Automotive Companies Save
Costs, Gain Advantages with
Red Bend’s FOTA
Case Study
Published: November 2013
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Case Study: Automotive Companies Save Costs, Gain Advantages with
Red Bend’s FOTA
Table of Contents
1
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 4
2
Market Trends in Automotive Software .............................................................................. 4
3
Traditional Method for Automotive Software Management and the New Solution: FOTA .... 5
How FOTA Works .........................................................................................................................5
4
How FOTA Solves Five Challenges to Managing Automotive Software ................................. 6
Challenge 1: Reducing the Cost and Resources Needed to Maintain Automotive Software ......6
Challenge 2: Strengthening the OEM’s Relationships with Consumers ......................................7
Challenge 3: Helping the Environment ........................................................................................7
Challenge 4: Managing Car Software Globally .............................................................................8
Challenge 5: How to Get Started? ................................................................................................8
5
Automotive Case Studies.................................................................................................... 8
Case Study 1: Leading Tier 1 Company ........................................................................................8
Case Study 2: Leading Automotive Manufacturer .................................................................... 10
Case Study 3: Leading Aftermarket Fleet Management Manufacturer .................................... 11
6
Summary ......................................................................................................................... 12
7
About Red Bend Software ................................................................................................ 12
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Case Study: Automotive Companies Save Costs, Gain Advantages with
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1
Introduction
The new generation of car buyers is no longer exclusively looking under the hood for horsepower
and fuel efficiency. Today, they also are looking inside the car for on-screen navigation,
entertainment and wireless connectivity. The same phenomenon that happened in the mobile
industry during the last five years where consumers moved from feature phones to smartphones is
now happening in the automotive industry. Cars are becoming “smarter” with touch-screen
infotainment systems, advanced driving features and Internet-connected services. While
sophisticated software features and car connectivity introduce new opportunities to create a
better and safer driving experience, they also introduce greater challenges associated with cost
and manageability.
This case study describes the market trends in automotive software and examines the current
challenges that OEMs face in managing the accelerating amount of software in connected cars. It
introduces a solution using Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) updating technology that is proven in
the mobile industry and that is successfully being adopted in the automotive industry. The paper
present three case studies from a leading car manufacturer, a Tier 1 supplier and a leading
aftermarket fleet management manufacturer that are using Red Bend’s market-leading FOTA
solution, vRapid Mobile®, to improve their methods for managing automotive software while
reducing vehicle maintenance costs.
2
Market Trends in Automotive Software
Software is responsible for many advanced safety and entertainment features in today’s cars. GM
Cadillac CUE and BMW ConnectedDrive are two examples. GM CUE delivers natural voice
recognition and touch-screen technology for added driver safety. BMW ConnectedDrive offers rich
entertainment services and driver assistance capabilities.
Another example is Mercedes-Benz, which recently announced the 2014 Mercedes S-Class. This
model is considered by some to be the most sophisticated and safest car in the industry.
Source: ExtremeTech
In addition to these current examples, software is becoming increasingly important to cars of the
future. Nissan recently announced it will fulfill the promise of self-driving cars by 2020. Earlier this
year, Shanghai OnStar introduced the “OnConnect” service. This allows subscribers to share
location and destination information with family and friends using both text and photos. This
service is evidence of the growing amount sophisticated software that is being added to cars even
in emerging markets.
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Case Study: Automotive Companies Save Costs, Gain Advantages with
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3
Traditional Method for Automotive
Software Management and the New
Solution: FOTA
As the amount of code in the head unit, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system, Telematics devices
and electronic control units (ECUs) increases, so do the challenges to manage that code. This is a
new dilemma for the automotive industry. Historically, car manufacturers minimized how often
they update the software in vehicles. If an urgent matter occurs, there is a product recall. If the
issue is not urgent, the update is performed during a maintenance visit, which costs time, labor
and money. If this practice for managing software updates continues, especially with the growing
amount of software in cars, car manufacturers will spend more money on software maintenance,
which will decrease their profitability and deteriorate the customer experience.
