US 11,941,384 B2
Vehicle master device, rewrite target group administration method, computer program product and data structure of specification data
Yuzo Harata, Kariya (JP); Kazuhiro Uehara, Kariya (JP); Masaaki Abe, Kariya (JP); Mitsuyoshi Natsume, Kariya (JP); and Takuya Kawasaki, Kariya (JP)
Assigned to DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed by DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed on Feb. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/170,251.
Application 17/170,251 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2019/030946, filed on Aug. 6, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-151417 (JP), filed on Aug. 10, 2018; and application No. 2019-129962 (JP), filed on Jul. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0165644 A1, Jun. 3, 2021
Int. Cl. G06F 9/445 (2018.01); B60R 16/023 (2006.01); G06F 8/41 (2018.01); G06F 8/61 (2018.01); G06F 9/38 (2018.01)
CPC G06F 8/451 (2013.01) [B60R 16/0231 (2013.01); G06F 8/453 (2013.01); G06F 8/61 (2013.01); G06F 9/3836 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle master device that is configured to acquire update data from a distribution device configured to distribute the update data, distribute the acquired update data to a plurality of rewrite target electronic control units (ECUs), and instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs to rewrite a program, the vehicle master device comprising:
a rewrite specification data acquisition unit that is configured to acquire rewrite specification data that is generated in association with the update data;
a rewrite specification data analysis unit that is configured to analyze the rewrite specification data acquired by the rewrite specification data acquisition unit;
a group generation unit that is configured to divide the plurality of rewrite target ECUs to generate one or more groups based on the rewrite specification data analyzed by the rewrite specification data analysis unit; and
an instruction execution unit that is configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs for each group of the one or more groups generated by the group generation unit to perform at least one of installation, rollback, and activation, wherein the instruction execution unit is further configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs in an order determined based on the rewrite specification data when giving an instruction for installation;
when giving the instruction for installation to the plurality of rewrite target ECUs, the instruction execution unit is further configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs in the order that is indicated by the rewrite specification data to perform installation; and
when the plurality of rewrite target ECUs include a rewrite target ECU having a single-bank memory and a rewrite target ECU having a double-bank memory in one of the one or more groups, the instruction execution unit is further configured to instruct the rewrite target ECU having the double-bank memory first to perform installation, and then instruct the rewrite target ECU having the single-bank memory last in the one of the one or more groups to perform installation.
 
14. A system comprising:
a center device that is configured to generate a package including update data and distribute the package to a vehicle; and
a vehicle master device that is configured to acquire the package including the update data from the center device, distribute the acquired update data to a plurality of rewrite target electronic control units (ECUs), and instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs to rewrite a program, wherein
the plurality of rewrite target ECUs are grouped into one or more of groups, the center device includes:
a specification data generation unit that is configured to generate rewrite specification data that indicates which group among the one or more of groups each of the plurality of rewrite target ECUs belongs to and an order for performing installation for the plurality of rewrite target ECUs;
a package generation unit that is configured to generate the package including the update data and the specification data; and
a package distribution unit that is configured to distribute the package to the vehicle, and the vehicle master device includes:
a rewrite specification data acquisition unit that is configured to acquire the rewrite specification data;
a rewrite specification data analysis unit that is configured to analyze the rewrite specification data acquired by the rewrite specification data acquisition unit;
a group generation unit that is configured to group the plurality of rewrite target ECUs into the one or more of groups based on the rewrite specification data analyzed by the rewrite specification data analysis unit; and
an instruction execution unit that is configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs for each group of the one of more of groups generated by the group generation unit to perform at least one of installation, rollback, and activation, wherein the instruction execution unit is further configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs in the order determined based on the rewrite specification data when giving an instruction for installation,
when giving the instruction for installation to the plurality of rewrite target ECUs, the instruction execution unit is further configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs in the order that is indicated by the rewrite specification data to perform installation; and
when the plurality of rewrite target ECUs include a rewrite target ECU having a single-bank memory and a rewrite target ECU having a double-bank memory in one of the one or more groups, the instruction execution unit is further configured to instruct the rewrite target ECU having the double-bank memory first to perform installation, and then instruct the rewrite target ECU having the single-bank memory last in the one of the one or more groups to perform installation.
 
