Robert Boschgmbh

Martin Hurich

Wolfgang Grimm

Harry Friedmann

Robert Seyfang

Gerald Holzapfel

Eberhard Tenbusch

A method for partial initialization of a real-time computation device that is connected via a communication system to further computation devices. Various functionalities are implemented in the computation device by executing a computer program in different fixed time interval patterns. Communication to the further computation devices is performed in a fixed communication pattern. Time interval patterns that are slower than the communication pattern can be influenced from the computer program via the communication pattern. To allow the computation device to be partially initialized despite a large inventory of functionalities, without impairing communication to the further computation devices, for initialization of a portion of the computer program, the computation device is transferred into a meta-state by the communication pattern being maintained, halting all time interval patterns being initialized that are slower than the communication pattern, in a sequence from the slowest to the fastest time interval pattern to be initialized, all the time interval patterns to be initialized are successively initialized, and after initialization of all the time interval patterns to be initialized, the communication pattern is switched into an initialized state without impairing communication to the further computation devices.

Method, real-time computation device, and initialization program for partial initialization of a computer program executable on the computation device

A memory device and an arrangement are provided for safeguarding safety-critical program parts against inadvertent execution. At least one program part is executed in a predetermined chronological sequence. At a certain time in the execution, a pattern is generated. At least at one later time, a check is then performed to determine whether the pattern is present. If the pattern is not present, the execution of the respective program part is terminated.

Memory device and an arrangement for protecting software programs against inadvertent execution

A method of safeguarding program parts which are critical to safety against inadvertent execution is described. In this method, at least one program part is executed in a predetermined chronological sequence. At a certain time in the execution, a pattern is generated. At least at one later time, a check is then performed to determine whether the pattern is present. If the pattern is not present, the execution of the respective program part is terminated. A memory device for executing such a method is also described.

Method for protecting software programs from inadvertent execution

A control device and a method for controlling and/or regulating the operational sequences in a motor vehicle, and a method for starting such a control device, which provide a program in a storage medium of the control device that is able to be executed independently of the frequency of the CPU, which allows the pulse frequency of the CPU to be checked and employs measures for reprogramming the program to be initiated. During starting or operation of the control device, the frequency of the CPU is checked first or the frequency of the CPU is compared to the frequency expected in the program. If necessary, measures for reprogramming the program are subsequently initiated.

Control device for controlling/regulating the operational sequences in a motor vehicle, and a method of starting such a control device

A method for the writing and erasing of a non-volatile memory area, in which after error-free writing of the memory area, at least one release pattern is written into a predetermined subarea of the memory area. To be able to reliably ascertain aborted erase operations, prior to the erase operation, invalidity patterns are written into two further subareas of the memory area, the subareas provided for this enclosing those subareas reserved for the release patterns. The presence (in part) of invalidity patterns indicates an erase operation not ended correctly. The method can be used advantageously in controllers having non-volatile memories.

Method for writing and erasing a non-volatile memory area

A method of protecting a microcomputer system against manipulation of its program, in which the microcomputer system includes a rewritable memory in which at least one portion of the program is stored, and in which a check is performed as part of a checking procedure to determine whether at least one portion of the rewritable memory includes a specified content. To permit detection of a manipulated program in the shortest amount of time, the checking procedure is executed cyclically at preselectable intervals during operation of the microcomputer system. In addition, execution of the program is blocked immediately as part of the checking procedure if the rewritable memory or a portion thereof does not include the specified content.

Method of protecting a microcomputer system against manipulation of its program

A memory including a plurality of memory cells combined into multiple physical sectors, in which the memory cells combined into one physical sector are capable of being erased only together, and in which the interface includes interrogation apparatus, arrangement, and structure that interrogates memory data encompassing sector data, and an allocation apparatus, arrangement, and structure that, incorporating the sector data, allocates multiple memory cells to each logical block, and in which allocation of the memory cells to the respective logical blocks is performed based on application-specific and/or memory-specific block data conveyed to the interface, which are represented by block information data that can be modified independently of data that constitute a program code. A method for providing variable configuration of a memory apparatus that includes at least one memory, and an apparatus for carrying out that method.

Interface for a memory, and method for variable configuration of a memory apparatus

A method and a device for modifying data and programs and for writing the data and programs into at least one first non-volatile memory of a computer system, in particular a memory of a control unit of a vehicle. In this context, the data and programs are divided into at least first and second data and programs, at least the second data and programs being worthy of backup, or containing backup-worthy data and programs. However, the old second data and programs in the assigned original sector are not erased until new second data and programs are written into a second memory sector not corresponding to the original sector, and a copying program is written into a second volatile memory. The copying program writes the new second data and programs from the second memory sector into the original sector. As a result, there is no need to create a backup copy of the backup-worthy data and programs. Thus, the old second data and programs are not erased by an erase command sent by a programming unit, and they then assume execution of the sequencing control.

Method and device for modifying the memory contents of control equipment

A method for changing and/or inputting data and programs into at least one first memory ( ) of a computer system, especially for control of operations in a motor vehicle, is described. This method is particularly useful for changing or reprogramming a control unit ( ) of a motor vehicle. The programs are divided into at least one first routine and at least one second routine. At least one second memory ( ) is provided in addition to the first memory, in which a definite division into certain memory regions is provided. The routines and/or data are backed up in the memory regions. Back up copies of the routines and/or data are provided in at least one of the at least two memories prior to the erasing and/or copying and/or reading in of the data and/or routines in the memory regions. These back up copies are either erased or used again as the original after successful programming, but must not remain stored as backup copies or must be input again from the outside.

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Vaihingen, Germany

Martin Hurich