Methods and Apparatus for Software Updating

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a restore command to restore a vehicle computing system (VCS) system state. The method further includes restoring a base system state to a known, functional state and obtaining a list of applications previously installed on the VCS. The method also includes for each application previously installed on the VCS, finding a version of the application compatible with the restored base system state. Also, the method includes installing the version of each application compatible with the restored base system state.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving a restore command to restore a vehicle computing system (VCS) system state;   restoring a base system state to a known, functional state;   obtaining a list of applications previously installed on the VCS;   for each application previously installed on the VCS, finding a version of the application compatible with the restored base system state; and   installing the version of each application compatible with the restored base system state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base system state includes BIOS. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base system state includes an operating system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the known, functional state is the most up-to-date version of the base system state available. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applications include free applications. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applications include purchased applications. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the version of each application corresponds to a most recent version of the application compatible with the restored base system state. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least one application has a plurality of lineages associated therewith, wherein at least two of the lineages correspond to varying functionality of the application, and wherein the most recent version of the application corresponds to a previously selected lineage of the application such that the most recent version of the application is the most recent version in the previously selected lineage. 
     
     
         9 . A machine readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to execute a method comprising:
 receiving a restore command to restore a vehicle computing system (VCS) system state;   restoring a base system state to a known, functional state;   obtaining a list of applications previously installed on the VCS;   for each application previously installed on the VCS, finding a version of the application compatible with the restored base system state; and   installing the version of each application compatible with the restored base system state.   
     
     
         10 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the base system state includes BIOS. 
     
     
         11 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the base system state includes an operating system. 
     
     
         12 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the known, functional state is the most up-to-date version of the base system state available. 
     
     
         13 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the version of each application corresponds to a most recent version of the application compatible with the restored base system state. 
     
     
         14 . The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein at least one application has a plurality of lineages associated therewith, wherein at least two of the lineages correspond to varying functionality of the application, and wherein the most recent version of the application corresponds to a previously selected lineage of the application such that the most recent version of the application is the most recent version in the previously selected lineage. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a vehicle computing system (VCS);   a diagnostic service tool (DST); and   a remote global in-vehicle information system (GIVIS);   wherein the DST is operable to generate a restore command to the GIVIS,   wherein, upon receiving the restore command, the GIVIS is operable to download and install a known, functional VCS operating system on the VCS;   wherein, following installation of the operating system, the VCS is further operable to communicate with the GIVIS to receive, for each application previously installed on the VCS, a most recent version of the application, compatible with the installed operating system, and   wherein the GIVIS is operable to instruct installation each of the most recent versions of the applications compatible with the installed operating system on the VCS.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the GIVIS is further operable to instruct the VCS to notify the user if one or more of the applications does not have a version compatible with the installed operating system. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a lineage of an application is preserved such that the most recent version of the application compatible with the installed operating system is from the same lineage as a previously installed version of the application. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the GIVIS is operable to record a system configuration, including at least versions of all installed applications, once the versions of the applications have been installed. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the GIVIS is operable to store the system configuration reported from the VCS for each of a plurality of vehicles. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the system configuration is stored with respect to a vehicle identification number.