VOICE-OVER-INTERNET PROTOCOL INTRA-VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20080151793A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, George L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,254,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/46 for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method of communicating among vehicles in a convoy or otherwise in close proximity is provided. The method includes initiating an internet protocol layer on a wireless hub of a first vehicle. The first vehicle also synchronizes with at least a one other vehicle having a wireless hub. A voice signal is received at the first vehicle. The voice signal is then converted into packets. Finally, the packets are sent from the wireless hub of the first vehicle to the wireless hub of the at least one other vehicle using a networking protocol.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between vehicles comprising:

initiating an internet protocol layer on a wireless hub of a first vehicle;

synchronizing the first vehicle with at least a one other vehicle having a wireless hub;

receiving a voice signal at the first vehicle;

converting the voice signal into packets; and

sending the packets from the wireless hub of the first vehicle to the wireless hub of the at least one other vehicle using a networking protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the packets uses an omni-directional antenna.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless hub is integrated into the first vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an ad-hoc network including the first vehicle and the at least one other vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

hopping the packets from the at least one other vehicle through a network of vehicles;

receiving the packets at a destination vehicle; and

converting the packets back into a voice signal at the destination vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating communicating with the at least one other vehicle prior to sending the packets to the at least one other vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting a video signal into packets.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising converting data information into packets.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the packets into a voice signal at the at one other vehicle; and

audibly providing the voice signal at the at least one other vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the packets further comprises:

identifying the second vehicle by IP address.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the packets are sent in real-time for voice conversation.

12. A device for real-time voice communication comprising:

a vehicle;

a wireless hub attached to the vehicle and configured to run an IEEE 802.11 standard internet protocol layer, the hub having a unique identification address;

an interface operable to receive a voice signal; and

an omni-directional antenna connected to the wireless hub.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

a carrying case; and

wherein the wireless hub and the omni-directional antenna are portable.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the omni-directional antenna comprises:

a magnetic base configured to be attached to the top of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the interface further comprises:

a keypad.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the interface further comprises:

a boom-microphone headset.

17. A method of communicating between vehicles comprising:

running an internet protocol layer on a plurality of vehicles;

forming an ad-hoc network with the plurality of vehicles;

recording a voice signal at a first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles;

converting a voice signal into packets; and

hopping the packets using an IEEE 802.11 standard through the ad-hoc network wherein the packets are sent using an omni-directional antenna.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising sending a reply voice signal to the first vehicle, wherein the reply voice signal is sent in real-time for voice communication.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

storing the packets for review after the voice signal has been played by a destination vehicle.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising broadcasting the packets to the plurality of vehicles.