Method for optimizing multi-mode messages over a private network having a hybrid platform

Abstract

Optimizing multimode messages over a private network having a hybrid platform. The optimization may include identifying performance priority parameters contained within a plurality of data sets, fragmenting the data sets into one or more subsets, generating a reprioritized priority for the subsets, evaluating the transmission performance for the plurality of radio access points, and assigning each of the subsets for transmission from the hybrid platform over one of the radio access points based on the transmission performance and the reprioritized priority.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to optimized multimode vehicular messages, such as, but not necessarily limited to, optimized multimode messages of the type suitable for use in communicating a plurality of data sets to a vehicle or other device over a plurality of radio access points operating on a hybrid private network platform.

[0002] Vehicles may include capabilities to support an ever-expanding range of services, the operation of which, under certain circumstances, depends on different types of wireless messaging, or what may be more simply referred to as multimode messaging. To support the services and, where appropriate, other wireless communication-based operations, some vehicles may include a telematics unit or other hardware capable of supporting multimode messaging over different radio networks—that is, capabilities to support different messaging modes over different types of radio access networks. Historically, the originator of a message or other data set intended for wireless communication to a vehicle was responsible for selecting the power priority parameters for its transmission.Such dependence on the message originator may undesirably limit or prevent the participation of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and / or other entities responsible for maintaining a private network for communication with the vehicle in monitoring the communication of messages. This historical reliance on the message originator may thwart back-end support and / or upstream management at the private network level, which in turn may prevent those with a vested interest in monitoring vehicle messages from maintaining or having oversight, ensuring customer satisfaction, and / or otherwise participating in the wireless delivery of multimode messages.

[0003] DE 10 2021 209 988 A1 discloses a device for managing traffic for multiple access communication in a multiple access communication environment. In a multiple access network, an end-user device is provided, which is a multi-connectivity client that supports multiple network connections. The multi-connectivity client can thus access a data network or a local service via multiple access networks and a server. Based on user needs and requirements, network paths are flexibly selected and adapted to dynamic network conditions. A per-packet prioritization mechanism is used to transmit data, which assigns a prioritization value to each data unit based on prioritization rules. SUMMARY

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an improved method for optimizing multimode messages over a private network having a hybrid platform.

[0005] To achieve this object, a method having the features of claim 1 is provided. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims, the description, and the drawings.

[0006] A non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure relates to optimizing multimode messages transmitted over a private network such that an enterprise having a legitimate interest is able to monitor, manage, or otherwise control the transport of the messages independently of performance priority parameters selected by an originator.

[0007] One non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for optimizing multimode messages over a private network having a hybrid platform. The method may include receiving a plurality of data sets from one or more locations external to the private network and identifying performance priority parameters included within the data sets. Performance priority parameters may include a transmission priority level requested for the data set associated therewith.The method may further comprise fragmenting the data sets into one or more subsets and generating a reprioritized priority for the subsets based on the performance parameters specified for the data set associated therewith, including increasing or decreasing the transmission priority level for each one or more of the subsets having data outside of that requested for the data set associated therewith.The method may further comprise evaluating the transmission performance for a plurality of radio access points configured to transmit multimode messages from the hybrid platform, wherein the transmission performance is determined based on a radio network simulation performed with a network tool having hardware and software constructs configured to simulate communication with the radio access points, and assigning each of the subsets for transmission via one of the radio access points based on the transmission performance and the reprioritized priority.

[0008] The method may comprise transmitting the subsets from the radio access points such that at least a portion of the subsets fragmented from a first data set of the data sets is transmitted from different ones of the radio access points.

[0009] The method may comprise transmitting the subsets of the first data set relating to a first data type from a first radio access point of the radio access points and the subsets of the first data set relating to a second data type from a second radio access point of the radio access points.

[0010] The method may comprise selecting the first radio access point from one or more non-cellular access points of the radio access points and selecting the second radio access point from one or more cellular access points of the radio access points.

[0011] The method may include the first data type corresponding to audio and the second data type corresponding to video.

[0012] The method may include the first data type corresponding to a first application and the second data type corresponding to a second application.

[0013] The method may include the first application requiring real-time communication and the second application requiring non-real-time communication.

[0014] The method may comprise transmitting the subsets from the radio access points such that at least a portion of the subsets fragmented from a first data set of the data sets are transmitted at an increased priority level relative to the transmission priority level requested for the first data set.

