In-Vehicle Telematics Network Traffic Aggregation via Mobile Device Tethering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The throughput limitations of mobile wireless networks in modern cars' telematics systems make downloading or uploading large-volume multimedia data unacceptably slow, such as a 600 MB movie taking approximately 40 minutes over a 2 Mbps connection, which is impractical for use.
Innovation Solution
A network traffic aggregation method that utilizes multiple mobile devices within a vehicle to enhance data communication throughput by fragmenting data and distributing communication tasks based on each device's network capability, using tethering connections to collectively access the Internet, thereby reducing transmission/reception time and potential additional service charges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is transmitted through a single mobile network interface, then the system is simple to operate, but the data transfer speed is unacceptably slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple mobile network interfaces from different mobile devices into a single aggregated network connection. The system detects available mobile devices, establishes tethering connections to them, and aggregates their network interfaces to create a combined data transfer channel, thereby increasing overall data transfer speed while maintaining a unified system interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data transfer task by dividing the data stream into multiple parallel flows, each routed through a different mobile device's network interface. This segmentation allows simultaneous utilization of multiple network connections, achieving higher aggregate throughput while keeping each individual connection manageable.
2Productivity
If multiple mobile devices are used for data transfer, then the throughput is enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a central control module that acts as an intermediary between the telematics system and multiple mobile devices. This mediator manages device detection, tethering connection establishment, network interface aggregation, and data flow distribution, thereby enhancing throughput while abstracting and managing the inherent system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal aggregation framework that can work with any mobile device supporting tethering functionality. The multi-functional architecture detects and utilizes available mobile devices regardless of their specific type, establishing standardized connections and integrating them into a unified data transfer system, thus improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Loss of time
If large-volume data is downloaded via mobile network, then the system can access Internet content, but the time required is excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large-volume data download task into multiple parallel download operations, each handled by a different mobile device's network interface. By dividing the data stream and transmitting segments simultaneously through multiple connections, the system dramatically reduces total download time while maintaining ease of operation through automated segmentation and reassembly.
4Reliability
If the telematics system uses its own mobile network interface, then the connection is stable, but the bandwidth is insufficient for large data transfers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the telematics system's own mobile network interface with additional network interfaces from tethered mobile devices. This combination preserves the stability of the original connection while adding the bandwidth capacity of supplementary connections, achieving both connection reliability and sufficient bandwidth for large data transfers through aggregated network interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for enhancing a data communication throughput associated with an in-vehicle telematics system includes receiving a communication request from the in-vehicle telematics system to perform at least one of a data upload to the Internet and a data download from the Internet, and verifying availability of one or more mobile devices within the vehicle. The maximum capability of a mobile network interface for each of the one or more available mobile devices within the vehicle is determined. When the communication request is for uploading data to the Internet, the data is fragmented into data fragments and distributed to the available mobile devices, whereas when the communication request is for downloading data from the Internet, it is determined for each mobile device which fragment of data is to be downloaded and from which server, and the respective determined fragments are received from each mobile device.