WO2007009838A1

WO2007009838A1 - Data transmission method and data transmission system

Info

Publication number: WO2007009838A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/062825
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Sonnenrein; Gerrit De Boer; Michael Busse
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2005-07-21
Filing date: 2006-06-01
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: DE102005034047A1

Abstract

A data transmission method is presented, first data (Vn) being intended to replace second data (Vn-1) at a first location (107), the first and second data being compared, and third data (Vn-Vn-1) being transmitted from a second location (103) to the first location (107), the third data (Vn-Vn-1) being determined by comparing the first data (Vn) and the second data (Vn-1) at the coding level. A corresponding transmitting system and a corresponding receiving system are also shown. The measure according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to reduce a data transmission volume.

Description

Data transmission method and data transmission system

The present invention relates to a data transmission method according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a corresponding transmission system, a corresponding reception system, a data transmission system, a computer program and a

A computer program product.

State of the art

In the following, reference will be made essentially to motor vehicle construction, without the method being restricted to this application.

At the present time, many different functions are implemented in motor vehicles (motor vehicles) by computer or microprocessor programs. The

Microprocessor programs are used in many automotive engineering devices, such as e.g. Control units included. In the maintenance of a motor vehicle, it is therefore increasingly necessary to also maintain microprocessor programs (replacement, update).

It is necessary to transfer the corresponding microprocessor programs to the car. The transfer requires more or less time and money, depending on the size of the software. Therefore, it is advantageous to provide the amount of data to be transmitted as small as possible. It is known to transfer only software components to the target system (for example a control unit), which must be renewed according to the software update. For this purpose, a corresponding software system is necessary in the target system, which consists of individual exchangeable units (eg libraries, DLL's), wherein the smallest exchangeable unit determines the amount of data to be transmitted. The software or data volume to be transmitted in this case is essentially always greater than the changes actually to be made in the target system, since at least one software unit is always transmitted. However, the size of the smallest interchangeable software unit is not selected in the known solutions according to transfer considerations, but automatically results in the creation of the software system. For example, if so-called embedded systems, such as control units, the entire database is replaced in a software update in the prior art.

TW-556094 A discloses a method for updating software using wireless data transmission. The new and old versions of the software are compared at the transmitter, then the differing

Transfer files completely. Also in this solution, a data transfer is performed, which is based on the given file sizes.

The problem thus arises of providing a data transmission method and system which can reduce the amount of data to be transmitted.

According to the invention a method having the features of claim 1, a transmission system having the features of claim 14, a receiving system having the features of claim 15, a data transmission system having the features of claim 19, a computer program according to claim 21 and a

Computer program product proposed according to claim 22. Advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description below.

Advantages of the invention

In the method according to the invention, first data are provided for replacing second data at a first location. It will be a comparison of the first and the second data and third data is transferred from a second location to the first location, the third data being determined from a coding level comparison of the first data and the second data. The term "job" includes in particular a subscriber in a network, a computing unit (PC, controller, ...) with a memory device, for example. RAM, ROM, flash memory, hard disk, etc., a memory device itself, an address in a memory or a memory device. Typically, the third data includes the difference of the first and second data and control or metadata that contains information about how to determine the first data from the difference data and the second data. By the measure according to the invention can be achieved, only the Datenbzw. Software components (and possibly metadata) to transfer, which actually differ. It is not necessary to resort to specified components of the software system, eg individual files. In this way, the amount of data to be transmitted and thus the necessary time and costs can be minimized. It will be appreciated that the second data to be replaced may also be missing, in which case the first data as a whole may be used as third data. Such a situation can be found in particular in a Erstbestückung or first description.

Advantageously, a comparison of the first and second data is performed at the binary level. A binary difference is formed, i. Specifically determines the positions in the first data where there is a deviation from the second data.

Similarly, a comparison of the first and second data on drawing level, in particular ASCII, Unicode (UTF-8, 16, 32), ISO 8859, etc., performed. A character difference is formed, i. Specifically determines the positions in the first data, where there is a deviation from the second data, as well as the deviating character.

Also advantageous is the use of a description language with which deviations of different categories (data blocks with deviations, missing data blocks, displacements of data blocks, etc.) are described. In this description language, as a limiting case, the transmission of the complete first data is included even if the transmission of the difference is not efficient. Also advantageous is the use of differential methods for the source coding of video and / or audio signals.

