Method and device for configuring a cellular communication system in a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for configuring a cellular communication system of a first vehicle, the cellular communication system comprising several modems configured to establish redundant communications between the first vehicle and remote devices via separate communication channels. The method comprises activating (33, 34) only one of the modems of the first vehicle's cellular communication system when the first vehicle is located in a non-redundancy-free geographic area determined (32) by the first vehicle from at least one geographic position represented by received communication data (31), the communication data further being representative of a quality of service of at least one modem of the first vehicle's cellular communication system, the quality of service of each modem being evaluated by at least a second vehicle. Figure for the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for configuring a cellular communication system in a vehicle. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to methods and devices for optimizing the energy consumption of a cellular communication system in a vehicle comprising several independent modems. Technological background

[0002] Continuous vehicle connectivity has become a major issue in the field of transport.

[0003] To ensure this continuous connectivity with a network infrastructure, it is known to equip vehicles with a cellular communication system comprising several modems. The use of several modems in a communication system provides a means of establishing multiple communication channels for the same communication, thus ensuring communication reliability through redundancy.

[0004] Each modem is configured for a cellular telecommunications operator to allow the establishment of a communication channel with a remote device such as, for example, a modem of a telecommunications system in another vehicle via a network infrastructure. Configuring a modem for a telecommunications operator involves, among other things, entering data such as connection identifiers with a communication server of the telecommunications operator.

[0005] Each of the modems in a cellular vehicle's communication system is implemented using electrically powered components. Since the communication system uses several of its modems to ensure reliable communication through redundancy, it is necessary to keep each of these modems in standby mode, which results in excessive power consumption. Summary of the present invention

[0006] One object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for configuring a cellular communication system of a first vehicle, the cellular communication system comprising several modems configured to establish redundant communications between the first vehicle and remote devices via separate communication channels, said method being implemented by at least one processor, said method comprising the following steps: - reception, by the first vehicle, of communication data representative of at least one geographical position, each geographical position corresponding to a geographical position of a second vehicle, the communication data also being representative of a quality of service of at least one modem of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle, the quality of service of said at least one modem being evaluated by at least one of said at least one second vehicle; - determination, by the first vehicle, of at least one non-redundant geographical area from said at least one geographical position represented by the received communication data; and - when the first vehicle enters a geographical area without a defined redundancy, the first vehicle selects one of the modems of its cellular communication system based on the quality of service of said at least one modem, as represented by the received communication data; and - as long as the first vehicle is located in said geographical area without determined redundancy, activation, by the first vehicle, of said selected modem and deactivation of the other modems of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle.

[0008] The method allows only one of the modems in the communication system of a first vehicle to be activated when that first vehicle is located in a geographical area without redundancy. To achieve this, the first vehicle receives communication data representing, on the one hand, at least one geographical position, each geographical position corresponding to a geographical position of a second vehicle, and, on the other hand, the quality of service of at least one modem in the cellular communication system of the first vehicle. The quality of service of said at least one modem is evaluated by at least one of said at least one second vehicle. At least one geographical area without redundancy is determined by the first vehicle based on said at least one geographical position represented by the received communication data.When the first vehicle is located in a geographical area without a defined redundancy, one of the modems of the first vehicle's cellular communication system is selected based on the quality of service of said at least one modem, as represented by the received communication data. This selected modem is then activated, and the other modems of the first vehicle's cellular communication system are deactivated as long as the first vehicle remains in said geographical area without redundancy.

[0009] The power consumption of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle is thus reduced compared to that of a current cellular communication system while maintaining an acceptable quality of service because the modem selected in each geographical area without redundancy corresponds to a modem providing optimal quality of service among modems (or even all modems) of the first vehicle's cellular communication system.

[0010] According to one variant, the cellular communication system modem of the first vehicle that is activated is the one that corresponds to the highest quality of service among the quality of service of said at least one modem represented by the communication data received.

[0011] According to one variant, the communication data is received periodically by the first vehicle.