[0015] The method may comprise transmitting the subsets of the first data set relating to a first data type at the increased priority level and the subsets of the first data set relating to a second data type at the transmission priority level requested for the first data set.

[0016] The method may include identifying the first data type as requiring cellular-based transmission and identifying the second data type as requiring non-cellular-based transmission.

[0017] The method may comprise transmitting the subsets from the radio access points such that at least a portion of the subsets fragmented from a first data set of the data sets are transmitted at a reduced priority level relative to the transmission priority level requested for the first data set.

[0018] The method may comprise transmitting the subsets of the first data set relating to a first data type at the reduced priority level and the subsets of the first data set relating to a second data type at the transmission priority level requested for the first data set.

[0019] The method may include identifying the first data type as requiring non-cellular transmission and identifying the second data type as requiring cellular transmission.

[0020] The method may include identifying the first data type as requiring a non-guaranteed or variable bit rate and identifying the second data type as requiring a guaranteed or fixed bit rate.

[0021] The method may include identifying the transport time for each of the radio access points based on the transmission power, and assigning the subsets having a higher reprioritized priority to the radio access points having shorter transport times relative to the subsets having a lower reprioritized priority.

[0022] The method may include identifying the transmission bit rates for each of the radio access points based on the transmission power, and assigning the subsets having a higher reprioritized priority to the radio access points having shorter transmission bit rates relative to the subsets having a lower reprioritized priority.

[0023] One non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for optimizing multimode communications with a vehicle. The system may include a hybrid platform having a plurality of radio access points configured to support multimode communications with the vehicle according to different types of wireless radio communications, each of the radio access points supporting communication over a respective radio network.The system may further comprise a back-office optimizer configured to identify performance priority parameters comprised within a plurality of data sets, fragment the data sets into one or more subsets, generate a reprioritized priority for the subsets based on the performance parameters specified for the associated data set, including changing a transmission priority level requested for one or more of the subsets, evaluate the transmission performance for the plurality of radio access points, and assign each of the subsets for transmission from the hybrid platform via one of the radio access points based on the transmission performance and the reprioritized priority.The system may further comprise a telematics unit configured for use on board the vehicle to receive the data sets wirelessly via each of the radio access points operating on the hybrid platform.

[0024] The back office controller may be configured to identify at least a portion of the subsets fragmented from a first data set to be associated with at least a first data type from a second data type, identify transmission bit rates for each of the radio access points based on transmission power, determine that the first data type requires a guaranteed or fixed bit rate, determine the second type to require a non-guaranteed or variable bit rate, assign the subsets of the first data set associated with the first data type for transmission from one of the radio access points providing a cellular transmission, and assign the subsets of the first data set associated with the second data type for transmission from one of the radio access points providing a non-cellular transmission.

[0025] The hybrid platform may include an Internet of Things (IoT) interface controller configured to communicate IoT messages over an IoT network of a corresponding one of the radio access points, a Wi-Fi message controller configured to communicate Wi-Fi messages over a Wi-Fi network of a corresponding one of the radio access points, and a cellular controller configured to communicate cellular messages over a cellular network of a corresponding one of the radio access points, wherein the cellular network provides the cellular-based transmission and the IoT and Wi-Fi networks provide the non-cellular-based transmissions.

[0026] A non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of non-transitory instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, can be used to optimize multimode messages over a private network having a hybrid platform. The non-transitory instructions can be executable to identify performance priority parameters included in a data set, wherein the performance priority parameters include a transmission priority level requested for the data set, fragment the data set into one or more subsets, each subset comprising a portion of the data set, generate a reprioritized priority for the subsets based on the performance parameters specified for the data set associated therewith,including increasing or decreasing the transmission priority level for one or more of the subsets, evaluating the transmission performance for a plurality of radio access points configured to transmit multimode messages from the hybrid platform, and assigning the subsets for transmission across the radio access points based on the transmission performance and the reprioritized priority, including assigning a first portion of the subsets for transmission from a first radio access point of the radio access points and a second portion of the subsets for transmission from a second radio access point of the radio access points.

