Abstract: A method for real-time widespread distribution of software updates of vehicle components comprising flash memory is provided.

Abstract: A method for updating a vehicular electronic control unit (ECU) comprising a flash memory storing a digital content image and a boot loader is provided. The method comprises: generating a differential update package (DUP) for said ECU to update the digital content image to an updated digital content image, said DUP comprising instructions to perform one or more of copying bytes from said flash memory, and applying a set of modifications to said copied bytes; transmitting said DUP over a wireless carrier system to a telematics device of the vehicle; storing an original block portion of said digital content image; modifying said original block portion in accordance with said DUP to produce a modified block portion; erasing said original block portion from said flash memory; and writing said modified block portion into said flash memory in place of said original block portion.

Abstract: A telematics control unit (TCU) installable in a vehicle comprises: a wireless network interface; an interface to a vehicle bus coupled to a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs); a memory; a processor; a differential update package (DUP) received via the wireless network interface to provide an update to a specific one ECU. The DUP comprising a flashing tool, differential update instructions for the specific one ECU and differential update data for the flash memory of said specific one ECU. The processor utilizes the flashing tool to provide the differential update instructions to a boot loader of the specific one ECU and to update the ECU flash memory.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with computer executable instructions stored thereon executed by a processor in a vehicle comprising a wireless local area network interface to communicate with a mobile device via a local wireless network and a backhaul network interface to wirelessly communicate with a backhaul network and to establish a layer 2 communication link and a layer 3 communication link to provide a link monitoring communication method. The method comprises: monitoring the layer 2 communication link and the layer 3 communication links over the backhaul network interface; reestablishing communications via the layer 2 communication link and the layer 3 communication link when a communications failure via the layer 2 communications link is detected; and reestablishing communications via the layer 3 communication link when a communications failure via only the layer 3 communication link is detected.

Abstract: A method for wireless remote updating of vehicle software of one or more target electronic control units (ECUs) in a target vehicle group comprises manager software on a server. The manager software selects the target vehicle group and generates a differential update package (DUP) comprising an update manager. Download manager software downloads the DUP to one or more target vehicles. The update manager in each vehicle updates the one or more target ECUs.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with computer executable instructions stored thereon executed by a processor in a vehicle comprising a wireless local area network interface to communicate with a mobile device via a local wireless network and a backhaul network interface to wirelessly communicate with a backhaul network and to establish a layer 2 communication link and a layer 3 communication link to provide a link monitoring communication method. The method comprises: monitoring the layer 2 communication link and the layer 3 communication links over the backhaul network interface; reestablishing communications via the layer 2 communication link and the layer 3 communication link when a communications failure via the layer 2 communications link is detected; and reestablishing communications via the layer 3 communication link when a communications failure via only the layer 3 communication link is detected.

Abstract: A centralized system for real-time monitoring widely distributed software updates of vehicle components, comprises: an arbitration server; a distributed network comprising a plurality of communication servers; a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle of said plurality of vehicles comprising a telematics control unit (TCU) operable to communicate with one communication server of said plurality of communication servers, each TCU is adapted to receive and deploy software updates to electronic control units (ECUs) within its corresponding vehicle, and said TCU is operable to generate status updates for software updates and communicate the status updates to the corresponding communication server; and each communication server is operable to simultaneously receive data messages comprising status updates from the plurality of vehicles and to generate a data stream comprising the data messages, the data stream being sent to a log file.

Abstract: A method for upgrading vehicle electronic control units (ECUs) in a vehicle comprises: creating a differential upgrade package (DUP) for each upgrade to a predetermined ECU, said creating comprises: comparing a new image of the digital contents of a predetermined ECU flash memory with a present image of the digital contents of the predetermined ECU flash memory; and producing a set of changes to modify the present image to the new image, said changes comprising a set of instructions. The DUP comprises a set of instructions that are utilized to update the ECU flash memory a block at a time.

Abstract: A method of operating a predetermined electronic control unit is provided for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle network bus and one or more electronic control units coupled to the bus. The method comprises: providing the predetermined electronic control unit of with a processor, a memory, an interface to the vehicle network bus, and an intrusion detection program. The method further comprises: utilizing the predetermined electronic control unit to monitor data on the vehicle network bus; executing the intrusion detection program to detect one or more anomalies in the monitored data; and utilizing the predetermined electronic control unit to generate an alert upon detection of one or more anomalies.

Abstract: An electronic control unit is provided for installation in a vehicle. The electronic control unit is operable to provide intrusion detection for the vehicle electronic systems. The electronic control unit comprises: a processor; a memory; and an interface to a vehicle network bus coupled to vehicle electronic control units. The processor utilizes the interface to monitor data on the vehicle network bus. An intrusion detection program is stored in the memory and is executable by the processor. The processor utilizes the intrusion detection program to detect one or more anomalies in the monitored data. The electronic control unit generates an alert upon detection of one or more anomalies.