[0012] This variant is advantageous because it allows for periodic updating of knowledge of the service qualities of modems of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle in determined geographical areas without redundancy.

[0013] According to one variant, the quality of service corresponding to a modem of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle is evaluated from a performance index measured by at least one of said at least a second vehicle.

[0014] According to one variant, the communication data are representative of several geographical positions of several second vehicles and at least one geographical area without redundancy is determined by partitioning said geographical positions, each geographical area without redundancy delimiting a subset of said geographical positions.

[0015] According to one variant, a geographical area without redundancy is defined by a disk of fixed radius centered around a geographical position of a second vehicle.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which includes instructions adapted for the execution of the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0017] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or an intermediate form between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0018] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0019] On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage means, such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, or a type ROM microelectronic circuit, or even a magnetic recording device or a hard drive.

[0020] On the other hand, this recording medium can also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be transmitted via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or radio frequency, by self-directing laser beam, or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention can, in particular, be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0021] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the process in question.

[0022] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a configuration device for a cellular communication system of a first vehicle, the configuration device comprising a memory associated with at least one processor configured for implementing the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the invention

[0023] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, comprising a device as described above according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. Brief description of the figures

[0024] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the particular and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the attached Figures 1 to 3, in which:

[0025] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a road environment of a cellular configuration system of a first vehicle, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] [Fig.2] illustrates a device configured for configuring the cellular communication system of the first vehicle of the [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] [Fig.3] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a configuration process for the cellular communication system of the first vehicle of the [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of achievements

[0028] A method and a device for configuring a cellular communication system of a first vehicle will now be described in what follows with joint reference to Figures 1 to 3. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description that follows.

[0029] The terms "first," "second" (or "firsts," "seconds"), etc., are used in this document by arbitrary convention to allow for the identification and distinction of different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0030] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of a cellular communication system for a first vehicle is implemented by a device embedded in the first vehicle, for example, by one or more processors of one or more computers of the first vehicle or by one or more processors of a wireless communication device embedded in the first vehicle and traveling with the first vehicle. The first vehicle is advantageously configured to communicate data according to a cellular communication system comprising several modems configured to establish redundant communications between the first vehicle and remote devices, such as modems of cellular communication systems in a second vehicle, via separate communication channels.

[0031] The implementation of the steps of the process of the present invention by the first vehicle includes the implementation of steps by one or more processors of one or more computers of the first vehicle or by one or more processors of a wireless communication device included in the first vehicle and moving with the first vehicle.

[0032] To this end, communication data is received by the first device. This communication data represents, on the one hand, at least one geographic position, each geographic position corresponding to a geographic position of a second vehicle, and, on the other hand, the quality of service of at least one modem of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle. The quality of service of said at least one modem is evaluated by at least one of said at least one second vehicle.

[0033] According to one variant, the quality of service corresponding to a modem of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle can be evaluated from a performance index measured by at least one of said at least a second vehicle.

[0034] For example, the performance index measured by a second vehicle for a modem depends on the strength of the signal received by that modem from that second vehicle.

[0035] The first vehicle determines at least one non-redundant geographic area from said at least one geographic position represented by the received communication data. When the first vehicle enters a determined non-redundant geographic area, the first vehicle selects one of the modems of its cellular communication system from the quality of service of said at least a modem represented by the received communication data. The first vehicle then activates the selected modem and deactivates the other modems of the first vehicle's cellular communication system as long as the first vehicle is located in the said geographical area without a defined redundancy.

[0036] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a road environment of a cellular configuration system of a first vehicle, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The road environment 1 of [Fig.1] includes a first vehicle 11 and a set of second vehicles consisting of a plurality of second vehicles, for example four vehicles 12, 13, 14, 15 as illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0038] The scope of the invention is not limited to a set of second vehicles consisting of four vehicles and extends to a set of second vehicles consisting of one or more vehicles, for example 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 or more second vehicles.

