The Volvo Central Database
The Volvo Central Database
The Volvo central database has records of all the data of all the Volvo cars in the world from the 1999 model year onwards (Not including the S/V40).
There is one server in North America and one in Europe. There is also the main server where all the administrative work is carried out.
This is to minimize the load on the other servers where all the software downloads are made. The system used in the Volvo central database is called multi master. This means that all the servers can react as master for reproduction. The updated information is continually copied between the servers.
The VIDA stations where software downloading is possible are connected to the Volvo central database via a local area network (LAN) or modem. If communication can not be established or if communication is broken between one server, there is an automatic connection to the other server, where all the information is kept temporarily.
The Volvo central database is the collective name for a number of different databases (see the illustration above). The databases are:
- The software archive.
- The vehicle archive.
- The action code database.
SAFE is the interface between VIDA and the databases and handles the file transfer between the databases and VIDA.
The Software archive contains all the software produced by Volvo.
The Vehicle archive contains all the vehicle unique information.
The system holds information about all the Control area network (CAN) control modules (not ABS), such as:
- Hardware numbers.
- Software numbers, that is, files which are in each individual control module.
- Control module serial numbers.
- Vehicle configurations, what equipment a vehicle has, where the vehicle was built, the structure week and the VIN number.
- Software ID side impact sensors (SRS (supplemental restraint system)).
- PINs.
In addition the PIN codes for every vehicle are stored in the vehicle archive.
There are PIN codes in the following control modules:
- There are three PINs for the central electronic module.
- One PIN in the engine control module (ECM).
- In the upper electronic module there or one or two PINs per remote control. On cars before structure week 0031, the PINs consist of 8 characters. On cars after structure week 0031, there are two PINs per remote control. One consists of 8 characters and the other of 16.
- A PIN code for the carphone module (only with Volvo On Call function).
The PIN codes are downloaded to VIDA when a control module has been replaced, and a reload has been ordered for the control module via the replacement parts catalogue. The PIN codes are then used by VIDA (unseen by the user) to make the software in the control module function. For information about the VIDA method Software Download Operation
When a car is built in the factory the vehicle information is sent to the Vehicle archive where the vehicle configuration is stored. In addition all the vehicle unique PIN codes are sent to the Vehicle archive.
The vehicle database is updated after a download using VIDA.
This occurs when a confirmation has been sent to the Volvo central database.
The Database for the action code controls which cars may have a particular type of upgrade. The database contains all action codes.
The rules for creating an action code are in the database for action codes. An action code can contain more than 20 version options.
The same action code can deliver different software dependent on which car is connected. Action Code