Mobile router network

• US 20120155450A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Autonet Mobile, Inc. (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Moeller, Douglas S., Pashby, Ronald W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,288,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• 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 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A network is provided comprising a network management system, and a plurality of mobile routers. The network management system comprises at least one server and a link to a wide area network. Each mobile router is disposed in a corresponding one vehicle of a plurality of vehicles and is operable to selectively communicate with the network management system. The network management system selectively communicates with each mobile router. Each mobile router comprises: a local area network interface to provide a link to first a local area network comprising a first client device; a wide area network interface to provide a link to the wide area network; at least one processor to control operation of the router. The wide area network interface is operable to establish communication link with the network management system. An application executable by the at least one processor selectively acquires predetermined data.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a network management system, said network management system comprising;

at least one server; and

a link to a wide area network;

a plurality of mobile routers, each said mobile router disposed in a corresponding one vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, each mobile router operable to selectively communicate with said network management system;

said network management system operable to selectively communicate with each said mobile router;

each said mobile router comprising;

a local area network interface comprising a first wireless transceiver of a first predetermined type to provide a link to first a local area network comprising a first client device;

a wide area network interface comprising a second wireless transceiver of a second predetermined type to provide a link to said wide area network;

at least one processor to control operation of said router;

said wide area network interface operable to establish a wireless communication link with said network management system;

an application executable by said at least one processor to selectively acquire predetermined data; and

a communication agent operable to upload said predetermined data to said network management system.

2. A network in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

said at least one processor is operable to acquire said predetermined data during time periods that said mobile router is not communicating with said network management system; and

said communication agent is operable to upload said predetermined data to said network management system during time periods that said mobile router is in communication with said network management system.

3. A network in accordance with claim 2, comprising:

each said mobile router comprises a memory and said predetermined data is stored in said memory.

4. A network in accordance with claim 3, comprising:

said at least one processor provides a time stamp for said predetermined acquired data at the time said predetermined acquired data is acquired.

5. A network in accordance with claim 4, comprising:

said time stamp is stored in said memory in association with said predetermined acquired data.

6. A network in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

said at least one processor is operable to assign a priority for said predetermined data; and

said at least one processor is operable to execute a predetermined action to take with said predetermined data based upon said priority.

7. A network in accordance with claim 6, comprising:

said router is operable to immediately upload to said network management system said predetermined data having a predetermined one assigned priority.

8. A network in accordance with claim 6, comprising:

said router is operable to control uploading said predetermined data having said predetermined one assigned priority at a first data rate.

9. A network in accordance with claim 8, comprising:

said router is operable to control uploading said predetermined data having a predetermined second assigned priority at a second predetermined data rate, said second predetermined data rate being slower than said first predetermined data rate.

10. A network in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

said at least one processor is operable to determine if uploading of said predetermined data is interrupted.

11. A network in accordance with claim 10, comprising:

said at least one processor is operable to restore uploading of said predetermined data to said network management system from the point of interruption when a communication link between said network management system and said router is restored.

12. A network in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

said mobile router comprises a memory;

said at least one processor is operable to process said predetermined data prior to said uploading; and

said at least one processor is operable to store said processed predetermined data as said predetermined data in said memory.

13. A mobile network in accordance with claim 12, comprising:

said at least one processor generates a time stamp for said predetermined acquired data, said time stamp identifying time said predetermined acquired data is acquired.

14. A network in accordance with claim 13, comprising:

said time stamp is stored in said memory in association with the corresponding said processed predetermined data.

15. A network in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

said at least one processor is operable to determine when said uploading occurs.

16. A network in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

said predetermined data comprises statistical data.

17. A network in accordance with claim 1, comprising;

said predetermined data comprises vehicle diagnostic data.

18. A network in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

each said vehicle comprises a corresponding vehicle network bus;

each said mobile router comprises an interface to said corresponding vehicle network bus; and

said predetermined data is obtained from said vehicle network bus.

19. A network comprising:

a network management system, said network management system comprising;

at least one server;

a link to a wide area network; and

at least one database;

a plurality of mobile routers, each said mobile router disposed in a corresponding vehicle, each of said mobile routers comprising;

a local area network interface comprising a first wireless transceiver of a first predetermined type to provide a link to first a local area network comprising a first client device;

a wide area network interface comprising a second wireless transceiver of a second predetermined type to provide a link to said wide area network;

at least one processor to control operation of said router;

at least one of said local area network and said wide area network interface selectively operable to establish a communication link with said network management system;

a first application executable by said processor to selectively acquire first predetermined data; and

said at least one processor is operable to upload said first predetermined data to said network management system.

20. A network in accordance with claim 19, comprising:

said network management system having access to one or more predetermined downloadable applications;

said network management system being selectively operable to download selected predetermined downloadable applications to predetermined selected ones of said mobile routers; and

said selected predetermined downloadable applications comprise said first application.

21. A network in accordance with claim 20, comprising:

said at least one processor is operable to acquire said predetermined data during time periods that said mobile router is not communicating with said network management system; and

said at least one processor is operable to upload said predetermined data to said network management system during time periods that said mobile router is in communication with said network management system.

22. A network in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

said network management system is operable to route said uploaded predetermined data to a predetermined destination.

23. A network in accordance with claim 22, wherein:

said predetermined destination comprises said database.

24. A network in accordance with claim 22, wherein:

said predetermined destination comprises a third party server accessed by said network management system.

25. A network in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

each said vehicle comprises a corresponding vehicle network bus;

each said mobile router comprises an interface to said corresponding vehicle network bus; and

said predetermined data comprises data obtained from said vehicle network bus.

26. A network in accordance with claim 25, comprising:

said network management system has access to one or more predetermined downloadable applications;

said network management system is selectively operable to download selected ones of said predetermined downloadable applications to predetermined selected ones of said mobile routers; and

said selected ones of said predetermined downloadable applications comprise said first application.

27. A network in accordance with claim 26, comprising:

said at least one processor is operable to acquire said predetermined data from said vehicle data bus during time periods that said mobile router is not communicating with said network management system; and

said at least one processor is operable to upload said predetermined data to said network management system during time periods that said mobile router is in communication with said network management system.

28. A network in accordance with claim 27, wherein:

said network management system is operable to route said uploaded predetermined data to a predetermined destination.

29. A network in accordance with claim 28, wherein:

said predetermined destination comprises said database.

30. A network in accordance with claim 28, wherein:

said predetermined destination comprises a third party server accessed by said network management system.

31. A network in accordance with claim 26, wherein:

said network management system accesses said one or more predetermined applications from a third party server accessed by said network management system.