[0039] Vehicles 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 each correspond to a land vehicle, for example a car, a truck, a bus travelling on a road 150.

[0040] The first vehicle 11 and the set of second vehicles 12, 13, 14 and 15 are configured to communicate wirelessly from an on-board cellular communication system.

[0041] The cellular communication system of the first vehicle 11 and of each second vehicle 12, 13, 14 and 15 includes at least one telematic control unit called TCU (from the English "Telematic Control Unit").

[0042] Each telematics control unit includes at least one modem configured for at least one telecommunications operator, meaning that each modem in the telematics control unit can establish a communication channel with a cellular communication network of a telecommunications operator. If the telematics control unit includes several modems configured for several telecommunications operators, each modem is then configured to establish a communication channel with a communication network of one of said telecommunications operators.

[0043] According to one example, each cellular communication network can be a 4G network based on LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced, or 5G, or a C-V2X (Cellular-Vehicle to Everything) type cellular network based on LTE-based 4G or 5G. According to another example, the communication network can be of the Wifi® type according to the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, for example according to one of the IEEE 802.11b or 802.11g standards (2.4–2.5 GHz frequency band), IEEE 802.11lin (band of 2.4 and / or 5 GHz frequency), IEEE 802.1 lac (frequency band 5.15 - 5.35 GHz or 5.47 - 8.875 GHz), IEEE 802.11ax (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or 6 GHz) or 802.1 Ip (frequency band 5.85 - 8.925 GHz for the implementation of V2X type communications (from the English "Vehicle-to-Everything" or in French "Véhicule vers tout")•

[0044] Each telematics control unit of the vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15) is connected to one or more computers of the vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15).

[0045] The vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15) further comprises antennas, each connected to a modem included in the control unit(s) of the vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15). The antennas are configured to establish communication channels with remote devices via cellular communication networks of different telecommunications operators.

[0046] For example, an antenna of a vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15) can establish a communication channel with a remote device via a communication device 101 of a cloud communication infrastructure 100, referred to as the "cloud". This communication can be unidirectional or bidirectional.

[0047] According to the example illustrated in [Fig.1], only one communication channel can be established between the terrestrial network infrastructure communication device 101 and each of the vehicles 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. However, each vehicle 12, 13, 14 and 15 can also establish other specific communication channels with the vehicle 11 according to, for example, a Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) type communication network when the vehicles 12, 13, 14 and 15 are in the vicinity of the vehicle 11.

[0048] The antennas, the modems of the telematics control unit(s) and the computer(s) of the vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15) form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for the implementation of various services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15) and for assisting the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15) in the control of the vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15).The antennas, the computer(s) and each modem of each telematics control unit communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to ISO 17458) or Ethernet (according to ISO / IEC 802-3) type communication bus.

[0049] The vehicle 11 further includes means configured to evaluate the quality of service of each of the modems of each of its control units that can be used to establish a communication channel between the vehicle 11 and a remote device.

[0050] According to one variant, a second vehicle 12, 13, 14 or 15 may include means configured to evaluate the quality of service of each of the modems in a list of modems configured for telecommunications operators.

[0051] The means for evaluating the quality of service of a modem may include a memory and one or more processors configured to estimate at least one performance index representative of a quality of service of a modem.

[0052] For example, a performance index of a modem may be a signal strength level received on an antenna connected to a modem of a telematics control unit.

[0053] According to one embodiment, a second vehicle (12, 13, 14, or 15) can evaluate the quality of service of a modem from the modem list provided that one of the modems in the communication system of that second vehicle is configured identically to a modem in the modem list; that is, if the modem in the communication system of that second vehicle and the modem in the modem list are configured for the same telecommunications operator. For example, if the modem in the modem list is configured for a first telecommunications operator, a second vehicle can then evaluate a quality of service for that modem provided that the communication system of that second vehicle includes a modem that is configured for that first telecommunications operator.

