Telematics Controller Modem Reconnection Strategy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle connectivity systems perform unnecessary full scans of frequencies and technologies when resuming wireless connectivity after being powered on, which is power-intensive and time-wasteful, especially when the vehicle is likely to reconnect to the same network as previously used.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where the telematics controller stores last-used frequency and protocol settings and trip end data, allowing the vehicle to initially attempt to reconnect to the latest settings without performing a full scan, and only conducting a full scan after a predetermined period or distance has elapsed, based on stored trip end data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle performs a full scan of frequencies and technologies when resuming wireless connectivity, then the modem can identify usable connections, but it consumes excessive power and time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection identificationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by storing last-used frequency and protocol settings before the vehicle is parked. When the vehicle is powered on, the system first attempts to reconnect using these pre-stored settings before initiating a full scan, thereby avoiding unnecessary power consumption while ensuring reliable reconnection to the same network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the vehicle performs a full scan of frequencies and technologies when resuming wireless connectivity, then the modem can identify usable connections, but it wastes time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection identificationVSAvoidtime for connectivity search

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by storing last-used frequency and protocol settings before the vehicle is parked. When the vehicle is powered on, the system first attempts to reconnect using these pre-stored settings before initiating a full scan, thereby avoiding unnecessary time consumption while ensuring reliable reconnection to the same network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the vehicle attempts to reconnect to latest settings without performing a full scan, then power consumption and time are reduced, but connectivity reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidconnection identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from trip end data and stored connection settings to determine when to switch from attempt-based reconnection to full scan mode. The feedback mechanism ensures that the system only skips full scanning when confidence in reconnection is high, maintaining reliability while reducing power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle performs a full scan of frequencies and technologies, then all possible connections are checked, but low-probability frequency/technology combinations are scanned unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection optionsVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by prioritizing specific frequency and protocol combinations based on historical data from the current trip and stored settings. Instead of uniformly scanning all possibilities, the system concentrates scanning efforts on high-probability connections locally relevant to the current driving context, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10595356B2Optimized initial vehicle modem connectivity search

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A system includes a memory storing last-used frequency settings and protocol settings, and a processor of a telematics controller of a vehicle. The processor is programmed to, responsive to the vehicle being powered from a parked state, set a period during which the vehicle attempts to reconnect per the last-used frequency settings and protocol settings without performing a full scan via a modem; and perform a full scan via the modem responsive to expiration of the period.