Automotive OEMs are starting to borrow lessons learned and technology proven from the mobile
industry. Mobile OEMs have long used FOTA—Firmware Over-the-Air updating—to manage
software on mobile devices. This has allowed mobile OEMs to ensure that the firmware in phones
and tablets can be updated and be made continuously better even after the device is purchased.
Some automotive OEMs are early adopters of over-the-air software management technology. For
example, GM, Mercedes (in the U.S.) and Tesla have already implemented FOTA. However,
currently the deployment scale and number of changes and updates is limited. In order for the
automotive industry to realize the overall benefits that the mobile industry has realized, over-theair software management technology needs to be adopted widely and deployed rapidly.
How FOTA Works
With Red Bend Software’s vRapid Mobile, car manufacturers, Tier 1 companies and other
automotive systems manufacturers can remotely manage the software in embedded and aftermarket automotive devices throughout the lifetime of the vehicle. Here’s how FOTA works:
Once there is a new version of software containing additional features or fixes, the manufacturer
will create a FOTA update package using the vRapid Mobile Update Generator. The update
package includes only the changes (also referred to as the “delta”) between the version that
already exists in the vehicle and the new version being deployed to the vehicle. Red Bend’s
patented delta algorithm produces the smallest update file in the industry, usually less than five
percent of the original size, which ensures the least amount of bandwidth is used to deliver the
update, saving significant costs in data charges. Red Bend’s FOTA technology also provides the
greatest flexibility by enabling any version-to-any version software updating, meaning the FOTA
updates do not need to be sequential. This reduces the time to complete software maintenance,
which can save costs paid by manufacturers to dealers during the warranty period.
The update package is distributed to the vehicle from the Red Bend Software Management Center,
which uses Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA-DM) industry standards to
communicate over the wireless network with the vehicle. Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile is agnostic to
which type of transport is used, whether there is an embedded wireless module in the head unit
or in another car system or after-market device, or even via smartphone connectivity. In addition,
software updates can be distributed through the CAN bus.
Once the update package is received inside the vehicle by Red Bend’s vDirect Mobile® Device
Management client, it is handed off to the vRapid Mobile Update Installer to perform the update
installation in-place on the device’s firmware accurately and reliably and with significant reduction
in the update time. Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile Update Installer, which performs the fastest
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Case Study: Automotive Companies Save Costs, Gain Advantages with
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updates in the industry, can uniquely update both file systems and images in-place, which can
greatly reduce the amount of memory required, saving BOM costs.
Red Bend’s FOTA Updating Solution for Connected Cars
In addition to managing software inside automotive head units, IVI systems and Telematics
devices, Red Bend also has a solution for performing FOTA updates of electronic control units
(ECUs) inside the vehicle. Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile® Fuse™ for Firmware Updating of Small
Electronics (Fuse) offers a new solution to manage software across the “Internet of Small Things”
such as automotive ECUs. With vRapid Mobile Fuse, even the smallest, resource-constrained
computing device can receive firmware updates over-the-air or over a cable connected to the CAN
bus. Performance tests have proven Fuse to reduce update time by as much as 60%. As a result,
automotive manufacturers can save significant warranty costs and maintenance time while
keeping the car operating at peak performance.
4
How FOTA Solves Five Challenges to
Managing Automotive Software
Challenge 1: Reducing the Cost and Resources
Needed to Maintain Automotive Software
There is a growing number of instances when automotive software needs to be updated yet the
way OEMs perform updates today is expensive and cumbersome. OEMs need to find a less
expensive, easier and faster way to manage software inside cars. According to a recent J.D. Powers
and Associates survey, technology was the cause of two out of every three problems reported by
83,000 people. Most OEMs offer firmware updates via USB, or require consumers to visit the
dealership and leave their car while the technician performs the update.
For example, recently Ford responded to flaws in its MyFord Touch by sending a software update
on USB memory dongles to 300,000 customers. The customers also had the choice to perform the
update at the dealer. It is estimated that this update cost Ford more than $10 million based on the
assumption that 200,000 consumers performed the USB update and 100,000 went to the dealer.
This does not take into consideration the cost of 200,000 USB dongles and the shipping and
handling costs, which also is quite expensive. Over-the-air software updates can save this cost and
provide a much better user experience.
