software of the vehicle identified by the vehicle identification information included in the confirmation request;
• and
• when there is the update data of the software of the vehicle, transmit, to the vehicle, instruction information for an instruction on a timing for executing an approval request process based on the type of non-volatile memory included in an electronic control unit to be updated, wherein
• when the non-volatile memory included in the electronic control unit to be updated is a first type of memory, processing circuitry of the vehicle is configured to execute the approval request process before update data is installed in a storage area of the non-volatile memory;
• and
• when the non-volatile memory included in the electronic control unit to be updated is a second type of memory, the processing circuitry of the vehicle is configured to execute the approval request process after the update data is installed in the storage area, which is not a target to be read, of the non-volatile memory and before the storage area in which the update data is installed is activated as a target to be read.

An over-the-air (OTA) master that controls a software update of an electronic control unit, the OTA master comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• when a software update process of the electronic control unit is executed, control a timing for executing an approval request process for requesting an approval for the software update process according to a type of non-volatile memory included in an electronic control unit to be updated;
• when the non-volatile memory included in the electronic control unit to be updated is a first type of memory, execute the approval request process before update data is installed in a storage area of the non-volatile memory;
• and
• when the non-volatile memory included in the electronic control unit to be updated is a second type of memory, execute the approval request process after the update data is installed in the storage area, which is not a target to be read, of the non-volatile memory and before the storage area in which the update data is installed is activated as a target to be read.

A center comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• store, for every piece of vehicle identification information for identifying a vehicle, a type of non-volatile memory included in an electronic control unit mounted on the vehicle;
• receive, from the vehicle, a confirmation request that includes the vehicle identification information;
• when the confirmation request is received, determine whether there is update data of software of the vehicle identified by the vehicle identification information included in the confirmation request;
• and
• when there is the update data of the software of the vehicle, transmit, to the vehicle, instruction information for an instruction on a timing for executing an approval request process based on the type of non-volatile memory included in an electronic control unit to be updated, wherein
• when the non-volatile memory included in the electronic control unit to be updated is a first type of memory, processing circuitry of the vehicle is configured to execute the approval request process before update data is installed in a storage area of the non-volatile memory;
• and
• when the non-volatile memory included in the electronic control unit to be updated is a second type of memory, the processing circuitry of the vehicle is configured to execute the approval request process after the update data is installed in the storage area, which is not a target to be read, of the non-volatile memory and before the storage area in which the update data is installed is activated as a target to be read.