15. A system comprising:
a center device that is configured to generate a package including update data and distribute the package to a vehicle; and
a vehicle master device that is configured to acquire the package including the update data from the center device, distribute the acquired update data to a plurality of rewrite target electronic control units (ECUs), and instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs to rewrite a program, wherein
the plurality of rewrite target ECUs are grouped into one or more of groups, the center device includes:
a specification data generation unit that is configured to generate rewrite specification data that indicates which group among the one or more of groups each of the plurality of rewrite target ECUs belongs to and an order for performing installation for the plurality of rewrite target ECUs;
a package generation unit that is configured to generate the package including the update data and the specification data; and
a package distribution unit that is configured to distribute the package to the vehicle, and the vehicle master device includes:
a rewrite specification data acquisition unit that is configured to acquire the rewrite specification data;
a rewrite specification data analysis unit that is configured to analyze the rewrite specification data acquired by the rewrite specification data acquisition unit;
a group generation unit that is configured to group the plurality of rewrite target ECUs into the one or more of groups based on the rewrite specification data analyzed by the rewrite specification data analysis unit; and
an instruction execution unit that is configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs for each group of the one of more of groups generated by the group generation unit to perform at least one of installation, rollback, and activation, wherein
the instruction execution unit is further configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs in the order determined based on the rewrite specification data when giving an instruction for installation, and
when the one or more of groups include a first group having one or more of first rewrite target ECUs and a second group having one or more of second rewrite target ECUs and the instruction execution unit gives the instruction for installation and activation to both the one or more of first rewrite target ECUs and the one or more of second rewrite target ECUs, the instruction execution unit is configured to instruct the one or more of second rewrite target ECUs to perform installation and activation after installation and activation for the one or more of first rewrite target ECUs were completed.
 
16. A system comprising:
a center device that is configured to generate a package including update data and distribute the package to a vehicle; and
a vehicle master device that is configured to acquire the package including the update data from the center device, distribute the acquired update data to a plurality of rewrite target electronic control units (ECUs), and instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs to rewrite a program, wherein
the plurality of rewrite target ECUs are grouped into one or more of groups, the center device includes:
a specification data generation unit that is configured to generate rewrite specification data that indicates which group among the one or more of groups each of the plurality of rewrite target ECUs belongs to and an order for performing installation for the plurality of rewrite target ECUs;
a package generation unit that is configured to generate the package including the update data and the specification data; and
a package distribution unit that is configured to distribute the package to the vehicle, and the vehicle master device includes:
a rewrite specification data acquisition unit that is configured to acquire the rewrite specification data;
a rewrite specification data analysis unit that is configured to analyze the rewrite specification data acquired by the rewrite specification data acquisition unit;
a group generation unit that is configured to group the plurality of rewrite target ECUs into the one or more of groups based on the rewrite specification data analyzed by the rewrite specification data analysis unit; and
an instruction execution unit that is configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs for each group of the one of more of groups generated by the group generation unit to perform at least one of installation, rollback, and activation, wherein the instruction execution unit is further configured to instruct the plurality of rewrite target ECUs in the order determined based on the rewrite specification data when giving an instruction for installation, and
when the one or more of groups include a first group having one or more of first rewrite target ECUs and a second group having one or more of second rewrite target ECUs and the instruction execution unit gives the instruction for installation and activation to both the one or more of first rewrite target ECUs and the one or more of second rewrite target ECUs, the instruction execution unit is configured to instruct the one or more of second rewrite target ECUs to perform installation and activation without waiting for completion of installation and activation for the one or more of first rewrite target ECUs if installation for the one or more of first rewrite target ECUs fails.