FR2837946A1 - Remote loading of a file to a computer in a motor vehicle, compresses file before delivery to vehicle unit, which can decompress and load the file to the computer on the vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The remote updating has a download unit (10) with a means (11) of acquisition of a file (7) to be downloaded, a file compression function (12) and a sender (13) delivering this compressed file to the destination receiver (14) to a loading unit (15) on board the vehicle (9). The receiving unit can decompress (18) the file and load (18) the decompressed file into a computer (8) controlling functions in the vehicle.

Description

The present invention relates to a download system of at least one

  file in at least one control unit of a functional organ

of a motor vehicle.

  The implementation of these file download systems, that is to say data transfer from a download tool to one or more computers on board a motor vehicle, involves two

main problems.

  The first problem resides in the fact that the operation of downloading a data file into a motor vehicle computer is a relatively lengthy operation since several factors prove difficult to control. Indeed, the high technological level of informatics systems on board vehicles imposes an ever increasing number of calculators on board a vehicle and consequently, potential computers

downloadable.

  In addition, the volume of data, that is to say the application software and the calibration associated with the vehicle, is increasingly important in order to be able to

  to meet the demand for new functions to control.

  Finally, the multiplicity of possible options on a vehicle as well as the possibility of distributing this vehicle on a growing number of international markets, oblige vehicle designers to choose between an explosion in the diversity of software or a considerable increase in the size of memories of the computers, in order to be able to embed therein software known as envelopes,

  that is to say that can be configured according to the application of the vehicle.

  The second problem concerns access to vehicles.

  This problem results in two concerns of different natures, which arise in terms of access to this vehicle depending on the location and the living situation in which the vehicle is located when considering downloading.

Datas.

  The first concern relates to the deterioration of the connector of the download tool or of the vehicle in the case of a connection of this tool of my

  physical activity on a centralized vehicle outlet.

  Indeed, in the final phase of vehicle manufacturing, for example in the factory, or in after-sales service networks, the same tool, that is to say the same outlet, is used to download all the vehicles in the range . The second concern relates to the search for a particular vehicle on a fleet as part of a corrective operation of vehicles manufactured on hold

to be sold.

  Indeed, it remains extremely complicated to quickly locate on a fleet, for example of several thousand vehicles produced in the same day, a specific vehicle having to undergo a corrective upgrade operation. It has already been explained in document EP-A-1 039 419 that data compression can be used to reduce the size of the files to be transmitted and, consequently, the associated download time. However, this process is still relatively difficult to implement in view of the current technology of on-board computers, such as, for example, engine control computers, gearbox control computers, etc.

for several reasons.

  Indeed, the size of the compression code which must be embedded in each computer of the vehicle, currently represents around 64 Kbytes

  to be as efficient as possible.

  This size, although not negligible for current engine control computers, becomes prohibitive for seated steering type computers

té ou suspension.

  Furthermore, the computing capacity of the current generation of micro processors embedded in the computers leads to wasting more time decompressing data than what can be gained by reducing trans

fert compressed files.

  The object of the invention is therefore to solve these problems by considerably reducing the time of the download operation itself and this to

lower cost.

  To this end, the invention relates to a system for downloading at least one file into at least one control computer for a functional member.

  of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a download unit

  management comprising means for acquiring said at least one file to be downloaded

  load, means for compressing this file and means for transmitting this compressed file to corresponding reception means connected to a loading unit on board the vehicle and comprising means for decompressing the co file mpressed received and means for loading this decompressed file into the control computer of

the functional organ.

  According to other characteristics: the transmission and reception means comprise means for transmitting radioelectric information; the information transmission means comprise a radio telephone link; - the loading unit on board the vehicle is associated with

  means of identification allowing targeted information transmission to

  tination of this unit by the transmission means of the download unit; the means of identification also include a vehicle identification number; - the control unit of the functional unit comprises a Flash EPROM memory for storing said at least one file;

  - the loading unit and the control computer of said functional unit

  tional intogent sleep / wake functions; The loading unit comprises an information processing unit associated with means for temporarily storing the compressed file with a view to its decompression and its loading into the corresponding computer; - the loading unit is connected to the control computer of the functional organ by a wire connection; - the wired link comprises a multiplexed bus for transmitting vehicle information; and the wired link includes a serial line K for transmitting information.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will

  follow, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - Fig.1 represents a block diagram illustrating the structure of a download system of the state of the art; and - Fig.2 shows a block diagram illustrating the structure of a

  download system according to the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows the structure of a system of

  download of the state of the art.