[0054] This variant is advantageous when the list of modems groups the modems of the communication system of the first vehicle because one of the modems in the list of modems configured for a telecommunications operator may not correspond to any modem in the communication system of a second vehicle configured for that telecommunications operator.

[0055] A second vehicle 12, 13, 14 or 15 may thus evaluate the quality of service of only some of the modems in the modem list. This is the case when a modem in the modem list is configured for a first telecommunications operator and none of the modems in the communication system of the second vehicle 12, 13, 14 or 15 are configured for that first telecommunications operator.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the communication data transmitted by each second vehicle can further represent modem configurations for telecommunications operators, each modem configuration defining a telecommunications operator and being associated with a modem quality of service represented by said communication data. The first vehicle can then know which telecommunications operator is associated with a modem whose quality of service is represented by the communication data received by that first vehicle. The first vehicle can thus know if a modem, whose quality of service is represented by the communication data, corresponds to one of the modems of one of its telematics control units.

[0057] For example, a modem configuration can be represented by the name of a telecommunications operator when that modem is configured for that telecommunications operator.

[0058] According to one variant, the list of modems can group all the modems of the communication system of the first vehicle (11).

[0059] According to one embodiment, the modem list can group the modems of the communication system of a second vehicle (12, 13, 14, or 15). Thus, a second vehicle 12, 13, 14, or 15 can evaluate the quality of service of each of its modems independently of whether its modems are configured for the same telecommunications operators as those of the modems of the communication system of the first vehicle 11. The communication data can further represent the configurations of the modems of this second vehicle 12, 13, 14, or 15. The first vehicle can therefore determine whether a modem, whose quality of service is represented by the communication data, corresponds to one of the modems of one of its telematics control units.

[0060] The vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15) further comprises a geolocation system receiver enabling the vehicle 11 (respectively 12, 13, 14 and 15) to determine its geographical position. The geolocation system corresponds, for example, to a system such as GPS (Global Positioning System), Galileo, or GLONASS. The geographical position obtained for each vehicle 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 from a geolocation system is said to be absolute in that the coordinates are expressed in the same frame of reference for each vehicle 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, namely the world frame of reference.

[0061] The vehicle 12 (respectively 13, 14 and 15) further comprises means for forming and transmitting communication data. The communication data is representative of its geographical position, for example in the form of coordinates (latitude and longitude). The communication data is also representative of the quality of service of at least one modem of the cellular communication system of the vehicle 12 (respectively 13, 14 and 15). According to one embodiment, the communication data may also be representative of the configuration of said at least one modem whose quality of service is represented by the formed communication data.

[0062] These means for forming and transmitting communication data may include one or more processors and a modem of a telematics control unit.

[0063] A process for configuring the cellular communication system of the first vehicle 11 circulating in the road environment 1 is implemented by one or more computers of the first vehicle 11, i.e. by one or more processors of this or these computers, or by a mobile communication device on board the first vehicle 11.

[0064] In a first operation of the process, communication data is received by the first vehicle 11. The communication data is representative of at least one geographical position, each geographical position corresponding to a geographical position of a second vehicle 12, 13, 14 or 15.

[0065] For example, if the second vehicle 12 transmits communication data, then the first vehicle 11 receives this communication data and thus knows the geographical position of the vehicle 12.

[0066] The communication data transmitted by a second vehicle 12, 13, 14 or 15 are further representative of a quality of service of at least one modem of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle 11, the quality of service of said at least one modem being evaluated by at least one of said at least a second vehicle 12, 13, 14 or 15.

[0067] As explained previously, the communication data transmitted by a second vehicle 12, 13, 14, or 15 may represent the quality of service of a modem that does not correspond to any of the modems in the communication system of the first vehicle 11. In this case, the quality of service of this modem is not considered in the subsequent process. Only the quality of service of a modem corresponding to a modem in the communication system of the first vehicle 11 is considered in the subsequent process. It is understood, of course, that at least one modem whose quality of service is represented by the received communication data corresponds to a modem in the communication system of the first vehicle 11. A modem is said to correspond to another modem when both modems are configured for the same telecommunications operator.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the first vehicle 11 broadcasts, via a communication channel established through at least one of the modems of its communication system, a signal carrying a list of its modems. Each second vehicle 12, 13, 14 and 15 can then receive this list of modems and form and transmit communication data as explained previously.

