Upgradable firmware system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10387141-B2
Application number	US-201514958407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2015
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

The aspects of the present disclosure provide an upgradable firmware system and a method of adjusting or upgrading firmware through an upgradable firmware system within a vehicle cockpit. The upgradable firmware system may include a plug & play interface designed to interface with the vehicle cockpit. The plug & play interface may be configured to receive a plug & play card with a set of instructions for performing a task such as, updating one or more hardware and firmware blocks. The plug & play interface may be configured to recognize the plug & play card and adjust one or more hardware and firmware vehicle cockpit blocks based on the hardware and firmware block's configuration.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for upgrading firmware of a vehicle, comprising:
an electronic port configured to receive an electronic portable media, the electronic portable media configured to provide instructions of an upgradeable portion of a vehicle, the electronic port being defined as an opening installed in the vehicle's dashboard area, and configured to receive the electronic portable media through physical insertion;
a plug and play interface configured to electronically communicate the instructions to instructions to a vehicle cockpit block,
wherein in response to the electronic portable media being inserted into the electronic port and a new component of the vehicle is installed, an action associated with the upgrading of the firmware is performed,
the opening being disposed on a dashboard area independent from another visible component of the vehicle the new component is defined as a replacement part of a previously installed component, and
the new component is provided in a physical different location from the previously installed component,
the action being defined as an access of an application storage source for new applications associated with the new component.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the action is defined as automatically recognizing the new component, and adjusting the firmware of the vehicle with a predefined set of applications for the new component.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the action is defined as transmitting a message prompting a selection of whether to install the new component.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the action is defined as transmitting a message prompting a selection of whether to install a predefined set of applications associated with the new component.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the predefined set of applications are sourced from a network connected source.

6. An electronic card, comprising:
an interface electronic component configured to transmit instructions electronically to an electronic port of a vehicle; and
non-volatile memory configured to store the instructions to be transmitted,
wherein the instructions including actions to upgrade the vehicle's firmware in response to a new component being installed on the vehicle,
the electronic card being a physical object insert-able into an electronic port, the electronic port being defined as an opening provided with the vehicle's dashboard,
the opening being disposed on a dashboard area independent from another visible component of the vehicle the new component is installed on the vehicle,
the new component is defined as a replacement part of a previously installed component, and
the new component is provided in a physical different location from the previously installed component,
the action being defined as an access of an application storage source for new applications associated with the new component.

7. The electronic card according to claim 6 , wherein the action is defined as automatically recognizing the new component, and adjusting the firmware of the vehicle with a predefined set of applications for the new component.

8. The electronic card according to claim 6 , wherein the action is defined as transmitting a message prompting a selection of whether to install the new component.

9. The electronic card according to claim 6 , wherein the action is defined as transmitting a message prompting a selection of whether to install a predefined set of applications associated with the new component.

10. The electronic card according to claim 6 , wherein the predefined set of applications are sourced from a network connected source.

11. The electronic card according to claim 6 , wherein the electronic card is physically inserted by an occupant of the vehicle to make electrical contact with the electronic port.

12. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a covering to physically open/close to display/hide the opening.

13. A system for upgrading firmware of a vehicle, comprising:
an electronic port configured to receive an electronic portable media, the electronic portable media configured to provide instructions of an upgradeable portion of a vehicle;
a plug and play interface configured to electronically communicate the instructions to instructions to a vehicle cockpit block,
wherein in response to the electronic portable media being inserted into the electronic port and a new component of the vehicle is installed, an action associated with the upgrading of the firmware is performed,
the new component is defined as a replacement part of a previously installed component, and
the new component is provided in a physical different location from the previously installed component,
the action being defined as an access of an application storage source for new applications associated with the new component.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the opening is provided independent from an audio or video head unit.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the opening is provided a lid, configured to be in either an open or close state.

16. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the new component is a heads-up display (HUD), and an old component being replaced by the new component is a dashboard display.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the opening is provided separately and not attached to both the new component and the old component.

Assignees

• Mere Shadi
• Wingrove Theodore Charles
• Eichbrecht Michael
• Entsminger Kyle
• Visteon Global Tech Inc

Inventors

• Mere Shadi
• Wingrove Theodore Charles
• Eichbrecht Michael
• Entsminger Kyle

Classifications

• G06F8/654 Primary

  using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories · CPC title

• G06F8/65 Primary

  Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title