[0027] These features and advantages, as well as other features and advantages of the present teachings, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of modes for carrying out the present teachings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that while the following figures and embodiments may be described individually, individual features thereof may be combined to form additional embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which may be incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. Fig. 1 illustrates a system optimized for multimode messaging according to one non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method for optimized multimode messages according to one non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a method according to various aspects according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Where appropriate, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure may be disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be larger or smaller to show details of particular components. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0030] Fig. 1 illustrates a system 10 for multimode messaging according to one non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure. The system 10 may include a back-office optimizer 12 configured to operate with a hybrid platform 14 to facilitate multimode messaging between one or more servers 16, a telematics unit 18, and / or additional units, devices, etc. The system 10 will be described primarily with respect to the servers 16 operating in cooperation with one or more of the same or different mobile devices, phones, computers, or other originators 22 and the telematics unit 18 operating onboard a vehicle 24, such as, but not necessarily limited to, an automobile.The system 10 is described in this manner by way of example and not limitation to highlight the advantageous capabilities of the present disclosure for supporting a multimode messaging environment, where customer-facing endpoints, i.e., the servers 16 and the telematics unit 18, may benefit from backend support or upstream management, testing, etc. The back-office optimizer 12 and / or the hybrid platform 14, which may be located on separate or shared infrastructures, such as a server or virtual platform, may be included as part of a private network 28. The private network 28 may be configured to provide oversight, ensure customer satisfaction, and / or otherwise participate in the wireless delivery of multimode messages that may impact the performance of the vehicle 24 and / or the services contained therein.However, the present disclosure is not intended to be so limited, as one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize the advantageous capabilities of system 10 to support multimode messaging for other types of endpoints.

[0031] The servers 16 and / or the telematics unit 18 may be configured to exchange information, data, messages, etc., which may generally be referred to as data sets, with each other via the hybrid platform 14. One non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure contemplates the servers 16 being configured to remotely support, direct, control, or otherwise influence services, capabilities, operations, etc. onboard the vehicle 24 via the exchange of the data sets with the telematics unit 18. This may be accomplished by the servers 16 generating the data sets to include instructions, data, files, media, etc. for transmission to the vehicle 24 and, in some cases, receiving data sets from the telematics unit 18 in response.For example, the data records may be used to stream a video to a player onboard the vehicle 24, make a video or voice call within an infotainment system onboard the vehicle 24, remotely unlock the vehicle 24, start an engine or other system 10 onboard the vehicle 24, e.g., a heating and / or cooling system 10, perform diagnostics, e.g., query the battery charge level, query the fuel level, etc., and / or to enable a variety of other services for the vehicle 24. One non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure contemplates configuring the back-office optimizer 12 and the hybrid platform 14 to manage the transport of data records between the servers 16 and the telematics unit 18 via a plurality of radio access points 30 and their associated radio networks 31.This ability to provide backend support or upstream management of data set communications can be advantageous because it allows those with a legitimate interest in the operation of the vehicle 24 to control data set communications therewith via various types of wireless radio communications of the radio access points 30.

[0032] The hybrid platform 14 is illustrated, for non-limiting purposes, with at least a portion of the radio access points 30 variously configured to provide an Internet of Things (IoT) radio access point 32 configured to communicate IoT messages over an IoT network 34, a Wi-Fi radio access point 36 configured to communicate Wi-Fi messages over a Wi-Fi network 38, and a cellular radio access point 40 configured to communicate cellular messages over a cellular network 42. The IoT interface radio access point 32 may be responsible for message handling and routing within the IoT network 34, for example, by acting as a centralized communications hub that receives messages from various IoT devices, sensors, or applications and forwards them to the appropriate destinations.The interface radio access point 32 may enable the decoupling of communication between different components by following a publish / subscribe model. The Wi-Fi radio access point 36 may be specific to managing the Wi-Fi network 38, such as in environments where Wi-Fi connectivity is available, and may be configured to oversee the configuration, management, and optimization of Wi-Fi access points (APs) within a network. It may perform tasks such as AP provisioning, channel assignment, security settings, and client device authentication. The cellular radio access point 40 may be responsible for managing cellular communication within the cellular network 42, such as by serving as a central point that coordinates communication between cellular devices and the cellular network infrastructure.

