Telematics system with vehicle network

• US 20040064251A1
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Ronald Hugh, Salmeen, Irving Toivo
• Application Number:
  US10/065,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064251A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A communication system is provided in which a vehicle network (12) communicates with a telematics system (14) through a communication network (15). The telematics system generates location-specific information from the location of the network. The vehicle network shares the location-specific information to provide efficiencies in the telematics system communicating with various vehicles.

Claims

1. A vehicle within a vehicle network having a plurality of vehicles, said vehicle network receiving location specific information from a telematics provider comprising:

a positioning system generating a vehicle position signal;

a transmitter communicating the vehicle position signal to the plurality of vehicles;

a receiver receiving the location specific information; and

a network controller maintaining a vehicle network connection in response to the vehicle position signal.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a display coupled to the network controller, said display displaying said location-specific information.

3. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said network controller is coupled to a vehicle controller.

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 3 wherein said vehicle controller is coupled to a safety system generating a safety system signal, said transmitter transmitting said safety system signal.

5. A vehicle as recited in claim 3 wherein said vehicle controller is coupled to a security system generating a security system signal, said transmitter transmitting said security system signal.

6. A vehicle as recited in claim 3 wherein said vehicle controller is coupled to vehicle sensors generating vehicle sensor signals, said transmitter transmitting said vehicle sensor signals.

7. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said positioning system comprises a global positioning system.

8. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of vehicles in communication forming a wireless vehicle network therebetween;

a communication network;

a telematics system coupled to the vehicle network through the communication network, said telematics system generating location specific information and coupling the in location-specific information to said wireless vehicle network through said network, so that said vehicle information is provided said plurality of vehicles.

9. A communication system as recited in claim 8 wherein each vehicle comprises a display coupled to each of the plurality of vehicles, said display displaying said location-specific information.

10. A communication system as recited in claim 8 wherein said wireless vehicle network comprises a floating vehicle network.

11. A communication system as recited in claim 8 wherein said wireless vehicle network comprises a Bluetooth network or a wide local area network.

12. A communication system as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of vehicles comprises:

a positioning system generating a vehicle position signal;

a transmitter communicating the vehicle position signal to the plurality of vehicles;

a receiver receiving the location specific information;

a controller maintaining a vehicle network connection in response to the vehicle position signal.

13. A communication system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a display coupled to the controller, said display displaying said location-specific information.

14. A vehicle as recited in claim 12 wherein said vehicle controller is coupled to a safety system generating a safety system signal, said transmitter transmitting said safety system signal.

15. A vehicle as recited in claim 12 wherein said vehicle controller is coupled to a security system generating a security system signal, said transmitter transmitting said security system signal.

16. A vehicle as recited in claim 12 wherein said vehicle controller is coupled to vehicle sensors generating vehicle sensor signals, said transmitter transmitting said vehicle sensor signals.

17. A method of operating a communication network comprising:

generating communication signals among a plurality of vehicles to form a wireless network therebetween;

communicating location information from the wireless network to a telematics provider;

transmitting location-specific information from the telematics provide to said wireless network; and

distributing the location specific information among the plurality of vehicles.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein at least one of said plurality of vehicles generates a safety system signal and transmits said safety system signal to the telematics system.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein at least one of said plurality of vehicles generates a security system signal and transmits said security system signal to the telematics system.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein at least one of said plurality of vehicles generates a sensor signal and transmits said sensor signal to the telematics system.