Context-Based Wireless Network Link Access Prioritization System

• US 20160345341A1
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Oliver, Douglas A., Rao, Jayanthi
• Granted Patent: US 9,894,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A vehicle wireless network access system includes a wireless connection switch disposed within a vehicle and configured to, in response to receiving a data transfer request, establish a wireless connection with one of a plurality of network links according to a prioritization of the network links that is based on a speed of the vehicle and an expected path of travel of the vehicle relative to the network links.

Claims

1. A vehicle wireless network access system comprising:

a wireless connection switch disposed within a vehicle and configured to, in response to receiving a data transfer request, establish a wireless connection with one of a plurality of network links according to a prioritization of the network links that is based on a speed of the vehicle and an expected path of travel of the vehicle relative to the network links.

2. The vehicle wireless network access system of claim 1, wherein the prioritization is further based on historical data indicative of duration of connection to at least one of the network links.

3. The vehicle wireless network access system of claim 1, wherein the prioritization is further based on network attributes including signal strength, maximum signal range, transmission error rate, latency, data throughput, QoS, reliability, or data transmission cost.

4. The vehicle wireless network access system of claim 1, wherein the prioritization is further based on a type of the data transfer request.

5. The vehicle wireless network access system of claim 1, wherein the prioritization is further based on a location of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle wireless network access system of claim 1, wherein the prioritization is further based on an estimated duration for which the vehicle will remain at a location.

7. The vehicle wireless network access system of claim 1, wherein the wireless connection switch is further configured to perform the prioritization in response to detecting an on-location network link associated with an upcoming location of the vehicle.

8. The wireless network access system of claim 7, wherein the upcoming location of the vehicle is based on a calendar entry of a mobile device.

9. The wireless network access system of claim 7, wherein the upcoming location of the vehicle is based on a historic navigation route.

10. The wireless network access system of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle gateway module, wherein the wireless connection switch is integrated within the vehicle gateway module.

11. A method for a vehicle comprising:

in response to receiving a data transfer request, establishing a wireless connection with one of a plurality of network links according to a prioritization of the network links that is based on a speed of the vehicle and an expected path of travel of the vehicle relative to the network links.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the prioritization is further based on historical data indicative of duration of connection to at least one of the network links.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the prioritization is further based on network attributes including signal strength, maximum signal range, transmission error rate, latency, data throughput, QoS, reliability, or data transmission cost.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the prioritization is further based on a type of the data transfer request.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the prioritization is further based on a location of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the prioritization is further based on an estimated duration for which the vehicle will remain at a location.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising performing the prioritization in response to detecting an on-location network link associated with an upcoming location of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the upcoming location of the vehicle is based on a calendar entry of a mobile device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the upcoming location of the vehicle is based on a historic navigation route.

20. A method for a vehicle comprising:

in response to receiving a data transfer request,

identifying first and second network links, the first network link having a lower signal strength and being located further away than the second network link, and

establishing a wireless connection with the first network link and not the second network link based on vehicle speed and an expected path of travel toward the first network link and away from the second network link.