[0069] According to one embodiment, a list of modems is generated by each second vehicle 12, 13, 14, or 15 by grouping the modems of their communication system. Each second vehicle 12, 13, 14, or 15 then evaluates the quality of service of each of its modems in said list of modems. Each second vehicle 12, 13, 14, or 15 then forms communication data from its position current geographical and each modem quality of service evaluated and emits a signal carrying said communication data to vehicle 11. The first vehicle 11 receives the communication data and selects only the quality of service of a modem represented by the communication data if that modem corresponds to one of the modems of its communication system.

[0070] According to these variants, a quality of service can be evaluated by a second vehicle 12, 13, 14, or 15 for at least one modem of the communication system of the first vehicle 11, for all such modems. It is assumed that at least one modem whose quality of service is represented by the received communication data corresponds to one of the modems of the communication system of the first vehicle 11.

[0071] According to one variant, if the first vehicle 11 evaluates a first quality of service of one of the modems of its communication system and a second quality of service of this modem is represented by the communication data received, then the quality of service of this modem is determined from the first quality of service and the second quality of service.

[0072] For example, if a quality of service of a modem is determined by a power level of a signal received by that modem, then the quality of that modem can be the average of the first and second quality of service.

[0073] In a second operation, at least one geographical area without redundancy is determined from said at least one geographical position represented by the received communication data.

[0074] According to one variant, each determined geographical area can be stored in a memory of the first vehicle 11 and kept in memory as long as another determined geographical area without redundancy does not overlap this stored geographical area without redundancy.

[0075] In a third operation, when the first vehicle 11 enters a determined non-redundancy geographical area, referred to as the current non-redundancy geographical area, the first vehicle 11 selects one of the modems of its cellular communication system from the quality of service of said at least modem represented by the communication data received.

[0076] As long as the first vehicle 11 is located in said geographical area without current redundancy, the first vehicle 11 activates the selected modem and deactivates the other modems of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle 11.

[0077] According to one variant, the cellular communication system modem of the first vehicle 11 that is activated is the one that corresponds to the highest quality of service among the quality of service of said at least modem represented by the communication data received.

[0078] According to one variant, the communication data is received periodically by the first vehicle 11.

[0079] According to one variant, the communication data are representative of several geographical positions of several second vehicles, at least one geographical area without redundancy is determined by partitioning the geographical positions, each geographical area without redundancy delimiting a subset of geographical positions.

[0080] For example, a K-means type partitioning method.

[0081] Basically, given a set of points representing modem quality of service in a mathematical space and an integer k, the problem is to find a partition of these points into k groups that minimizes the variance within each group. More precisely, it is a matter of minimizing the sum of the squares of the distances of each point to the mean of the points in its group.

[0082] According to one variant, a geographical area without redundancy is defined by a disk of fixed radius centered around a geographical position of a second vehicle.

[0083] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a device 2 configured for the configuration of a cellular communication system for a first vehicle according to various specific and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. Device 2 corresponds, for example, to a device embedded in the first vehicle 11 (for example, a computer) or a mobile communication device embedded in the first vehicle 11.

[0084] Device 2 is, for example, configured to carry out at least some of the operations described opposite [Fig. 1] and / or the steps of the process described opposite [Fig. 3]. Examples of such a device 2 include, but are not limited to, embedded electronic equipment such as a vehicle's on-board computer, an electronic control unit such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), at least one telematics control unit comprising at least one modem, controller, computer, server, or mobile communication device (for example, embedded in a vehicle and connected to that vehicle by wired or wireless communication). The elements of device 2, individually or in combination, may be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components.Device 2 can be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules, or a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0085] The device 2 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the process and / or for executing instructions from the software embedded in the device 2. The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to a person skilled in the art. Device 2 further includes at least one memory 21 corresponding for example to volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or includes a memory storage device which may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0086] The computer code of the embedded software(s) including the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored on memory 21.

[0087] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a telematics control unit for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0088] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 includes a block 22 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 22 include a radio frequency (RF) interface, for example of the Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or of the Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or of the Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced, 5G.

[0089] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 240, touch or not, one or more speakers 250 and / or other peripherals 260 (projection system) via output interfaces 24, 25 and 26 respectively. According to a variant, one or more of the external devices is integrated into the device 2.

[0090] Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart of the various steps in a method for configuring a cellular communication system of the first vehicle 11, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method is implemented, for example, by a computer or set of computers in the vehicle or by a mobile communication device embedded in the vehicle, for example by the device 2 in Figure 2.

[0091] In a first step 31, the first vehicle 11 receives communication data representative of at least one geographic position, each geographic position corresponding to a geographic position of a second vehicle 12, 13, 14 or 15, the communication data further being representative of a quality of service of at least one modem of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle 11, the quality of service of said at least one modem being evaluated by at least one of said at least a second vehicle 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0092] In a second step 32, the first vehicle 11 determines at least one geographical area without redundancy from said at least one geographical position represented by the received communication data.

[0093] In a third step 33, when the first vehicle 11 enters a geographical area without determined redundancy, the first vehicle 11 selects one of the modems of its cellular communication system from the quality of service of said at least one modem represented by the communication data received.

[0094] In a fourth step 34, as long as the first vehicle 11 is located in said geographical area without determined redundancy, the first vehicle 11 activates said selected modem and deactivates the other modems of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle 11.

[0095] According to one variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to [Fig.1] apply to the steps of the process in [Fig.3].

[0096] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for configuring a cellular communication system of a first vehicle that would include secondary steps without falling outside the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

Claims

Demands

1. Method of configuring a cellular communication system of a first vehicle (11), the cellular communication system comprising several modems configured to establish redundant communications between the first vehicle (11) and remote devices via separate communication channels, said method being implemented by at least one processor, said method comprising the following steps: - reception (31), by the first vehicle (11), of communication data representative of at least one geographic position, each geographic position corresponding to a geographic position of a second vehicle (12, 13, 14, 15), the communication data further being representative of a quality of service of at least one modem of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle (11), the quality of service of said at least one modem being evaluated by at least one of said at least one second vehicle (12, 13, 14, 15);- determination (32), by the first vehicle (11), of at least one non-redundant geographical area from said at least one geographical position represented by the received communication data; and - when the first vehicle enters a determined non-redundant geographical area, selection (33), by the first vehicle (11), of one of the modems of its cellular communication system from the quality of service of said at least one modem represented by the received communication data; and - as long as the first vehicle (11) is located in said determined non-redundant geographical area, activation (34), by the first vehicle (11), of said selected modem and deactivation of the other modems of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle (11).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the modem of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle (11) which is activated is the one which corresponds to the highest quality of service among the quality of service of said at least one modem represented by the communication data received.

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication data is received periodically by the first vehicle (11).

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the quality of service corresponding to a modem of the cellular communication system of the first vehicle (11) is evaluated from a performance index measured by at least one of said at least a second vehicle (12, 13, 14, 15).

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication data are representative of several geographical positions of several second vehicles and at least one geographical area without redundancy is determined by partitioning said geographical positions, each geographical area without redundancy delimiting a subset of said geographical positions.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein a geographical area without redundancy is defined by a disk of fixed radius centered around a geographical position of a second vehicle.

7. Computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when such instructions are executed by a processor.

8. Computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the process according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. Device (2) for configuring a cellular communication system of a vehicle (11), said device comprising a memory (21) associated with at least one processor (20) configured for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. Vehicle (11) comprising a device (2) according to claim 9.

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