  We recognize in fact in this FIG. 1, a download tool which is designated by the general reference 1 in this figure and a control calculator for a functional member of the vehicle, in which a file must be downloaded, such as that for example an engine control computer, designated by the ref

general reference 2.

  The download tool 1 is then connected through a connector 3 to a wire link designated by the general reference 4, for example in the form of a serial line K or a multiplexed network for transmitting vehicle information , to ensure that a file is downloaded

  conch shell designated by the general reference 5, in the computer 2.

  To this end, the download tool implements a download procedure designated by the general reference 6 to ensure good trans

  fert from this file to the calculator.

  We see appearing on this diagram, the drawbacks mentioned previously with regard to the physical connection of the download tool 1 to a centralized connector of the vehicle and the fact that this tool will be monopolized throughout the duration of the download operation, i.e. the time required for the recipient computer to receive and write this data to

  a memory component, of the Flash EPROM type for example.

  This diagram illustrates the downloading operation in the context for example of a recovery of a vehicle on production fleet, as it is carried out

  soe today in vehicle assembly plants.

  In Figure 2, there is shown a block diagram illustrating a

  download system according to the invention.

  In this FIG. 2, the downloading of a file 7 is illustrated in a computer controlling the operation of the vehicle engine, this computer being designated by the general reference 8, and being on board, for example on board a vehicle shown diagrammatically and designated by the general reference 9.

  This system includes a download unit designated by the

  general reference 10 which includes means for acquiring this file 7 by remote control

  load, shown schematically by the arrow 11 in this figure, to deliver it to

  means of compressing this file designated by the general reference 12.

  The compressed file is then transmitted to transmission means thereof to the corresponding reception means on board

of the vehicle 9.

  In this FIG. 2, the transmission means are designated by the general reference 13, while the corresponding reception means are designated

  signed by the general reference 14.

  It should be noted in this regard that these transmission and reception means may include means for transmitting radioelectric information.

  trained for example by a radio telephone link.

  The corresponding reception means on board the vehicle and designated by the general reference 14, are connected to a loading unit on board the vehicle, this loading unit being designated by the general reference 15 and being for example under the form of a computer or information processing unit of the vehicle having data storage and digital computing capacities for processing and in particular decompression of the file received. This calculator will also be

  later called the telematics calculator.

  Thus, for example, this computer includes means for temporarily storing the compressed file with a view to its decompression and its

  loading into the corresponding computer.

  Illustrated in 16 in this figure, the step of writing the compressed compressed file received from the download unit through the corresponding transmission / reception means, in these temporary file storage means of this

loading unit 15.

  The step shown diagrammatically by the block 17 in this figure illustrates the step of releasing the communication line between the download unit 10 and the loading unit 15 and therefore the release of this download unit 10

  which can then be used for other operations.

  In 18, the step of decompressing the compressed file received by corresponding means of the computer 15 and the loading of the corresponding decompressed file into the control unit of the control unit has been illustrated.

  nel, such as the engine control computer 8.

  It will be noted in this regard that the telematic computer, that is to say the loading unit 15 and the control computer of the functional member 8, such as the engine control computer, are connected by a wire connection such that the link designated by the general reference 19 and which can be in the form of a multiplexed bus for transmitting vehicle information or

  another serial line K for transmitting information.

  This link then allows the transfer of data to the control unit of the functional unit which is adapted to store this data in storage means thereof designated by the general reference 20 in this figure and formed for example by a flash memory

EPROM.

