Providing vehicle system module updates
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorRafael TILES
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communication system that includes a backend system and a vehicle. A method of using the communication system to remotely provide system module updates for the vehicle. The method includes: generating at a vehicle backend system an electronic message (e-mail) that includes an update for a vehicle system module (VSM) in the vehicle; storing the e-mail at a mail cache server, the cache server being associated with the backend system; and when the vehicle becomes associated with a backend services agreement, then delivering the e-mail stored at the cache server to the vehicle via a cellular link so that the update may be applied to the VSM.
Claims13
A method of remotely providing system module updates for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- generating at a vehicle backend system an electronic message (e-mail) that includes an update for a first vehicle system module (VSM) in the vehicle;
- storing the e-mail at a mail cache server, the cache server being associated with the backend system;
- and
- when the vehicle becomes associated with a backend services agreement, then delivering the e-mail stored at the cache server to the vehicle via a cellular link so that the update may be applied to the first VSM.
A method of receiving system module updates for a vehicle from a remotely located backend system, comprising the steps of:
- ceasing to receive e-mail from the backend system as a result a termination of a backend services agreement between a user of the vehicle and the backend system;
- then,
- receiving an e-mail at the vehicle via a cellular link from a cache server which stored the e-mail during a subscription lapse period;
- extracting a software update or a firmware update from the e-mail;
- and
- installing the software or firmware update at a vehicle system module (VSM) in the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.