Abstract: An electronic control unit having implemented on it, and made up of components, a software and a plurality of software interfaces, optimized with respect to the exchange of data, for the optional coupling in of a plurality of applications, the software including at least one application-specific software code of a component for each application capable of being coupled in, which is activated when the application is coupled in. The present arrangement also relates to a corresponding method for the specification of a software architecture of an electronic control unit.

Abstract: A method and system for the verification of software functions for a control unit, using a simulation model to simulate the software functions and the control unit, the software code for the software functions being generated automatically from the identical simulation model, firstly for a first experimental control unit and secondly for a second standard control unit, identical input variables for the software functions being used on both control units and the output variables of both control units resulting therefrom being detected synchronized in time, i.e., simultaneously, the software functions being verified through comparison of the output variables of both control units.

Abstract: A method for checking the safety and reliability of software-based electronic systems, using a reliability function for checking the functions of the system that are called for, based on the hardware components of the system required for this. In this connection it is provided that a reliability function is determined for calculating the reliability of at least one of the required functions of the system, and an additional reliability function is determined for calculating the reliability of at least one of the safety functions of the system, in the determination of these reliability functions, software components of the system being taken into consideration with the aid of hardware components onto which these software components are distributed. This makes possible the early valuation of different monitoring concepts for such systems, and of functions of these systems which are implemented by software and hardware.

Abstract: A method for executing a software update of a control unit by flash programming a flash memory of the control unit having multiple segments via a serial interface, demands on the flash programming procedure being established, a sequence of the flash programming procedure being specified by a finite-state machine which defines states and transitions of the software, and availability, security, and reliability requirements of each state and each transition of the finite-state machine being checked. In addition, described are a corresponding finite-state machine and a computer program for automatically checking the availability, security, and reliability requirements.

Abstract: A method and system for the verification of software functions for a control unit, using a simulation model to simulate the software functions and the control unit, the software code for the software functions being generated automatically from the identical simulation model, firstly for a first experimental control unit and secondly for a second standard control unit, identical input variables for the software functions being used on both control units and the output variables of both control units resulting therefrom being detected synchronized in time, i.e., simultaneously, the software functions being verified through comparison of the output variables of both control units.