It is expedient if the first position with a, in particular according to the invention,

Receiving system or a receiving device in relation. By this is meant that the first digit may be such a receiving system or components thereof, or the first digit is associated with such a receiving system. For example, the receiving system may read in the second data from a target system for which the first data is provided, or a table, list, or the like may be provided. stored in which the software versions (versions) or software systems (entire software) of the target system are stored.

It is also expedient if the second position is related to a transmission system or a transmission device, in particular according to the invention.

By this it is to be understood that the second location may be such a transmission system or components thereof or the second location is associated with such a transmission system. The transmission system can be assigned a source system that creates the first data and forwards it to the transmission system. Likewise, the sending system can create the first data itself. In order to compare the first data with the second data, the transmission system, the source system or another comparison system can be provided.

Advantageously, in the method according to the invention, the second data is stored at the second location. It is useful if the system performing the comparison has knowledge of the source data and the current data of the target system. It can also be a table, list, o.a. which contains the software versions (versions) or software systems (entire software) of the target system.

It may also be expedient if, in the method according to the invention, the second data is transmitted from the first location to the second location prior to the comparison of the first and second data. It is useful if the system performing the comparison knows about the source data and the current data of the Target system has. It can for this purpose retrieve the corresponding data from the target system, preferably via the receiving system.

It is also advantageous if a plurality of destination systems are assigned to a receiving system. For example, in a car several control devices or other electronic

Units assigned to a receiving system as target systems and connected, for example via a CAN bus. However, it is equally advantageous if a target system is already integrated with a receiving system.

The units assigned to the first location or the reception system are in their

Entity referred to as the receiving side. Likewise, the units assigned to the second location or the transmission system are referred to in their entirety as the transmission side. It is particularly advantageous if the software versions of the target system are called up as version numbers from the receiving end, and the entire software systems are available on the transmission side for each individual version number and the

Comparison be supplied.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, after the transmission from the third data and the second data, the first data are determined.

It is expedient if, in the method according to the invention, the first data are created in such a way that they differ as little as possible from the second data at the coding level, in particular in binary or at the drawing level. This can be achieved, in particular, by means of suitable compiler and link settings that are unchanged, for example, in comparison to the previous generation. In the

Generation of the first data can also be taken into account as a boundary condition that an algorithm for subtraction is arranged downstream.

The method according to the invention can be used particularly advantageously for wireless transmission. This includes in particular a radio, infrared,

Wi-Fi or Bluetooth transmission. A wireless or wireless transmission generally does not have the bandwidth of a wired transmission. A reduction of the amount of data to be transmitted is therefore particularly advantageous in wireless communication. Also, other wireless transmission standards, here are not explicitly listed fall within the scope of this invention. Likewise, every wired transmission method.

Advantageously, in the method according to the invention, the first data are safety-critical data. Because only data differences are transmitted as third data, the third data is worthless to a potential attacker, since the first data can not be determined without knowing the second data. This therefore offers increased security.

It is particularly advantageous that the inventive method in the field of

Motor vehicle construction to use. Due to the ever-increasing equipment of a car with microprocessors more and more data transfers are necessary. Here, the method according to the invention can thus contribute in particular to the reduction of the data to be transmitted.

The method according to the invention can be used particularly advantageously for the transmission of software for computing units, in particular control units or embedded systems, in a motor vehicle.

An inventive transmission system for a data transmission system comprises:

- Means for storing first and second data, in particular a memory unit. It is secondary to how the first and second data arrive at the transmitting device. It can retrieve or receive the data from other devices, in particular source systems or target systems, or have already stored them.

- means for comparing the first data with the second data. These means perform a comparison at the coding level of the first and second data.

- means for creating third data as the difference of the first data and the second data at the coding level. Likewise, the metadata already explained above can be introduced at this point again.

- means for transmitting, in particular wireless or wired transmission or otherwise outputting the third data, for example a transmitting device. The comparison and the difference formation at coding level comprises in particular the possibilities listed in connection with the inventive method, namely binary, at drawing level, description language, etc.

An inventive receiving system for a data transmission system comprises:

- means for receiving, in particular wireless or wired reception or other recording of third data, such as a receiving device.

