Vehicle communications via wireless access vehicle environment

Abstract

Vehicle Communications using IEEE 802.11p WAVE functionality includes structure and method whereby a smart phone (SP) linked to an On Board Unit (OBU) having WAVE functionality, and incorporating Automotive Telemetry Protocol (ATP), has at least one processor to configure the SP as a GUI for the OBU, and to enable WAVE authentication of the SP through a networked Road Side Unit. Preferably, the OBU opens, after a command from an ATP Client, a virtual connection for streaming data between the vehicle data bus and a remote server providing an automotive scan tool. Also preferably, the SP may use either cellular or IEEE 802.11 control signals to trialaterate its geographic position with greater accuracy than GPS, and to hand off the geo-position fixes to the OBU. Accumulated geo-location information may be reported to a remote server, providing a centralized geographic trend analysis of plural SPs operating with OBUs.

Description

[0001]This patent application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications: 61 / 750,630, filed Jan. 9, 2013; and 61 / 883,594, filed Sep. 27, 2013, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The automobile industry has spent the last ten years evolving standards around which intelligent vehicle-vehicle (V2V) communications technology can be integrated into new products and deployed in conjunction with roadside infrastructure that will transform the way vehicles operate and co-operate, on the roadways.[0003]Following the recommendation of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA) in 2002, the IEEE created a task group in 2004 with the mandate of amending the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN specification in order to accommodate the mobility, speed and range of vehicular network nodes. The group produced an amended specification entitled IEEE 802.11p in 2007 (incorporated herein by reference).[0004]In 802.11p, netw...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a technology that can be retrofitted to existing vehicles to allow them to communicate with each other and can also be integrated into new vehicles without compromising the safety standards of WAVE. This technology can be cost-effective and allow for a faster implementation of WAVE in existing infrastructure.

Problems solved by technology

Since authorization to use intelligent roadways would normally be restricted to WAVE-enabled vehicles, then, if the technology is limited to new manufactured vehicles, it may take 10-15 years from the first model year of WAVE-enabled vehicles before the benefits can begin to be realized.

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