[0033] The hybrid platform 14 can thus be configured to support multimode messaging with the telematics unit 18 using the IoT interface, Wi-Fi, and / or cellular access points 32, 36, 40 and corresponding IoT, Wi-Fi, and / or cellular messages. The multimode messages can be characterized in this way to correspond to the capabilities of the hybrid platform 14 to facilitate the exchange of messages with the telematics unit 18 according to the different modes of messaging associated with each of the radio access points and the corresponding radio networks.This multimode capability may be advantageous in supporting an ever-expanding range of services provided onboard the vehicle 24, such as supporting services that, at least under certain non-limiting circumstances, may depend on various modes of wireless messaging, or what may be more simply referred to as multimode messaging. To maximize support of the services and, optionally, other wireless communication-based operations, the telematics unit 18 or other similar hardware onboard the vehicle 24 may be configured to support multimode messaging over each of the various radio networks 31, i.e., to be capable of supporting different types of messages over different types of radio networks 31.

[0034] A non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure relates to the configuration of the back-office optimizer 12 to monitor activities of the hybrid platform 14 related to multimode messages. For example, the back-office optimizer 12 may be configured to receive a plurality of data sets from the servers 16 and then control the delivery of the data sets to the telematics unit 18 using multimode messages distributed via the radio access points. The back-office optimizer 12 may be configured to determine the transmit power for the radio networks 31 associated with the radio access points 30 and, based thereon, controllably divide the data sets for communication according to selectable design parameters.The back office optimizer 12 may be configured to evaluate throughput, cost, time sensitivity, data rate, quality of service, and / or additional metrics, and based thereon, allocate the data sets for delivery via one or more of the radio access points 30. . Fig. 1 illustrates a non-limiting example wherein the back office optimizer 12 may receive a plurality of data records from the servers 16 and then analyze the data records for delivery using each of the IoT, Wi-Fi, and cellular messages, i.e., at least a portion of the data records are communicated via each of the IoT interface, Wi-Fi, and cellular access points 32, 36, 40 for appropriate exchange over the associated IoT interface, Wi-Fi, and cellular networks 34, 38, 42.

[0035] Fig. 2 illustrates a flowchart 50 of a method for multimode vehicle 24 messaging according to one non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure. The method 50 may be facilitated with the back-office optimizer 12, the hybrid platform 14, the radio access points 30, and / or other hardware (not shown) performing the operations described herein and operating according to instructions, commands, etc., generated in response to one or more processors executing according to a corresponding plurality of non-transitory instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Block 52 relates to a generation process, wherein the servers 16 may generate a plurality of data sets 54, 56, 58 for multimode messaging to the telematics unit 18.The generation process is illustrated, for non-limiting purposes, as the servers 16 generating a plurality of records 54, 56, 58, which may be referred to as a first record 54, a second record 56, and a third record 58.

[0036] The servers 16 or other devices generating the data records 54, 56, 58 may generate the data records 54, 56, 58 simultaneously, sequentially, or in another order from a connection outside the private network, for example, via an interface, link, or other medium. The data records 54, 56, 58 may generally be addressed to the vehicle 24 and initially transmitted from the servers 16 to the private network 28. The data records 54, 56, 58 may be used, for example, to enable an over-the-air (OTA) reflash, to unlock the vehicle, and / or to provide information or controls used to manipulate additional services, other services, and / or functions onboard the vehicle 24. The generation process may be performed by one or more originators 22 or applications, systems, etc.associated with one or more servers 16 and transmit one or more corresponding messages to the private network 28. The data sets 54, 56, 58 may, for example, each comprise or be comprised of a plurality of messages arranged into a data stream or other transmission construct to communicate data, video, audio, media, and / or other materials. Although the generation process is illustrated as the data sets 54, 56, 58 originating from a device external to the vehicle 24, it is entirely contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure that the data sets 54, 56, 58 could originate from other locations or sites, including from sources onboard or as part of the vehicle 24.

[0037] Block 62 relates to a management process, wherein the back-office optimizer 12 or another entity connected to the private network 28 may be configured to predict, monitor, control, or otherwise manage operations for the hybrid platform 14. One non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure contemplates that the management process includes a transmission performance process, wherein the back-office optimizer 12 may monitor or otherwise evaluate the network performance of the hybrid platform 14, such as by monitoring network performance measurements and / or metrics sufficient to evaluate the transmission performance of the radio access points 30 and / or the corresponding radio networks 31.The transmission performance may be used to reflect transmission timing, throughput, latency, modulation requirements or capabilities, processing schemes, and / or other parameters associated with communicating messages over the radio networks 31, i.e., requirements for modulation, packetization, formatting, etc., of each of the IoT, Wi-Fi, and cellular messages. The management process may include exchanging information between the back-office optimizer 12 and the hybrid platform 14 to evaluate their operation and / or to exchange control parameters used to control their operation. As such, the management process may relate to various operations contemplated within the present disclosure for supporting multimode vehicle 24 messages.