- Means for storing, in particular storing, second and third data. Again, it is secondary how the second data gets to the receiving device. It can retrieve the data from other facilities, in particular

Target systems, retrieve or receive or have already stored.

- means for determining first data from the second data and the third data (including metadata). Since the third data represent a known difference between the first and the second data, a reversible calculation is easy to carry out.

Means for outputting, in particular sending, transmitting, outputting, the first data. The output can be made to a target system if the receiving device is not integrated in the target system, or to the subsequent unit that supplies the newly calculated first data to their use.

In a preferred embodiment of the solution according to the invention, a receiving system is provided in a motor vehicle.

A computing unit according to the invention, in particular a control unit or embedded system for a motor vehicle, has an inventive integrated one

Receiving system on.

It is also advantageous if a plurality of target systems are assigned to a receiving system according to the invention. For example, in a car, multiple controllers, embedded systems, or other electronic devices may be considered a receiving system

Assigned target systems and connected, for example via a CAN bus. The receiving system then receives the third data for the respective target system and transmits this third data or the first data determined therefrom. A motor vehicle according to the invention has an inventive receiving system or a computing unit according to the invention, eg control unit or embedded system.

An inventive data transmission system has a transmission system according to the invention and a reception system according to the invention.

It is particularly preferred if a data transmission system according to the invention is designed to carry out a method according to the invention.

For all devices according to the invention, systems and their advantageous

Embodiments apply the advantages and possibilities that were mentioned in connection with the method according to the invention, in the same way.

A computer or microprocessor program according to the invention contains program code means in order to carry out the method according to the invention, if the

Program on a computer, a microprocessor or a corresponding computer unit, in particular a transmission system according to the invention or a receiving system according to the invention, is executed.

An inventive computer or microprocessor program product includes

Program code means which are stored on a machine- or computer-readable data carrier in order to carry out a method according to the invention when the program product is executed on a computer, a microprocessor or on a corresponding computer unit, in particular a transmitting system according to the invention or a receiving system according to the invention. Suitable data carriers are, in particular, floppy disks, hard disks, flash memories, EEPROMs, CD-ROMs, and the like. It is also possible to download a program via computer networks (Internet, intranet, etc.).

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained not only in the combination given, but also in others Combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention is illustrated schematically with reference to an exemplary embodiment in the drawing and will be described in detail below with reference to the drawing.

figure description

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a data transmission system according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention.

In FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a data transmission system according to the invention is designated by 100 as a whole. The data transmission system 100 has a transmission system (102 to 104) and a reception system (105 to 106). Furthermore, a source system 101 is shown, which is designed as a conventional personal computer, and provides a current software version V _n . Finally, a target system 107 is shown, which is designed, for example, as a control unit or embedded system in a motor vehicle.

The transmission system has a memory system 102, for example a hard disk memory, a comparison system or a difference image 103 and a transmission device 104. The receiving system includes a receiving device 105 and an integrator 106.

The PC 101 provides the comparison system 103 with the first data as current software

Version available. The current version of the software or the version is marked as V _n . The hard disk memory 102 provides the comparison system 103 with the older Sotware versions. The previous Sottware version, which is located on the control unit 107, is marked as V _nI . The comparing system 103 calculated from the Sottware- versions V _n and V _nI the difference data and metadata or the third data V _n -V _{n I} and provides it to the transmission device 104 ready.

The transmitting device 104 wirelessly transmits the third data to the receiving _device 105. The receiving _device 105 forwards the third data V _n -V _nI to the integrator 106, which _latches the data. The integrator 106 receives from the control unit 107 the Sottware of the controller as a second data V _nI and stores them as well. Instead of this passive method, the integrator can also actively read out the sootware of the control unit via a corresponding interface.

Subsequently, the integrator 106 calculates the first data V _n from the third data V _n -V _nI and the second data V _nI and transmits them to the control unit 107.

Normally he will write the calculated first data into the target system via an appropriate interface.

The mode of operation of the data transmission system according to the invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The flow chart of a data transmission method according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 begins in a step 200. In a step 201, first data, for example on a PC, are created as source data. In a step 202, the current Sottware version of the target system is queried. For this purpose, for example, a query command via the transmitting device 104 and the receiving device 105 are sent to the controller 107, whereupon the controller returns its current software version. Likewise, the current software version of the target system can be stored on the send side.