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Case Study: Automotive Companies Save Costs, Gain Advantages with
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BMW offers a similar updating process. BMW customers either log into the BMW website and
download the new software version onto a disk-on-key and then plug the key into the car’s USB
port, or they have to visit the dealership. OEMs need to find a better way to do software updates.
Source: BMW
Challenge 2: Strengthening the OEM’s Relationships
with Consumers
OEMs are losing an opportunity to have a long-term, direct relationship with consumers.
Traditionally, independent dealers have acted as proxies between the consumer and the car
manufacturer. After a car is purchased, the ongoing relationship is typically maintained by the
dealer and the customer has almost no communication with the manufacturer.
OEMs can change the dynamics of their current relationship with consumers through software
management and the “always-connected” car. Car manufacturers can now maintain an ongoing
relationship with their customers using FOTA. By providing OTA software maintenance, the OEMs
can have a positive “touch point” with consumers by providing new infotainment and Telematics
features, fixing software defects and adding functionality.
Challenge 3: Helping the Environment
There are more than 1 billion cars in the world,
each using fuel and emitting carbon dioxide.
Any innovation that minimizes the amount of
necessary driving is good for the environment.
In the current method used by most OEMs,
performing a software update to the
infotainment or Telematics system requires
the car owner to bring his car to the dealer.
But with OTA software updates, fuel is
preserved and carbon dioxide emissions are
minimized. Such improvements are important
to helping the environment while appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.
Another important contribution of FOTA to the environment is in the case of electric cars. One of
the key components that will determine the successes of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars is
their ability to manage the car’s power resources and provide longer range between charges. The
infotainment systems in EVs and hybrids are not only for showing routes or playing videos, but
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Case Study: Automotive Companies Save Costs, Gain Advantages with
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also for performing EV power monitoring and management. Recently Tesla1 released a new
software version by using FOTA that fixes several defects and adds improved power management
when the car is not in use (sleep mode) that should provide additional range.
Challenge 4: Managing Car Software Globally
Given the global nature of mobile phones and connected devices, the mobile industry had to
standardize on software management protocols set by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) to ensure
global interoperability. OMA Device Management (OMA-DM) standards provide a common
management scheme for service providers to remotely configure, provision, update and
troubleshoot mobile devices. Through the OMA standardization of FOTA, operators such as NTT
Docomo, KDDI, Softbank, Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and many others can update and maintain their
customers’ device firmware through the Firmware Update Management Object (FUMO) protocol.
OMA-DM standards also benefit the global automotive industry. Use of standards-based protocols
enable car manufacturers to update car software over any wireless network, whether cellular, WiFi or Bluetooth. In addition, OMA-DM standards have built-in security mechanisms such as
authentication and validation when performing software management actions, ensuring that FOTA
updates can be delivered and performed safely. Finally, selecting standards-based management
systems for automotive software shortens the time to market to deploy a software update
solution and lowers the overall build out and maintenance costs of operating the system, no
matter where the car is driven globally.
Challenge 5: How to Get Started?
Planning a winning over-the-air software update system begins first by analyzing the
requirements, understanding the scale required, deciding which technology to use and developing
the business logic that will determine a successful user experience. Decisions have to be made
about connection methods (some update solutions are connected to the cloud by an embedded
3G/4G module or by using smartphones as a gateway), frequency and size of the updates, number
of vehicles to be updated at any given time, and industry standards that are going to be leveraged
in the overall process.
The software update system should be integrated with the other operation support systems (OSS)
that OEMs have in order to be integrated into the whole lifecycle management of the car. There
are a few implementation options that can be considered by OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers such as
software as a service (SaaS), hosted or installed on-premise, and most FOTA solutions can support
all three models. Red Bend Software offers many resources for helping automotive OEMs to plan
and implement FOTA. Visit: http://www.redbend.com/en/resources.
5
Automotive Case Studies
Case Study 1: Leading Tier 1 Company
This case study describes how a leading Tier 1 company integrated Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile
FOTA solution into the company’s infotainment system and manages the end-to-end updating
service with the Red Bend Software Management Center.