[0038] One non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure contemplates determining transmit performance from actively monitoring the operation of the radio networks 31, such as based on statistics collected from monitoring the transmission of additional data sets 54, 56, 58 or multimode messages previously transmitted to the vehicle 24 and / or to other vehicles (not shown), i.e., monitoring the historical performance of the hybrid platform 14. This type of monitoring may be considered real-time monitoring or actual monitoring established based on the actual performance of the radio networks 31 in a real-world deployment where the corresponding multimode messages may be transmitted over long distances from the hybrid platform 14 to the telematics unit 18.In such an implementation, for example, the radio access points 30 may be under the control of the private network 28, while the associated radio networks 31 are under the control of a provider that has previously built exchanges, headends, eNodes, terminals, towers, stations, etc. within the real world, i.e., an infrastructure built by a utility, a Wi-Fi and / or cellular provider, or another multi-service provider.

[0039] According to the invention, the transmission power is determined based on a simulation for the radio networks 31. The simulation can be performed to establish representative behaviors intended to simulate the behavior of functions sufficient for controlling the hybrid platform 14, the radio access points 30, and / or the radio networks 31 to provide a virtualized tool capable of modeling an actual implementation of the radio networks 31 without the radio networks 31 actually having to be deployed with infrastructure within the real world. The simulation is performed using a network tool (not shown) that has hardware and software constructs configured to simulate communication between the radio access points 30 and the vehicle 24.In other words, the simulation can be used to create a test environment in which multimode messages can be communicated with the vehicle 24 without transmitting the corresponding multimode messages over actual, field-deployed infrastructures. The corresponding multimode messages can be transmitted wirelessly to the vehicle 24, such as using short-range wireless signals, which are transmitted without the underlying infrastructure and longer-range transmission that would otherwise be necessary for the deployed radio networks.

[0040] Accordingly, the private network 28, more specifically the hybrid platform 14 and the radio access points 30, can be configured to support multimode messages over deployed radio networks and / or simulated or virtual radio networks. For simplicity of illustration, the present description primarily refers to the radio networks 31, which are configured such that the multimode messages transmitted thereover can be exchanged with the corresponding radio access points 30 to travel over the configured infrastructures, i.e., over wired backbones, towers, cables, etc., after which the multimode messages can be exchanged wirelessly with the vehicle 24. Block 64 relates to the optimization process, wherein the back-office optimizer 12 can provide optimization information to optimize the transmission of the data sets 54, 56, 58 over the private network 28.The optimization information may be generated to specify performance priority parameters, transmission priority levels, reprioritized priority, synchronization, routing, and / or other information used on the hybrid platform 14 in identifying and controlling each of the radio access points 30 for wireless communication with one or more of the data sets 54, 56, 58.

[0041] Fig. 3 illustrates a flowchart 70 of the optimization process according to one non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure. Block 72 relates to a parameter identification process in which the back-office optimizer 12 identifies the performance priority parameters included within the data sets 54, 56, 58. The performance priority parameters may be embedded information included within the data sets 54, 56, 58 to specify the characteristics desired for the transport thereof. The performance priority parameters may be selected by an originator of a corresponding one of the data sets 54, 56, 58 such that the performance priority numbers are representative of the characteristics required by the originator to support the transport. The present disclosure contemplates that the data sets 54, 56, 58 may be used to facilitate the communication of a variety of data, information, etc.which may be accomplished by packetizing the data, information, etc., within individual packet streams. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a packet stream may comprise a plurality of packets generated to transport the data, information, etc., to be communicated via the corresponding data set 54, 56, 58. The packets may comprise a non-fragmentable section and a fragmentable section, each of which may correspond to a header in a payload.

[0042] For example, the header can include the parameters for the performance priority and the payload, the data, information, etc. intended for transport.

