Combining Remote Diagnostics with Over-the-Air Updates: ASAM Service-Oriented Vehicle Diagnostics (SOVD) Meets eSync OTA
Unlocking the Future of Lifecycle Management for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs)
As the automotive industry rapidly transitions toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), the complexity of vehicle management continues to rise. Traditional diagnostics methods—once sufficient for legacy vehicles—are increasingly ineffective in this dynamic, connected environment. In response to these new challenges, the Association for Standardization of Automation and Measuring Systems (ASAM) developed the Service-Oriented Vehicle Diagnostics (SOVD) standard, a forward-looking framework for remote diagnostics.
Recently, ASAM and the eSync Alliance released a joint white paper detailing how ASAM SOVD and eSync’s Over-the-Air (OTA) framework can work in tandem to create a secure, scalable, and standardized infrastructure for remote vehicle management. This powerful combination offers automakers, technicians, and fleet managers a smarter way to monitor, maintain, and update connected vehicles across their lifecycle.
ASAM SOVD: A Diagnostic Framework for the SDV Era
ASAM SOVD provides a modernized, RESTful API-based approach to vehicle diagnostics, enabling systems to interact with a vehicle’s electronic components in a flexible, architecture-agnostic way. By abstracting the complexities of traditional communication protocols used by ECUs and high-performance computers (HPCs), SOVD simplifies access to critical diagnostics—whether that access is remote, local, or edge-based.
Key benefits include:
- Standardized access to diagnostic trouble codes, logs, sensor data, and software versions
- Reduced dependency on vehicle-specific architectures
- Scalable integration across SDV platforms and ecosystems
eSync: The Secure Backbone of OTA Software Delivery
The eSync platform delivers robust OTA capabilities through a modular infrastructure consisting of a cloud-based server, in-vehicle network client, and distributed agents. These components work together to ensure that every software update is:
- Encrypted
- Authenticated
- Authorized
- Trackable via audit trails
When integrated with ASAM SOVD, eSync evolves from a pure update mechanism into a full-service lifecycle management tool, empowering remote diagnostics and updates from a single, coordinated flow. This fusion brings visibility, traceability, and control into remote operations, even for multi-component update scenarios.
Integrated Use Cases: Smarter Maintenance and Faster Resolutions
The ASAM SOVD + eSync integration supports a range of practical use cases that address real-world needs of modern automotive fleets, such as:
- Remote troubleshooting: Technicians can remotely assess the software state of a vehicle, check for errors, and plan corrective updates.
- Dynamic update selection: Updates can be tailored to specific hardware/software configurations, ensuring relevance and compatibility.
- Parallel ECU updates: Support for simultaneous OTA updates across multiple ECUs speeds up service and reduces downtime.
- Predictive maintenance: Real-time diagnostic data helps identify potential issues before they lead to failure, improving safety and reliability.
This combined solution not only enhances service efficiency but also sets the stage for data-driven automotive operations.
Paving the Way for Scalable SDV Lifecycle Management
The convergence of ASAM SOVD and eSync OTA marks a major step forward in automotive technology standardization. It enables OEMs to:
- Streamline backend infrastructure
- Reduce service costs and complexity
- Deliver faster, safer updates to end-users
As vehicles increasingly operate as mobile computing platforms, the need for coordinated diagnostics and OTA management becomes essential. This integrated approach lays a secure and future-ready foundation for intelligent, connected vehicle ecosystems.
Excelfore’s Role in the Standardization Effort
Excelfore, a proud member of both ASAM and the eSync Alliance, has been an active contributor to the development of the joint white paper. Our technical team provided valuable insights and technical direction that helped shape this unified framework.
To access the full white paper:
- [eSync Alliance – https://esyncalliance.org/downloads/
[ASAM – https://www.asam.net/standards/asam-sovd-and-esync-enhancing-ota-update-capabilities/
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