SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A STABLE AND TAMPER PROOF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A VEHICLE, A VEHICLE RELATED UNIT, AND A REMOTE SYSTEM

• US 20110013510A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
• Inventors: All, Pontus, Thorngren, Jonas
• Granted Patent: US 8,649,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/225
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• 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: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a stable communication between a vehicle'"'"'s on-board connectivity layer include at least one vehicle located communication node and at least one vehicle associatable communication node, and an off-board connectivity layer including at least one remote system located communication node, wherein each communication node communicates with at least one other communication node over a communication connection, and in case the communication connection to the at least one communication node is disturbed or interrupted, a communication connection to another communication node is established.

Claims

1. System for providing a stable and tamper proof communication between a vehicle'"'"'s on-board connectivity layer (2) comprising at least one vehicle located communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8) and at least one vehicle associatable communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8), and an off-board connectivity layer (8) comprising at least one remote system located communication node (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8), wherein each communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) is provided with a routing unit for establishing and routing a communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to at least one other communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8), characterised in that the routing unit is further enabled to establish and route a communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to another communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) in case the communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to the at least one communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) is disturbed or interrupted.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a truck or a tractor.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle related unit is a truck or tractor related unit, such as a trailer.

4. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication connection is bi-directional.

5. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the routing unit uses a unicast or a multicast or a broadcast or an anycast routing scheme.

6. System according to claim 5, wherein the system communicates at least one type of message, particularly an emergency message, and the use of the routing scheme depends on the type of the message.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein, in case the system communicates an emergency message, the routing unit uses a broadcast or anycast routing scheme.

8. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one vehicle located communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8) is comprised in a vehicle'"'"'s onboard system and/or in a vehicle'"'"'s sensor network and/or in a vehicle'"'"'s component, such as a truck'"'"'s storage compartment or a vehicle'"'"'s engine.

9. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one vehicle associatable communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8) is comprised in a trailer, particularly a trailer'"'"'s on-board system (22) or trailer'"'"'s sensor network, and/or a cargo, particularly a cargo'"'"'s on-board system (24) or a cargo'"'"'s sensor network, and/or a driver related device (28), particularly a driver'"'"'s mobile phone and/or a driver'"'"'s handheld computer, and/or a fifth wheel control unit (26).

10. System according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the on-board system/s and/or the sensor network/s comprise at least one integral and/or at least one nomadic device such as a video camera system.

11. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one remote system located communication node (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) is comprised in a back office system of a vehicle company (80), and/or a back office system of a trailer company (82), and/or a back office of a cargo company (84), and/or a back office system of an end user, and/or an emergency call centre, and/or a security company.

12. System according to any preceding claim, wherein each communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) further comprises a communication node detection unit for detecting further available communication nodes.

13. System according to any preceding claim, wherein each routing unit establishes and routes a communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to all communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) connectable to the communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) in which the connection establishment unit is incorporated.

14. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) further comprises a transceiver unit for transmitting and/or receiving data to/from the at least one established communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h).

15. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the routing unit is further enabled to detect a disturbed or interrupted communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h).

16. System according to claim 14 and 15, wherein the routing unit controls the transceiver to transmit data on the disturbed or interrupted communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) upon detection.

17. System according to claim 12 and 15, wherein the routing unit establishes and routes communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to all communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) detected by the detection unit and controls the transceiver unit correspondingly to transmit information on a disturbed or interrupted communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to all available communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8).

18. System according to claim 16 or 17, wherein data on the disturbed or interrupted communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) is transmitted automatically.

19. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) is wireless, particularly an infrared communication connection, a Bluetooth communication connection, a ZigBee communication connection, a satellite based communication connection, a cellular phone communication connection, such as GPRS, UMTS and/or CDMA, and/or a radio service based communication connection, such as a communication connection via CB radio service.

20. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) is a wired communication connection, particularly a CAN bus communication connection and/or a token bus communication connection.

21. System according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) is an encrypted and/or an authenticated communication connection.

35. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 34, wherein a system according to any one of claims 1 to 21 is used.

36. Method for establishing a communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 21 comprising the step of establishing an on-board connectivity layer by performing the steps of:

a. Transmitting by means of an initialising communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) an Invitation Request (IR) for forming an on-board connectivity layer to all communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8);

b. Re-transmitting a Response Message (RM) comprising information on an acceptance of the Invitation Request (IR) to the initializing communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8); and

c. Transmitting an On-board Connectivity Layer Established Message (OnCLEM) from all on-board communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8) to their off-board communication nodes (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8).

37. Method according claim 36, wherein step a is performed by transmitting the invitation request (IR) to the communication nodes which are intended to be comprised in the vehicle'"'"'s on-board connectivity layer (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8) and forwarding by means of the receiving on-board communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8) the Invitation Request (IR) to the remote system communication nodes (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) corresponding to the receiving on-board communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8).

38. Method according claim 36 or 37, wherein step b is performed by retransmitting the response message (RM) to the initializing communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) via the corresponding on-board communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8).

39. Method according to any one of claims 36 to 38, wherein the method further comprises the step of establishing an off-board connectivity layer.

40. Method according to claim 39, wherein the step for establishing an off-board connectivity layer comprises at least one of the following steps:

Transmitting an Off-board Invitation Request (Off-IR) to all remote communication nodes (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8);

Transmitting an Off-board communication setup message (Off-SM) to all remote communication nodes (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which are intended to be comprised in the off-board connectivity layer;

Receiving an Off-board Response Message (Off-RM);

Transmitting an Off-board Connectivity Layer Established Message (OffCLEM) from all remote communication nodes (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) to their corresponding on-board communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8).

41. Method according to any one of claims 36 to 40, wherein the method further comprises the step of exchanging encryption keys (EKM) between the communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8).