  It can therefore be seen that it is sufficient to have on board the vehicle a single computer having the digital computing and memory capacities required for processing the compressed files and the transfer of the corresponding decompressed files to the corresponding computers on board

on board the vehicle.

  Such computers are also called telematic computers as indicated above and are already installed in certain vehicles. Such computers already have a radiotelephone link which it is therefore possible to use to ensure the remote transmission of files with the direct advantage of not requiring a physical connection to the vehicle and therefore of being close to that and mobilize a per

corresponding staff.

  This also allows, due to the grouping of operations for receiving and decompressing files, in a single computer, to allow computers not originally planned to benefit, the possibility of being downloaded remotely without changing their software internal, while limiting as much as possible the communication time on a telephone network because the

  data transmitted on this type of network can be compressed.

  The telematics computer is therefore responsible for decompressing the data thus received for the other destination computers of the vehicle and transmitting them in accordance with the procedures, for example already in use.

cheer among the builders.

  It will also be noted that computers of this type can integrate

  sleep / wake functions in a conventional manner.

  In order to save available energy, the computers frequently integrate the standby functions when they do not have to provide

specific operations.

  An example of such functions can be found in document FR-A-01

09 034.

  Such a sleep / wake function can here be extended to the alarm clock

  tance of a computer, from a message received by the computer 15.

  It will also be noted that this loading unit 15 on board the vehicle is associated with identification means allowing targeted transmission of information to this unit by the means

  of the download unit.

  These identification means can include, for example, in addition a vehicle identification number, frequently called a VIN, this identification number being able to form part of the constitution of a mailbox address.

  electronic letters from a vehicle's telematics computer.

  This mailbox function can only be integrated in the calculation

  Telematics reader mainly for cost reasons.

  A message thus formed can then trigger the awakening of the telematic computer, this computer in turn having to wake up a recipient computer

of a transmitted file.

  It is also important to note that this operating phase including waking up the final recipient computer for the file and transferring the data between the telematic computer and this recipient computer, can be

  performed in masked time as part of a recovery on vehicle fleet.

  In other words, the information transmission line as well as the download unit can be freed for other purposes during this phase which

  is performed internally in the vehicle.

  Of course, a message confirming that the download procedure has been carried out correctly can be sent back to the download unit in order to indicate to an operator that the corresponding progress has been made. Thus, the operation of decompression and transfer of data from the telematic computer to the control computer of the functional member is carried out in an autonomous and transparent manner, seen from the download unit.

and corresponding staff.

  It is also conceivable that another advantage provided by this system is that it can be used on several vehicles, the same control unit for driving the functional member, such as for example the control computer mo

  without having to recode a new download procedure.

  Of course, still other embodiments can be envisaged.

Claims (11)

  1. System for downloading at least one file into at least one   control computer for a functional member of a motor vehicle,   laughed in that it comprises a download unit (10) comprising means (11) for acquiring said at least one download file (7), means (12) for compressing this file and means (13) for sending this compressed file to corresponding reception means (14) connected to a loading unit (15) on board the vehicle (9) and comprising means (18) for decompressing the received compressed file and means (18) for loading this decompressed file into the control computer (8) of the functional organ.   2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission and reception means (13, 14) comprise transmission means radio information.   3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the means   transmission of information include a telephone radio link.   4. System according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the loading unit (15) on board the vehicle (9) is associated with identification means allowing targeted information transmission to this unit by the transmission means (13)   of the download unit (10).   5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the means   The identification further includes a vehicle identification number (9).   6. System according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the computer (8) for controlling the functional member com   takes a Flash EPROM (20) for storing said at least one file.   7. System according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the loading unit (15) and the control computer (8)   of said functional organ integrate wake / wake functions.   8. System according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the loading unit (15) comprises an information processing unit associated with means (16) for temporary storage of the fi   compressed le for decompression and loading in the cal- corresponding culater (8).   9. System according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the loading unit (15) is connected to the control computer (8) of the functional member by a wire connection (19). 10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the connection   wired comprises a multiplexed bus for transmitting vehicle information.   11. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the connection   wired comprises a serial line K for transmitting information.