[0043] The performance priority parameters may include information for message prioritization, bandwidth allocation, latency control, packet loss reduction, jitter minimization, bandwidth, traffic shaping, congestion management, differentiated services, quality of service, transmission priority level, etc., as one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize. The information included as part of the performance priority parameters may actually be requested or desired parameters selected by an originator outside or external to the private network 28 to control the transport of the corresponding packets within each of the data sets 54, 56, 58.Rather than relying on the originator of such a message to dictate the transport for the data sets 54, 36, 58, one aspect of the present disclosure is for the back-office optimizer 12 to evaluate and make adjustments to the performance priority parameters based on the transmission performance of the private network 28, priority levels for fragmented transmissions, and other variables known to the back-office optimizer 12 and which may be unknown or unreachable to entities external to the private network 28.The back office optimizer 12 can thus be configured to determine a best mode for receiving data sets 54, 56, 58 in the private network 28, thereafter route the data sets 54, 56, 58 over the private network 28, and finally coordinate the transmission thereof for one or more of the radio access points 30, based on the back office optimizer 12 having its own overview and understanding of the private network 28.

[0044] The ability of the present disclosure to deviate from the performance priority parameters specified by an originator of the data sets 54, 56, 58 may be advantageous in managing the transport of the data sets 54, 56, 58 over the private network 28 to monitor message delivery without depending on the originator of the messages to control the transport, which in turn may enable those with a legitimate interest in monitoring the vehicle messages, e.g., a party responsible for the private network 28, to maintain and monitor the wireless delivery of multimode messages with the vehicle 24, ensure customer satisfaction, and / or be otherwise involved.In particular, one aspect of the present disclosure provides that the back-office optimizer 12 adjusts a transmission priority level for the data sets 54, 56, 58 based on operating conditions, throughput, transmission time, and / or other transmission performance of the private network 28. The transmission priority level may be based on a classification scheme, wherein the data sets 54, 56, 58, or in particular the packets associated therewith, may specify a weighting based on a classification assigned to them, e.g.a weight of 1.0 for a best effort classification, a weight of 10 for a background classification, a weight of 24 for a standard classification, a weight of 30 for an excellent effort classification, a weight of 44 for a streaming media classification, a weight of 54 for an interactive media classification, a weight of 64 for an interactive speech classification, and a weight of 74 for a reserved classification. The weight and associated classification may vary depending on the design, capabilities, and a variety of factors for the private network 28, and as such, the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples.

[0045] The transmission priority level may be used to control the queuing of the data sets 54, 56, 58 for transmission over the private network 28. Queuing may relate to the throughput, bandwidth, latency minimization, reliability, etc. provided for transporting the data set 54, 36, 58, where optionally a higher priority or higher weighted transmission priority level receives or is assigned greater throughput, bandwidth, latency minimization, reliability, etc. relative to a lower priority or lower weighted transmission priority level. For example, the private network 28 may be configured to transport messages in different queues, where the higher transmission priority queues are optionally allocated more resources than the lower transmission priority queues.One aspect of the present disclosure relates to back-office optimizer 12 adjusting the originator-assigned transmission priority level according to the transmission performance of private network 28 to adapt the transport of records 54, 56, 58 according to the transmission priority levels selected by back-office optimizer 12 to variables known to back-office optimizer 12 that may be unknown or unreachable from entities outside private network 28, which in turn may enable back-office optimizer 12 to reschedule or otherwise adjust message transport according to what it deems best for private network 28, as opposed to what was requested by an originator of records 54, 56, 58.

[0046] Block 74 relates to a fragmentation process in which the packets of the data sets 54, 56, 58 may be analyzed for fragmentation before the back-office optimizer 12 adjusts the transmission priority level associated therewith. The fragmentation process may correspond to a deep packet inspection or other assessment of the fragmentable portions of the packets, i.e., the payload or other portions of the packets containing the data, information, etc. desired for transport, as opposed to the portions containing the performance priority parameters, source and destination addressing, etc. One aspect of the present disclosure provides that the fragmentation process determines whether the transmission priority level applicable by an originator of the data sets 54, 56, 58 is applicable or necessary for the entirety of the data sets 54, 56, 58. This may include evaluating whether different data types may be included within a corresponding one of the data sets 54, 56, 58, e.g., B.the same data set 54, 56, 58 may include video and audio, so that the video may be considered as one data type and audio as another data type. The fragmentation process may also include assessing whether different applications may be included within the corresponding data set 54, 56, 58, e.g., the same data set 54, 56, 58 may contain data from a telecommunications application and a file download application, so that the telecommunications data may be considered as one application type and audio as another application type. Determining the data type, the application type, or another classification type for the data sets 54, 56, 58 may be advantageous, in particular to distinguish whether the transmission priority level assigned in the performance priority parameters by the originator of the data sets 54, 56, 58 is applicable to all of them or only to selected sections, e.g.the author may assign a higher transmission priority level based on the entirety of the data set 54, 56, 58 if this higher transmission priority level may be necessary or desirable or less than the entirety of the data set 54, 56, 58.