42. Method according to any one of claims 36 to 41, wherein the method further comprises the step of exchanging at least one communication node address (CNA) between the communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8).

43. Vehicle comprising a communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which is adapted or adaptable to be part of a system according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

44. Vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the vehicle is a truck or a tractor.

45. Vehicle related unit comprising a communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which is adapted or adaptable to be part of a system according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

46. Vehicle related unit according to claim 45, wherein the vehicle related unit is a trailer, a cargo and/or a driver'"'"'s handheld device.

51. Vehicle comprising a communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which is adapted or adaptable to perform a method according to any one of claims 36 to 42.

52. Vehicle according to claim 51, wherein the vehicle is a truck or a tractor.

53. Vehicle related unit comprising a communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which is adapted or adaptable to perform a method according to any one of claims 36 to 42.

54. Vehicle related unit according to claim 53, wherein the vehicle related unit is a trailer, a cargo and/or a driver'"'"'s handheld device.

55. Communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which is adapted or adaptable to be part of a vehicle, in particular a truck or a tractor and/or a vehicle related unit, in particular a truck or tractor related unit, particularly a trailer, a cargo and/or a driver'"'"'s handheld device, characterised in that the communication node is further adapted to be part of a system according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

57. Communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which is adapted or adaptable to be part of a vehicle, in particular a truck or a tractor, and/or a vehicle related unit, in particular a truck or tractor related unit, particularly a trailer, a cargo and/or a driver'"'"'s handheld device, characterised in that the communication node is further adapted to perform a method according to any one of claims 36 to 42.

60. A computer program comprising a software code adapted or adaptable to perform a method or for use in a method according to at least one of claims 36 to 42, when the computer program is run on a programmable microcomputer.

61. The computer program according to claim 60 adapted or adaptable to be downloaded to a support unit or one of its components when run on a computer which is connected to the internet.

64. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, comprising a software code for use in a method for establishing a communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 21 comprising the step of establishing an onboard connectivity layer by performing the steps of:

a. Transmitting by means of an initialising communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) an Invitation Request (IR) for forming an on-board connectivity layer to all communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8);

b. Re-transmitting a Response Message (RM) comprising information on an acceptance of the Invitation Request (IR) to the initializing communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8); and

c. Transmitting an On-board Connectivity Layer Established Message (OnCLEM) from all on-board communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8) to their off-board communication nodes (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8).

22. Method for providing a stable communication between a vehicle'"'"'s on-board connectivity layer comprising at least one vehicle located communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8) and at least one vehicle associatable communication node (2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8), and an off-board connectivity layer comprising at least one remote system located communication node (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8), wherein each communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) communicates with at least one other communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) over a communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) characterised in establishing a communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to another communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) in case the communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to the at least one communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) is disturbed or interrupted.

23. Method according to claim 22, wherein the vehicle is a truck or a tractor.

24. Method according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the vehicle related unit is a truck or tractor related unit, such as a trailer.

25. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the communication connection is bi-directional.

26. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein at least one communication node communicates according to a unicast or a multicast or a broadcast or an anycast routing scheme.

27. Method according to claim 26, wherein at least one communication node communicates at least one type of message, particularly an emergency message, and uses a routing scheme depending on the type of the message.

28. System according to claim 27, wherein, in an emergency message is communicated, a broadcast or anycast routing scheme is used.

29. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 28, further comprising the step of detecting further available communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8).

30. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 29, further comprising the step of establishing and routing a communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to all communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) connectable to the at least one communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8).

31. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 30, further comprising the step of transmitting and/or receiving data to/from the at least one established communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h).

32. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 31, wherein the data comprise information on a disturbed or interrupted communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h).

33. Method according to claim 29 and 32, wherein the data comprising information on a disturbed or interrupted communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) are transmitted to all detected available communication nodes (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8).

34. Method according to claim 32 or 33, wherein data comprising data on a disturbed or interrupted communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) are transmitted automatically.

47. Vehicle comprising a communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which is adapted or adaptable to perform a method according to any one of claims 22 to 35.

48. Vehicle according to claim 47, wherein the vehicle is a truck or a tractor.

49. Vehicle related unit comprising a communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which is adapted or adaptable to perform a method according to any one of claims 22 to 35.

50. Vehicle related unit according to claim 49, wherein the vehicle related unit is a trailer, a cargo and/or a driver'"'"'s handheld device.

56. Communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) which is adapted or adaptable to be part of a vehicle, in particular a truck or a tractor, and/or a vehicle related unit, in particular a truck or tractor related unit, particularly a trailer, a cargo and/or a driver'"'"'s handheld device, characterised in that the communication node is further adapted to perform a method according to any one of claims 22 to 35.

58. A computer program comprising a software code adapted or adaptable to perform a method or for use in a method according to at least one of claims 22 to 35, when the computer program is run on a programmable microcomputer.

59. The computer program according to claim 58 adapted or adaptable to be downloaded to a support unit or one of its components when run on a computer which is connected to the internet.

62. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, comprising a software code for use in a method for providing a stable communication between a vehicle'"'"'s on-board connectivity layer comprising at least one vehicle located communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8) and at least one vehicle associatable communication node (2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8), and an off-board connectivity layer comprising at least one remote system located communication node (8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8), wherein each communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) communicates with at least one other communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) over a communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) comprising the step of establishing a communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to another communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) in case the communication connection (4a-4h, 6-0 to 6-8, 10a-10h) to the at least one communication node (2-0;

2-2;

2-4;

2-6;

2-8;

8-0;

8-2;

8-4;

8-6;

8-8) is disturbed or interrupted.

63. A computer program product according to claim 62, wherein the communication connection is bi-directional.