Abstract: A method of operating a mobile router installed in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises a vehicle network bus coupled to a plurality of electronic control units. The mobile router comprises: a wireless wide area network interface a wireless local area network interface; an interface to the vehicle network bus; a processor; and a memory comprising a plurality of programs. The plurality of programs comprises an intrusion detection program executable by the processor. The method of operating a mobile router comprises: monitoring data on the vehicle network bus; utilizing the intrusion detection program to detect one or more anomalies in the monitored data; and generating an alert upon detection of one or more of anomalies.

Abstract: An embodiment is provided of a mobile router for installation in a vehicle comprising a vehicle network bus coupled to a plurality of electronic control units. The mobile router comprises: a processor; a memory comprising a plurality of programs; a wireless wide area network interface; a wireless local area network interface; and an interface to the vehicle network bus coupled to vehicle electronic control units. The processor utilizes the interface to monitor data on the vehicle network bus. The plurality of programs comprises an intrusion detection program executable by the processor to detect one or more anomalies in the monitored data; and to generate an alert upon detection of one or more anomalies.

Abstract: In an embodiment of a vehicle, the vehicle comprises: a vehicle network bus; one or more electronic control units coupled to the bus. One electronic control unit comprises: a processor; a memory; an interface to the vehicle network bus; and an intrusion detection program stored in the memory and executable by the processor. The processor utilizes the interface to monitor data on the vehicle network bus and utilizes the intrusion detection program to detect one or more anomalies in the monitored data. The electronic control unit generates an alert upon detection of one or more anomalies.

Abstract: An embodiment is provided of a mobile router for installation in a vehicle comprising a vehicle network bus coupled to a plurality of electronic control units. The mobile router comprises: a processor; a memory comprising a plurality of programs; a wireless wide area network interface; a wireless local area network interface; and an interface to the vehicle network bus coupled to vehicle electronic control units. The processor utilizes the interface to monitor data on the vehicle network bus. The plurality of programs comprises an intrusion detection program executable by the processor to detect one or more anomalies in the monitored data; and to generate an alert upon detection of one or more anomalies.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with computer executable instructions stored thereon executed by a processor in a vehicle comprising a wireless local area network interface and a wireless cellular network interface provides a communication method. The method comprises automatically initiating a first transport protocol session between said mobile router and said mobile device over said wireless local area network interface; and automatically initiating a second transport protocol session between said mobile router and said destination device over said wireless cellular network interface, said second transport protocol session comprising a cellular network layer and a wide area network layer. The cellular network layer and the wide area network layer are monitored to detect if the wide area network layer or the cellular network layer is interrupted.

Abstract: A method for wireless remote updating of vehicle software of one or more target electronic control units (ECUs) in a target vehicle group comprises: hosting manager software on a server that is one of a client server or a central server accessible by a the client; utilizing said manager software for selecting said target vehicle group and generating a differential update package (DUP) comprising an update manager; providing download manager software for downloading said DUP to each said one or more target vehicles; and utilizing the update manager in each vehicle to update the one or more said target ECUs.

Abstract: A method for upgrading vehicle electronic control units (ECUs) in a vehicle comprises: creating a differential upgrade package (DUP) for each upgrade to a predetermined ECU, said creating comprises: comparing a new image of the digital contents of a predetermined ECU flash memory with a present image of the digital contents of the predetermined ECU flash memory; and producing a set of changes to modify the present image to the new image, said changes comprising a set of instructions. The DUP comprises a set of instructions that are utilized to update the ECU flash memory a block at a time.

Abstract: A method for real-time widespread distribution of software updates of vehicle components comprising flash memory is provided.

Abstract: A method for updating a vehicular electronic control unit (ECU) comprising a flash memory storing a digital content image and a boot loader is provided. The method comprises: generating a differential update package (DUP) for said ECU to update the digital content image to an updated digital content image, said DUP comprising instructions to perform one or more of copying bytes from said flash memory, and applying a set of modifications to said copied bytes; transmitting said DUP over a wireless carrier system to a telematics device of the vehicle; storing an original block portion of said digital content image; modifying said original block portion in accordance with said DUP to produce a modified block portion; erasing said original block portion from said flash memory; and writing said modified block portion into said flash memory in place of said original block portion.

Abstract: A telematics control unit (TCU) installable in a vehicle comprises: a wireless network interface; an interface to a vehicle bus coupled to a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs); a memory; a processor; a differential update package (DUP) received via the wireless network interface to provide an update to a specific one ECU. The DUP comprising a flashing tool, differential update instructions for the specific one ECU and differential update data for the flash memory of said specific one ECU. The processor utilizes the flashing tool to provide the differential update instructions to a boot loader of the specific one ECU and to update the ECU flash memory.