[0047] The fragmentation process may accordingly include fragmenting the data sets 54, 56, 58 into subsets based on various data types, application types, etc. comprised therein. The subsets may each comprise a portion of the corresponding data set 54, 56, 58, such that the subsets may subsequently be recombined to re-form the data set 54, 56, 58. The ability to split the data sets 54, 56, 58 into subsets may be advantageous if the back-office optimizer 12 is able to adjust the transfer priority level for the subsets to match the associated data type, application type, etc., rather than being bound or limited to the transfer priority level specified by the originator for the entirety of the associated data set 54, 56, 58. Block 76 relates to a reprioritization process, whereby the back office optimizer 12 can generate a reprioritized priority for each of the subsets.The reprioritization process may select a reprioritized priority for each of the subsets based on the performance priority parameters of the data set 54, 56, 58 associated therewith. For example, the reprioritization process may determine whether the transfer priority level specified in the original for the associated data set 54, 56, 58 is applicable to the subsets fragmented therefrom. If the transfer priority level assigned by the originator for the data set 54, 56, 58 is applicable to the associated subset, the reprioritized priority may dictate the use of the same transfer priority level, and if it is not applicable, the reprioritized priority may increase or decrease the transfer priority level by assigning a higher or lower priority level to each of the relevant subsets, respectively.

[0048] Block 78 relates to a transmission performance process for evaluating or generating the transmission performance metrics for the private network 28 in temporal proximity to the fragmentation process and / or for predicting the transmission performance metrics based on an expected communication time for the subsets from one or more of the radio access points 30. Block 80 relates to a transmission assignment process for assigning the transmission for each of the subsets based on the reprioritized priority assigned to it, i.e., assigning each subset for transmission based on increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the transmission priority level set for the data set 54, 56, 58 assigned to it. By Fig. 2, one aspect of the present disclosure provides that the subsets are allocated for transport according to a plurality of subset streams 86, 88, 90 associated with each of the radio access points 30. The quantity and transmission priority level associated with each of the substreams may be correlated with the radio access points 30 associated therewith, which in the exemplary illustration may correspond to a gamma stream 86 associated with the IoT radio access point 32, a beta stream 88 associated with the Wi-Fi access point 36, and an alpha stream 90 associated with the cellular radio access point 40. This non-limiting example may be such that cellular access point 40 has a higher transmission priority level than Wi-Fi radio access point 36 and Wi-Fi radio access point 36 has a higher transmission priority level than IoT access point 32.

[0049] The transmission assignment process may be operated in this manner to facilitate the selective transport of the subsets via one of the subset streams 86, 88, 90 that are applicable to the transmission priority level assigned to them in the reprioritized priority. Depending on the transmission power or network conditions, the transmission levels, throughput, reliability, etc., of the substreams 86, 88, 90 may vary, so that at a different time, the Wi-Fi radio access point 36 may be assigned a higher priority level than the cellular radio access point 40, or the IoT access point 32 may have a higher priority level than the Wi-Fi radio access point 36.The transmission allocation process can account for the deviations and reassign the subsets accordingly, so that the subsets having the highest priority levels can be transmitted via the IoT and / or Wi-Fi radio access points 32, 36 instead of the typically higher-priority cellular radio access point 40. This ability to adjust the power of the subset streams 86, 88, 90 to the reprioritized priority of the subsets can be advantageous to ensure that the subsets assigned the higher transmission levels are transported to the radio access point 30 with the higher power at that time.

