Patent ID: 8813061
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: G06F,H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for updating an old file stored within a memory of a module included within an automobile, the module being operable to facilitate an automobile related operation based at least in part on a first plurality of computer-readable instructions included within the old file, the method comprising: determining a new file to be stored within the memory of the module in order to facilitate the automobile related operation, the new file including a second plurality of computer-readable instructions different in at least content and/or form than the first plurality of computer-readable instructions; generating update instructions with a controller, the update instructions sufficient for commanding the module to replace the old file stored within the memory with the new file such that the module thereafter facilitates the automobile related operation at least based in part on the second plurality of computer-readable instructions; determining a state of the automobile to be at least one of a first state and a second state, the first state corresponding with automobile diagnostics indicating conditions suitable to updating the old file, the second state corresponding with automobile diagnostics indicating conditions unsuitable to updating the old file; transmitting the update instructions from the controller to the module following determination of the first state; delaying transmitting the update instructions from the controller to the module following determination of the second state at least until subsequently determining the first state; determining the first state and the second state based at least in part on a capacity of a battery included within the automobile to power at least the module, wherein the first state requires the capacity to be greater than a threshold and the second state requires the capacity to be less than the threshold; determining an update time, the update time including a first length of time representative of time needed for the module to replace the old file stored within the memory with the new file; determining the threshold based at lest in part on the update time, including determining the threshold to be greater when the update time is longer and the threshold to be less when the update time is shorter; and determining the update time to include the first length of time plus a second length of time, the second length of time being proportional to a communication rate of a medium used to communicate the update instructions from the controller to the module.