1
http://green.autoblog.com/2013/08/17/tesla-model-s-firmware-update-brings-sleep-creep-changes/
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Case Study: Automotive Companies Save Costs, Gain Advantages with
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One of the leading manufacturers of infotainment systems made the strategic decision to include
software update functionality in its offering as a key competitive advantage. This Tier 1 partnered
with Red Bend Software, the global leader in FOTA updating, to leverage Red Bend’s vast
experience in delivering end-to-end software management solutions to the mobile phone market
and automotive industry. Red Bend’s solution includes a dedicated, cloud-based Software
Management Center used to perform updates in any geographic location and a FOTA client
residing in the head unit.
As opposed to an embedded cellular connectivity, the Tier 1 decided to use the smartphone as a
gateway between the infotainment system and the Red Bend Software Management Center.
Because Red Bend is network agnostic, the connection between the smartphone and the
infotainment system can be done either by a USB cable or by wireless connectivity such as
Bluetooth. For this project the Tier 1 selected to use a USB cable.
Using Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile Update Generator, the Tier 1 creates the update package and
then uploads the package to the Red Bend Software Management Center. This system, which uses
OMA-DM standards, manages the various versions of the update packages and pushes the
packages to the appropriate vehicle model and specific IVI system over the network. There are
typically multiple versions of update packages, each intended for particular vehicle models and
configurations.
Red Bend’s Software Management client on the smartphone connects to the Red Bend Software
Management Center to download the package using the OMA-DM Firmware Update Management
Object (FUMO) standard and transfers the package to the head unit. There, the vRapid Mobile
Update Installer (FOTA client) opens the package and applies the update in-place.
Benefits to the Tier 1:
•
•
•
•
•
Saving in cellular bandwidth and therefore lower data charges paid to the cellular operators
(Red Bend produces the smallest update packages)
Improving the customer experience by decreasing the update time (Red Bend provides the
fastest updates)
Flexible connectivity options, either by embedded module (SIM) or via a mobile device (Red
Bend is transport agnostic)
Ability to update firmware, middleware and applications simultaneously (Red Bend’s solution
can update any type of software anywhere in the device)
Reliability and security due to a standards-based solution (Red Bend supports OMA-DM
industry standards)
Red Bend FOTA Solution for Tier 1 Company
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Case Study: Automotive Companies Save Costs, Gain Advantages with
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Case Study 2: Leading Automotive Manufacturer
This case study highlights how a leading automotive manufacturer integrated Red Bend’s vRapid
Mobile FOTA solution into the company’s Telematics system. The manufacturer was looking for a
solution that could enable safe, economic and secure software updates. After a thorough
competitive review process, the OEM chose Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile as the update technology.
The OEM built its own end-to-end software managment system that is interoperable with Red
Bend’s vRapid Mobile FOTA client software integrated into the Telematics unit.
The OEM uses the vRapid Mobile Update Generator to create the FOTA update package. Once
generated, the update package is published to the OEM’s software management system, which
manages the various versions of the update packages and handles the actual network delivery
(download) of the packages to the appropriate vehicle model and specific electronic control unit
(ECU). Even though the OEM built its own management system, the manufacturer chose to adopt
OMA-DM standards at Red Bend’s recommendation in order to manage software updating to its
vehicles globally. Once the update package is received inside the device, Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile
Update Installer (FOTA client) performs the update quickly, safely and reliably.
Red Bend FOTA Solution for Automotive Manufacturer
The system described above has been in operation for several years managing hundreds of
thousands of secure and reliable software updates without failure due to Red Bend’s patented
Fail-Safe™ technology.
In addition, the OEM is realizing great cost savings by doing over-the-air updates. The company no
longer has to pay dealers for software updates and it is paying less to the mobile operator because
Red Bend’s delta file is so small. In addition, customers are more satisfied with the software
maintenance experience and have built an ongoing, loyal relationship with the OEM.
