DIGITAL CONTENT NETWORKING

• US 20130041580A1
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Petrucci, David R., Massoll, Charles A., Nguyen, Thiep T., Wisnewski, Mark A., Trzcinski, David J., Saadatjoo, Anna
• Granted Patent: US 9,087,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/421
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• 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 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Mobile network services for a vehicle are provided via a computer processing device, and a digital communications module executable by the computer processing device. The digital communications module identifies a content channel selection for content presented on a device in the vehicle, continuously receives information indicating a location of the vehicle, and monitors signal strength of the content as the vehicle moves among location. Upon determining a threshold signal strength is reached, the digital communications module determines an action to be taken, and performs the action.

Claims

1. A system for providing mobile networking services for a vehicle, comprising:

a computer processing device; and

a digital communications module executable by the computer processing device, the digital communications module implementing a method, the method comprising;

identifying a content channel selection for content presented on a device in the vehicle;

continuously receiving information indicating a location of the vehicle;

monitoring signal strength of the content as the vehicle moves among locations; and

upon determining a threshold signal strength is reached, determining an action to be taken; and

performing the action.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the action to be taken includes transmitting a notice of weakened signal via at least one of:

the device; and

a personal mobile device in communication with the computer processing device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the action to be taken includes a recommendation to modify a route traveled by the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the action to be taken includes a recommendation to service the vehicle at a location in which the signal strength is determined to be within a defined threshold level but weakening.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving data from vehicle components; and

determining a need for servicing the vehicle based on the data received.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

accessing a database of locations of content sources, the database including a coverage range for each of the content sources;

determining a selection of at least one of the content sources having a coverage range that corresponds to the location of the vehicle; and

upon determining the signal strength is weakening, discontinuing transmission of the content from a current content source, and accessing the content from the selection of the at least one of the content sources.

7. A method for providing mobile networking services for a vehicle, comprising:

identifying a content channel selection for content presented on a device in the vehicle;

continuously receiving information indicating a location of the vehicle;

monitoring signal strength of the content as the vehicle moves among locations; and

upon determining a threshold signal strength is reached, determining an action to be taken; and

performing the action.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the action to be taken includes transmitting a notice of weakened signal via at least one of:

the device; and

a personal mobile device in communication with the computer processing device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the action to be taken includes a recommendation to modify a route traveled by the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the action to be taken includes a recommendation to service the vehicle at a location in which the signal strength is determined to be within a defined threshold level but weakening.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving data from vehicle components; and

determining a need for servicing the vehicle based on the data received.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

accessing a database of locations of content sources, the database including a coverage range for each of the content sources;

determining a selection of at least one of the content sources having a coverage range that corresponds to the location of the vehicle; and

upon determining the signal strength is weakening, discontinuing transmission of the content from a current content source, and accessing the content from the selection of the at least one of the content sources.

13. A computer program product for providing mobile networking services for a vehicle, the computer program product comprising a computer storage medium embodied with program instructions, which when executed by a computer processor cause the computer processor to implement a method, the method comprising:

identifying a content channel selection for content presented on a device in the vehicle;

continuously receiving information indicating a location of the vehicle;

monitoring signal strength of the content as the vehicle moves among locations; and

upon determining a threshold signal strength is reached, determining an action to be taken; and

performing the action.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the action to be taken includes transmitting a notice of weakened signal via at least one of:

the device; and

a personal mobile device in communication with the computer processing device.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the action to be taken includes a recommendation to modify a route traveled by the vehicle.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the action to be taken includes a recommendation to service the vehicle at a location in which the signal strength is determined to be within a defined threshold level but weakening.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving data from vehicle components; and

determining a need for servicing the vehicle based on the data received.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

accessing a database of locations of content sources, the database including a coverage range for each of the content sources;

determining a selection of at least one of the content sources having a coverage range that corresponds to the location of the vehicle; and

upon determining the signal strength is weakening, discontinuing transmission of the content from a current content source, and accessing the content from the selection of the at least one of the content sources.