Predictive Wi-Fi Data Offloading in Vehicles

Solution Overview

Problem

Current Wi-Fi communication systems in vehicles inefficiently upload data due to unplanned access strategies, leading to less efficient data uploading and in-vehicle application performance.

Innovation Solution

A system that collects performance data from access points, segments routes, maps access points to route segments, selects optimal access points based on performance data, predicts scanning channels, and selectively transmits packet data to optimize data offloading, using methods like geo-hashing, weighted graphs, and reinforcement learning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If vehicles use unplanned Wi-Fi access strategy with scanning process, then vehicles can find available access points, but data uploading efficiency and in-vehicle Wi-Fi application performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess point finding capabilityVSAvoiddata uploading efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting performance data from multiple access points before the vehicle actually needs to upload data. Access point performance metrics (throughput, latency, signal strength) are gathered in advance and stored for future reference, eliminating the need for real-time scanning and enabling immediate connection to optimal access points when data upload is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the route into multiple geographic zones and identifies optimal access points for each segment. By pre-mapping access points along the vehicle's route and categorizing them by performance characteristics, the system can quickly select the best access point for the current location without performing full scans, thus improving data uploading efficiency while maintaining ease of access point finding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If vehicles perform scanning process to find access points, then access points can be discovered, but in-vehicle Wi-Fi application performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess point discovery capabilityVSAvoidin-vehicle Wi-Fi application performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting performance data from multiple access points before the vehicle actually needs to upload data. Access point performance metrics (throughput, latency, signal strength) are gathered in advance and stored for future reference, eliminating the need for real-time scanning and enabling immediate connection to optimal access points when data upload is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring and collecting performance data from access points, then using this feedback to dynamically select optimal access points. The system adjusts access point selection based on real-time performance metrics, ensuring reliable Wi-Fi application performance while maintaining the ability to adapt to different access points along the route.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If optimal access points are selected based on performance data, then data uploading efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata uploading efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the route into multiple geographic zones and identifies optimal access points for each segment. By pre-mapping access points along the vehicle's route and categorizing them by performance characteristics, the system can quickly select the best access point for the current location without performing full scans, thus improving data uploading efficiency while maintaining ease of access point finding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by automatically collecting performance data, analyzing access point metrics, and selecting optimal access points without requiring manual intervention. The automated selection process based on pre-collected performance data improves data uploading efficiency while the system manages its own complexity through self-configuration and adaptive learning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11737004B2Predictive Wi-Fi data offloading systems and methods

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

Systems and method are provided for transmitting data from a vehicle using a Wi-Fi network. A method includes: collecting, by a processor, performance data associated with a plurality of access points in the Wi-Fi network; segmenting, by a processor, a route into a plurality of route segments; mapping, by a processor, the plurality of access points to the plurality of route segments; selecting, by a processor, a set of access points from the plurality of access points based on the collected performance data, wherein the set of access points comprises a selected access point for each route segment of the plurality of route segments; predicting, by a processor, a scanning channel based on the set of access points and a current location of the vehicle; and selectively transmitting, by a processor, packet data based on the set of access points, the scanning channel, and the associated performance data.