Method and system for remote reflash
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorStephen C. Habermas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for remote reflashing of software for electronic control units (ECUs). A method includes identifying vehicle groups for software updating 200, determining vehicles within the vehicle groups, each of the vehicles having a telematics device and a plurality of ECUs 202, preparing a software update package for each of the vehicles 204, transmitting the software update package over a wireless carrier system to the telematics device of each of the vehicles 206, and installing the software update package in at least one target ECU for each of the vehicles 208.
Claims18
A method for remote reflashing of software for electronic control units (ECUs), the method comprising:
- identifying one or more vehicles selected to receive updated ECU software using a database of vehicle information located at a remote facility, wherein the identifying step comprises searching the database using at least one key parameter associated with the vehicle information in the database;
- preparing a software update package that includes the updated ECU software for each of the one or more identified vehicles;
- transmitting the software update package over a wireless carrier system to a telematics device of each of the identified vehicles;
- and
- installing the updated ECU software in at least one target ECU for each of the identified vehicles.
A system for remote reflashing of software for electronic control units (ECUs), the system comprising:
- means for identifying one or more vehicles selected to receive updated ECU software using a database of vehicle information located at a remote facility, wherein the identifying step comprises searching the database using at least one key parameter associated with the vehicle information in the database;
- means for preparing a software update package that includes the updated ECU software for each of the one or more identified vehicles;
- means for transmitting the software update package over a wireless carrier system to a telematics device of each of the identified vehicles;
- and
- means for installing the updated ECU software in at least one target ECU for each of the identified vehicles.
A method for remote reflashing of software for electronic control units (ECUs), comprising the steps of:
- wirelessly receiving a software update package at a vehicle via a telematics unit;
- obtaining from the software update package a set of reflash execution instructions that identify either an ECU reflash sequence or a required vehicle state, or both;
- obtaining from the software update package an ECU update containing new ECU operating software or calibration data, or both;
- carrying out the reflash execution instructions by placing the vehicle in any required vehicle state and reprogramming one or more ECUs with the ECU update, wherein reprogramming of multiple ECUs is carried out according to any ECU reflash sequence contained in the software update package.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.