Benefits to the OEM:
•
•
•
Decreases recall rates and reduces warranty costs by over-the-air updating of Telematics
units with the industry’s most trusted FOTA solution
Ensures 100 percent completion of software updates, even in the event of power or network
disruption, due to Red Bend’s patented Fail-Safe technology
Improves the consumer experience while building brand loyalty with new services and
functionality throughout the lifetime of the Telematics unit and the vehicle
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Case Study: Automotive Companies Save Costs, Gain Advantages with
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•
•
Provides greater convenience for consumers with the industry’s fastest updates that do not
require a visit to the dealer for software maintenance
Reduces bandwidth costs with Red Bend’s smallest update packages
Case Study 3: Leading Aftermarket Fleet
Management Manufacturer
This case study describes how a leading aftermarket fleet management manufacturer integrated
Red Bend’s software update solution into the company’s new Android line of products. As a result,
the manufacturer now can offer a FOTA update service to its customers.
The fleet management market is divided into two main categories: integrated Telematics units,
which the fleet manager can subscribe to or not, and aftermarket Telematics units, which are
installed in the truck based on a services agreement.
This aftermarket fleet management manufacturer introduced a new line of Android-based
Telematics device that provide mobile workforce management, including driver electronic logs, incab navigation, scanning and printing, and two-way messaging and dispatch.
One of the required features was to be able to update the Telematics unit firmware with 100%
reliability without needing to bring the commercial truck into the dealer or service center and
without paying extra data charges to the connectivity provider for delivery of the updated version
over-the-air. Red Bend and the manufacturer worked together to integrate Red Bend’s Fail-Safe
FOTA update agent and standards-based OMA-DM client into the Telematics device in a matter of
days, without delaying time to market. Using the Red Bend Software Management Center, the
manufacturer can deliver new software versions with added features and performance
improvements to keep fleets on the move.
The Red Bend solution opens up new opportunities for the Telematics manufacturer to offer
firmware updates as a service to commercial fleet operators beginning in Q1 2014, and also in the
future to provide an app-store from the Telematics device with dedicated applications for this
customer segment.
Red Bend FOTA Solution for Aftermarket OEM
Benefits to the Fleet Management Manufacturer:
•
Updates over-the-air firmware, middleware and applications at any memory location in the
Telematics units (Red Bend’s solution can uniquely update any software anywhere in the
device, even individual software components inside the firmware without a full OS update)
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•
•
•
•
•
6
Adheres to OMA-DM industry standards for the communication between the client and the
server using the most widely adopted standards-based FOTA solution
Increases customer satisfaction by preventing loss of driving time because of a software issue
in the unit (Red Bend’s solution can deploy updates rapidly anywhere in the world)
Minimizes bandwidth costs and update time with the smallest update file size in the industry
Enables fast and easy device-side integration of Red Bend’s software clients without delaying
time to market
Supports on-demand update process controlled by the user, so users can get new software
versions when it is most convenient for them, keeping trucks moving
Summary
The increasing amount of software in cars is forcing the automotive industry to look for more
efficient and more cost-effective methods for managing software. The traditional way of doing
software updates is expensive for the manufacturer and inconvenient to consumers, who have to
wait at the dealership while the software is being updated.
FOTA technology is a proven, safe and cost-effective method for OEMs to manage the car software
evolution, which is turning the car from iron-driven to code-driven. FOTA can help automakers
save time and costs, mitigate risk and attract and retain customers. In addition, FOTA can enable
car manufacturers to establish new ways of up-selling services and delivering new features and
applications to consumers throughout the car’s lifecycle.
Leading OEMs and Tier 1s that have selected Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile are benefiting from the
best-in-class software update solution, with more than 1.75 billion device installations in the last
10 years. Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile FOTA solution has proven to be the right choice for
automotive software management.
7
About Red Bend Software
Red Bend® Software, the leader in Mobile Software Management (MSM) with more than 1.75
billion Red Bend-Enabled™ devices, makes mobile devices and services continuously better in a
rapidly changing world. Red Bend is the only company that provides standards-based products and
solutions for software management, device management, and mobile virtualization that work on
any mobile phone and connected device uniformly, efficiently, and securely over the air. Red Bend
enables its customers to stay competitive in a fast-moving market by helping them deliver highvalue services on an increasing number of connected devices with growing software complexity.
More than 80 leading device manufacturers, mobile operators, semiconductor vendors and
automotive companies worldwide trust Red Bend with their most important assets—the mobile
and connected devices their consumers depend on.
For more information, visit: www.redbend.com/automotive
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