Methods of operation for plug-in wireless safety device

Abstract

An aftermarket plug-in safety device that allows a vehicle to communicate with other vehicles or infrastructures in a V2X communications system. The device includes a radio for transmitting and receiving signals and a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals and providing vehicle position data. The device also includes a memory for storing digital security certificates and vehicle application data and a processor configured to be put in electrical communication with a vehicle CAN bus. The processor receives vehicle location signals from the GPS receiver, files from the memory and signals from the radio and providing signals for transmission to the radio. The processor identifies the vehicle that the plug-in device is coupled to and provides data on the CAN bus identifying the device. The processor also performs self-configuring operations based on type of vehicle, access to vehicle systems and location of the vehicle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates generally to an aftermarket plug-in or dealer retrofit device providing vehicle wireless communications and, more particularly, to an aftermarket plug-in device that can be coupled to a vehicle's on-board diagnostic (OBD) connector or another accessible location to provide vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications or vehicle-to-entity communications (V2X).[0003]2. Discussion of the Related Art[0004]Traffic accidents and roadway congestion are significant problems for vehicle travel. Vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) based active safety and driver assistance systems, such as a dedicated short range communications (DSRC) system, known to those skilled in the art, allow a vehicle to transmit messages to other vehicles in a particular area with warning messages about dangerous road conditions, driving events, accidents, etc. In these systems, either direct broadcast commu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an aftermarket plug-in safety device is disclosed that allows a vehicle to communicate with other vehicles or infrastructures in a V2X communication system. The device includes a radio (e.g., DSRC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, etc.) for transmitting and receiving signals and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver for receiving location signals and providing vehicle position data. The device also includes a secure memory for storing digital security certificates, memory for vehicle application data and a processor that is communicatively coupled to the vehicle CAN bus. The processor receives vehicle location signals from the GPS receiver

Problems solved by technology

Traffic accidents and roadway congestion are significant problems for vehicle travel.

In the early years of deployment, certain safety and other features may only be available in a limited fashion, as the number of communicating v

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