Vehicle Telematics Radio Access Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Telematics units in vehicles face limitations in data communication due to dependence on specific cellular service providers and network availability, leading to compatibility issues across geographic regions and storage constraints when network connections are unavailable.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of radio access interfaces that allow vehicle telematics devices to utilize mobile communications devices for data transmission via various protocols (e.g., Bluetooth, 802.11, wired connections) using command data to manage data transfer, enabling communication even without a network connection and optimizing data transmission by leveraging the mobile device's storage capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If telematics units use dedicated cellular service providers and network connections for data transmission, then reliable data communication is achieved, but compatibility issues arise across geographic regions and the system becomes dependent on network availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata communication reliabilityVSAvoidgeographic compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile communication device is configured to provide multiple communication functions: it acts as both a telematics unit and a cellular communication device. The radio access interface enables the telematics unit to access the cellular network through the mobile device's existing cellular radio, allowing the system to function across different geographic regions without requiring dedicated telematics cellular service providers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile communication device serves as an intermediary between the telematics unit and the cellular network. The radio access interface acts as a mediator that allows the telematics unit to transmit data through the mobile device's cellular connection, bypassing the need for the telematics unit to have its own dedicated cellular service provider configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If telematics units store data locally when network connections are unavailable, then continuous operation is maintained, but storage constraints limit the amount of data that can be retained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the storage capabilities of the mobile communication device with the telematics unit's data buffer. When the network is unavailable, data from the telematics unit can be stored in the mobile device's larger storage capacity, combining both storage resources to overcome the limitations of the telematics unit's internal storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends the storage dimension from the telematics unit's internal memory to the mobile device's file system and storage capabilities. By leveraging the mobile device's storage as an external dimension, the system can retain significantly more data during periods when network connectivity is unavailable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If telematics units use NAT services for data transmission, then network connectivity is achieved, but the system becomes dependent on specific network configurations and service providers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidnetwork configuration dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile communication device uses its own existing cellular radio and network credentials to provide network access to the telematics unit. The system leverages the mobile device's self-contained cellular capabilities rather than requiring external NAT services, allowing the telematics unit to communicate through the mobile device's direct cellular connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11792622B2Systems and methods for radio access interfaces

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 CALAMP CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods for radio access interfaces in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiments, a vehicle telematics device includes a processor, a communications device, and a memory, wherein the vehicle telematics device communicates with a mobile communications device using the communications device, wherein the mobile communications device is in communication with a remote server system via a mobile network connection, and wherein the vehicle telematics device provides data to the mobile communications device, where the data is to be transmitted to the remote server system, provides command data to the mobile communications device, where the command data instructs the mobile communication device to transmit the data to the remote server system using at least one communication protocol, and causes the mobile communications device to transmit the data to the remote server system using the at least one communication protocol based on the command data.