[0050] One aspect of the present disclosure provides for evaluating the performance of the radio access points 30 based on their ability to provide a guaranteed / fixed bit rate or a non-guaranteed / variable bit rate, optionally ranking the radio access points 30 with a guaranteed bit rate as more capable than the radio access points 30 having non-guaranteed bit rates. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides for evaluating the performance of the radio access points 30 based on the transport time that is therefore expected, e.g., an amount of milliseconds that is expected for the respective radio access point 30 to forward the subsets provided to it to the vehicle 24, optionally ranking the radio access point 30 with a shorter transport time as more capable than the radio access points 30 having a longer transport time.The ability to distinguish bit rates, transport timing, or other metrics for the radio access points 30 and then relate these metrics to the transmission priority levels assigned to the subsets as part of the reprioritized priority may therefore be advantageous and enable the present disclosure to evaluate the data type, application type, need for real-time or non-real-time communication, etc., for the subsets and assign the subsets accordingly to the radio access point 30 likely to meet the desired transmission priority level. By referring to . Fig.2, block 66 relates to the retransmission process, in which the hybrid platform 14 receives the subset streams 86, 88, 90 and the priority parameters and multimode information, and based thereon may control the radio access points 30 to transmit corresponding multimode messages over the radio networks 31. Block 68 may relate to the telematics unit 18 processing the substreams 86, 88, 90 for use in controlling the operation of on-board services of the vehicle 24.

[0051] Although various embodiments have been described, the description is to be considered exemplary and not restrictive, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the embodiments. Any feature of one embodiment may be used in combination with, or substituted for, any other feature or element of another embodiment, unless expressly limited. Accordingly, the embodiments are not to be limited except in light of the appended claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.Although several modes for carrying out the many aspects of the present teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which these teachings pertain will recognize various alternative aspects for carrying out the present teachings that fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended that everything contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and exemplary of the entire range of alternative embodiments that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize as being implied, structurally and / or functionally equivalent, or otherwise obvious based on the content contained therein, and not as limited solely to the embodiments expressly shown and / or described.

Claims

[1] A method for optimizing multimode messages over a private network (28) having a hybrid platform (14), comprising: Receiving a plurality of data records (54, 56, 58) from one or more locations outside the private network (28); identifying performance priority parameters included within the data sets (54, 56, 58), the performance priority parameters including a transmission priority level requested for the data set associated therewith; fragmenting the data sets (54, 56, 58) into one or more subsets, each subset comprising a portion of the data set associated therewith; Generating a reprioritized priority for the subsets based on the performance parameters specified for the data set associated therewith, including increasing or decreasing the transmission priority level for each one or more of the subsets with data outside the transmission priority level requested for the data set associated therewith; Evaluating the transmission performance for a plurality of radio access points (30) configured to transmit multimode messages from the hybrid platform (14), wherein the radio access points (30) support communication via a respective radio network (31) according to the different types of wireless radio communication, and wherein the transmission performance is determined based on a simulation for radio networks (31) performed with a network tool having hardware and software constructs configured to simulate communication with the radio access points (30); and Assigning each of the subsets for transmission via one of the radio access points (30) based on the transmission power and the reprioritized priority. [2] The method of claim 1, further comprising: Transmitting the subsets from the radio access points (30) such that at least a portion of the subsets fragmented from a first data set of the data sets (54, 56, 58) is transmitted from different ones of the radio access points (30). [3] The method of claim 2, further comprising: Transmitting the subsets of the first data set relating to a first data type from a first radio access point of the radio access points (30) and the subsets of the first data set relating to a second data type from a second radio access point of the radio access points (30). [4] The method of claim 3, further comprising: Selecting the first radio access point from one or more non-mobile access points of the radio access points (30); and Selecting the second radio access point from one or more mobile access points of the radio access points (30). [5] The method of claim 4, further comprising: that the first data type corresponds to audio; and the second data type corresponds to video. [6] The method of claim 4, further comprising: that the first data type corresponds to a first application; and the second data type corresponds to a second application. [7] The method of claim 6, further comprising: that the first application requires real-time communication; and the second application requires non-real-time communication. [8] The method of claim 1, further comprising: Transmitting the subsets from the radio access points (30) such that at least a portion of the subsets fragmented from a first set of data sets (54, 56, 58) are transmitted at an increased priority level relative to the transmission priority level requested for the first set of data sets. [9] The method of claim 1, further comprising: Transmitting the subsets from the radio access points (30) such that at least a portion of the subsets fragmented from a first set of data sets (54, 56, 58) are transmitted at a reduced priority level relative to the transmission priority level requested for the first set of data sets. [10] The method of claim 1, further comprising: Identifying the transport time for each of the radio access points (30) based on the transmission power; and Assigning the subsets having a higher reprioritized priority to the radio access points (30) having shorter transport times relative to the subsets having a lower reprioritized priority.

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