After the current software version of the controller is known, the associated second data is read from the hard disk memory 102 in a step 203. Subsequently, in a step 204, the third data is produced as a binary difference V _n -V _nI from the second data V _nI and the first data V _n . In a step 205, the third data is transmitted wirelessly by the transmitting device 104 and received by the receiving device 105 in a step 206.

Subsequently, in a step 207, the current data of the control _device 107 are read out as second data V _nI from the target system.

In a step 208, the first data V _{n are} calculated on the basis of the received third data V _n -V _nI and the read-out second data V _nI . In a step 209, the calculated first data is supplied to the controller 107. The method ends in a step 210.

An essential feature of the inventions is that the units of difference images 103 and integrator 106 are matched to each other, i. The integrator must be able to generate the new status or the first data from the data set generated by the difference image and the current software status of the target system.

By the described embodiments of the software system according to the invention and the method according to the invention, the amount of data to be transmitted can be advantageously reduced.

Claims

01.06.06ROBERT BOSCH GMBH, 70442 Stuttgart claims

A data transmission method wherein first data (V _n ) is provided to replace second data (V _n -i) at a first location (107) and comparison of the first and second data is performed, and third data (V _n _{-V n-} O are transmitted from a second location (103) to the first location (107),

characterized in that s

the third data (V _n -V _n- i) can be determined from a comparison of the first data (V _n ) and the second data (V _n- i) at the coding level.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the comparison takes place on a binary level.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the comparison takes place at the drawing level.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first location (107) with a receiving system (105 to 106) is related.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second point (103) with a transmission system (102 to 104) is related.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second data (V _n- i) at the second location (107) are stored.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second data (V _n- i) before the comparison of the first and second data from the first location (107) to the second location (103) are transmitted.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after the transmission of the third data (V _n - V _n- O and the second data (V _n- i), the first data (V _n ) are determined.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first data (V _n ) are created such that they differ as little as possible on the coding level of the second data (V _n- i).

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wireless transmission is used.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first data (V _n ) are safety-critical data.

12. Use of a method according to any one of the preceding claims in

Area of motor vehicle construction.

13. Use of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 for

Transmission of software for a computer (107), in particular a control device (107) or embedded system (107), in a motor vehicle.

14. A transmission system (102 to 104) for a data transmission system, comprising:

- means for storing first (V _n ) and second data (V _n- i);

- means for comparing (103) the first data (V _n ) with the second data (V _n- i);

- means for creating (103) third data (V _n -V _n- i) as the difference of the first data (V _n ) and the second data (V _n- i) at the coding level;

- Means for transmitting (104) the third data (V _n -V _n- O.

15. Receiving system (105 to 106) for a data transmission system, comprising:

- means for receiving (105) third data (V _n -V _n- i); - means for storing (106) second (V _n- i) and third data (V _n -V _n- i);

- means for determining (106) first data (V _n ) from the second data (V _n- i) and the third data (V _n -V _n- O;

- means for outputting (106) the first data (V _n ).

16. receiving system (105 to 106) according to claim 15, characterized in that it is provided in a motor vehicle.

17 arithmetic unit, in particular control unit or embedded system, for a motor vehicle, characterized in that therein a receiving system (105 to 106) according to claim 11 is integrated.

18. Motor vehicle with a receiving system (105 to 106) according to claim 15 and / or a computing unit according to claim 17.

19. A data transmission system (102 to 106), comprising a transmitting system (102 to 104) according to claim 14 and a receiving system (105 to 106) according to any one of claims 15 or 16.

20. A data transmission system (102 to 106) according to claim 19 for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 11.

21. Computer or microprocessor program with program code means for carrying out the corresponding steps of a method according to one of claims 1 to 11, when the program is on a computer, a microprocessor or a corresponding computer unit, in particular a transmission system (102 to 104) according to claim 14 or a receiving system (105 to 106) according to claim 15.

A computer or microprocessor program product having program code means stored on a machine-readable medium for carrying out the corresponding steps of a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 when the program product is stored on a computer, microprocessor or equivalent Computer unit, in particular a transmission system (102 to 104) according to claim 14 or a receiving system (105 to 106) according to claim 15, is executed.