US 5,815,071 A · Method and apparatus for monitoring parameters of vehicle electronic control units

Abstract

A system for monitoring and adjustment of control unit parameter settings of vehicle electronic control units. The monitoring system may be implemented in a vehicle in which are incorporated one or more electronic control units for regulating one more operational parameters of the vehicle in accordance with corresponding control unit parameter settings. In an exemplary implementation the vehicle is equipped with a mobile communications terminal (MCT), which receives from a base station a list of operational parameters to be monitored. Each of the electronic control units, as well as a memory unit, are connected to an internal data link of the vehicle. When a parameter value within the memory unit corresponding to a given control unit is changed, a message is provided to the base station specifying the value currently registered by the control unit. The currently registered value is then compared to an expected parameter value, and an error message is generated if disagreement exists therebetween. The system also allows vehicle control unit parameter settings to be adjusted from a remote location such as a base station. The MCT of each vehicle is disposed to generate message packets containing updated control unit parameter information received from the base station. The message packets are then sent to a selected electronic control unit over the data link, thereby allowing the updated control unit parameter information to be loaded therein.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Method for monitoring electronic control unit (ECU) parameters to detect tampering of expected ECU parameters in a vehicle which includes an ECU, said ECU being connected to a data link within said vehicle, said ECU having a parameter stored therein for regulating a corresponding operational function of said vehicle, said vehicle being in communication with a remote base station, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a list of initial ECU preset expected operational function regulating parameters within a memory unit within said vehicle, separate from said ECU;
retrieving a current ECU parameter from said ECU within said vehicle at predetermined intervals;
comparing said current ECU parameter to said initial ECU preset expected parameters and detecting disagreement therebetween;
and
transmitting, to said remote base station, said current ECU parameter which is in disagreement with a corresponding initial ECU preset expected parameter.

2 more elements

Apparatus for monitoring electronic control unit (ECU) parameters to detect tampering of expected ECU parameters in a vehicle which includes an ECU, said ECU being connected to a data link within said vehicle, said ECU having a parameter stored therein for regulating a corresponding, operational function of said vehicle, said vehicle being in communication with a remote base station, said apparatus comprising:

an ECU located within said vehicle, said ECU having a programmable parameter for controlling a corresponding operational function of said vehicle;
a memory unit in which is stored an initial ECU preset expected parameter value;
an electronic processor, connected to the data link and to said memory unit, for comparing said initial ECU preset expected parameter value to said current ECU parameter and for detecting differences therebetween;
and
a mobile communications transceiver for transmitting, to said remote base station, said current ECU parameter which is different than said initial ECU preset expected parameter.

2 more elements

Apparatus for monitoring electronic control unit (ECU) parameters to detect tampering of expected ECU parameters in a vehicle which includes an ECU, said ECU being connected to a data link within said vehicle, said ECU having a parameter stored therein for regulating a corresponding operational function of said vehicle, said vehicle being in communication with a remote base station, said apparatus comprising:

an ECU, located within said vehicle, said ECU having a programmable expected operational function regulating parameter for controlling a corresponding operational function of said vehicle;
a first wireless transceiver, located at said remote base station, for transmitting to said ECU changes to said programmable expected operational function regulating parameter;
a second wireless transceiver, located within said vehicle, for receiving said ECU parameter changes and for transmitting a current ECU parameter to said remote base station;
an electronic processing unit, located within said vehicle, for encoding said ECU parameter changes into data packets capable of being processed by said ECU;
and
a data link, located within said vehicle, for providing data between said ECU and said electronic processor.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for monitoring parameters of vehicle electronic control units

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for monitoring parameters of vehicle electronic control units

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16