METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUGMENTING SMARTPHONE-CENTRIC IN-CAR INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM USING VEHICLE WIFI/DSRC
First Claim
1. A method for augmenting electronic device data transfer using a vehicle'"'"'s external wireless communications capability, said method comprising:
- establishing communication between one or more electronic devices and a communications module in a vehicle;
submitting a request list by each of the one or more electronic devices, where the request list includes a list of requested files or data;
accepting the request list if it can be fulfilled, or rejecting the request list and its electronic device if the request list cannot be fulfilled;
combining the request list with any previously accepted request lists to produce an aggregated traffic list;
retrieving files and data from the internet according to the aggregated traffic list when an external wireless connection to the internet is available; and
downloading the files and data to the one or more electronic devices.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for augmenting smartphone-centric in-car infotainment systems using Wi-Fi or DSRC communications between a vehicle and surrounding infrastructure. One or more smartphones or other electronic devices within a vehicle electronically communicate with the vehicle via a wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth, or a wired connection. The electronic devices run applications which submit requests for internet-based files or data, such as web pages, audio or video files. The vehicle brokers these requests and, using its own external wireless communications systems, such as Wi-Fi or DSRC, retrieves as many of the files or data as possible whenever internet access is available via an external wireless connection. The vehicle then provides the files or data to the requesting electronic devices. A token-based method for prioritizing the requests and rendering the data to the electronic devices is also disclosed.
62 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for augmenting electronic device data transfer using a vehicle'"'"'s external wireless communications capability, said method comprising:
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establishing communication between one or more electronic devices and a communications module in a vehicle; submitting a request list by each of the one or more electronic devices, where the request list includes a list of requested files or data; accepting the request list if it can be fulfilled, or rejecting the request list and its electronic device if the request list cannot be fulfilled; combining the request list with any previously accepted request lists to produce an aggregated traffic list; retrieving files and data from the internet according to the aggregated traffic list when an external wireless connection to the internet is available; and downloading the files and data to the one or more electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for augmenting data transfer to a smartphone integrated with a vehicle'"'"'s infotainment system using external wireless communications capability, said method comprising:
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establishing communication between the smartphone and a communications module in a vehicle, where the smartphone is also integrated with the vehicle'"'"'s infotainment system; submitting a request list by the smartphone, where the request list includes a list of requested files or data from the internet; establishing a connection to the internet using external wireless communication with a Wi-Fi access point, a Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) access point, or both; retrieving files and data from the internet according to the request list; and downloading the files and data to the smartphone for use by the infotainment system in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle communications system comprising:
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an internal wireless module for facilitating wireless communications with one or more electronic devices within a vehicle; an external wireless module for facilitating wireless communications between the vehicle and external wireless access points; a cache storage module for storing data downloaded from the internet via the external wireless access points; and a controller in communication with the internal wireless module, the external wireless module and the cache storage module, said controller being configured to receive data download requests from the one or more electronic devices, combine the data download requests into an aggregated traffic list, retrieve files and data from the internet according to the aggregated traffic list when an external wireless connection to the internet is available, store the files and data from the internet in the cache storage module, and render the files and data to the one or more electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification