Program updating device, program updating system and program updating method

A program updating system comprising:

• a plurality of in-vehicle devices configured to operate based on a software program;
• a drive control device configured to control driving of a vehicle, a power supply control device configured to perform distribution processing of electric power from an in-vehicle power supply;
• and a program updating device that includes a communication unit configured to transmit/receive information to/from the in-vehicle devices, the drive control device, and the power supply control device, and executes update processing by transmitting update information corresponding to the software program from the communication unit, wherein
• the program updating device includes:
• a determination unit configured to determine whether an operation switch of the vehicle has been switched from an on-state to an off-state;
• a state control unit configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the operation switch has been switched to the off-state, transmit an instruction to transition to a driving-prohibition state of the vehicle to the drive control device and an instruction to hold an ignition-on state of the vehicle to the power supply control device, from the communication unit;
• and
• an update processing unit configured to, when receiving a notification of completing the transition to the driving-prohibition state from the driving control device, and a notification of completing of the holding of the ignition-on state from the power supply control device, start update processing based on the update information.

A program updating method performed by a system including:

• a plurality of in-vehicle devices configured to operate based on a software program;
• a drive control device configured to control driving of a vehicle, a power supply control device configured to perform distribution processing of electric power from an in-vehicle power supply;
• and a program updating device including a communication unit configured to transmit/receive information to/from the in-vehicle devices, the drive control device, and the power supply control device, the method for transmitting update information corresponding to the software program to the in-vehicle devices to execute update processing, the method including processing in which:
• the program updating device determines whether an operation switch of the vehicle has been switched from an on-state to an off-state, and
• if it is determined that the switch has been switched to the off state, the program updating device transmits an instruction to transition to the driving-prohibition state of the vehicle to the driving control device, and an instruction to hold an ignition-on state of the vehicle to the power supply control device, from the communication unit, respectively,
• if an instruction to transition to the driving-prohibition state is received, the driving control device prohibits driving of the vehicle, and transmits a notification of completing the transition to the program updating device,
• if the instruction to hold the ignition-on state is received, the power supply control device holds the ignition-on state regardless of the state of the operation switch of the vehicle, and transmits a notification of completing of the holding to the program updating device, and
• the program updating device starts update processing based on the update information if the notification of completing the transition is received from the drive control device and the notification of completing of the holding is received from the power supply control device.