Method of detecting manipulation of a programable memory device of a digital controller

Abstract

A method of detecting manipulation of a programable memory device of a digital controller for a motor vehicle is described; data and control programs for operation of the controller and for control/regulation of certain functions of the motor vehicle can be stored in the memory device. To permit especially reliable detection of manipulation in the simplest possible way, in conjunction with each programing/reprograming operation of the programable memory device, information regarding the programing/reprograming operation is stored in a separate memory area of the memory device where only reading and programing are possible, and in order to detect manipulation, the content of the separate memory area is read out and compared with given information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for detecting a manipulation of a programable memory device of a digital controller for a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: 
 storing in the programmable memory device data and control programs for an operation of the digital controller and for a control/regulation of functions of the motor vehicle;    storing information regarding a programing/reprograming operation in a separate memory area of the programmable memory device where only reading and programing are possible, the step of storing information regarding the programming/reprogramming operation being performed in conjunction with each programing/reprograming operation of the programable memory device; and    reading out and comparing a content of the separate memory area with another set of information in order to detect a manipulation.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to    claim 1   , further comprising the step of: 
 storing in the separate memory area information regarding a cumulative number of programing/reprograming operations of the programable memory device.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to    claim 1   , further comprising the step of: 
 storing in the separate memory area the information regarding the programing/reprograming operation with each erase operation of the programable memory device.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 the information regarding the programming/reprogramming is stored in the separate memory area by setting bits.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to    claim 1   , further comprising the step of: 
 storing the information regarding the programming/reprogramming in a one-time programable region of the programable memory device, the programmable memory device being arranged as a flash memory.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to    claim 1   , further comprising the step of: 
 storing in the separate memory area information from an external programing unit for programing/reprograming a flash memory.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to    claim 1   , further comprising the step of: 
 storing in the separate memory area information from an arrangement of the digital controller for storing the information regarding the programing/reprograming operation.    
     
     
         8 . An external programing unit for at least one of programing and reprograming a flash memory of a digital controller for a motor vehicle, comprising: 
 an arrangement for storing in the flash memory data and control programs for an operation of the digital controller and for a control/regulation of functions of the motor vehicle;    an arrangement for storing information regarding a programing/reprograming operation in a separate memory area of the programmable memory device where only reading and programing are possible, the storing of the information regarding the programming/reprogramming operation occurring in conjunction with each programing/ reprograming operation of the programable memory device;    an arrangement for reading out and comparing a content of the separate memory area with another set of information in order to detect a manipulation; and    storing in the separate memory area information from an external programing unit for programing/reprograming the flash memory.    
     
     
         9 . A digital controller for a motor vehicle, comprising: 
 a programable memory device for storing data and control programs for an operation of the digital controller and for a control/regulation of functions of the motor vehicle;    an arrangement for storing information regarding a programing/reprograming operation in a separate memory area of the programmable memory device where only reading and programing are possible, the storing of the information regarding the programming/reprogramming operation occurring in conjunction with each programing/ reprograming operation of the programable memory device;    an arrangement for reading out and comparing a content of the separate memory area with another set of information in order to detect a manipulation; and    an arrangement for storing in the separate memory area information from an arrangement of the digital controller for storing the information regarding the programing/ reprograming operation.