Method and system for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network

• US 6,246,688 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Angwin, Alastair John, Gopal, Ajei S., Singhal, Sandeep K., Colson, James C., Fraenkel, Michael L., Bevis, David George
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/240,294
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/402, 370/400, 370/310, 370/313, 370/282, 370/285, 370/277, 370/352, 370/465, 370/469, 370/466, 370/467, 370/471, 370/395, 370/389
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method, system, and computer-readable code for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network. The proposed technique defines a novel way for using the phone'"'"'s protocol stack and transmission capabilities (together with an adapter) to enable devices on a network in a vehicle to communicate with an external network, while still allowing the phone to work in “stand-alone” mode (i.e. not connected to the vehicle network) where it can communicate to a remote computer as a network client. Further, while the phone is plugged into the automotive network, it retains the ability to operate as a first-class network client. Devices in the vehicle no longer need to include transmission capabilities, thereby reducing their cost. The vehicle owner no longer needs to have a separate wireless subscription for both the phone and the automotive network devices, reducing costs even further.

Claims

1. Computer readable code for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network, wherein said cellular phone has a protocol stack embodied therein which is adapted for communicating over an air link to an external network using a communications capability of said cellular phone and wherein said automotive network has one or more electronic information devices attached thereto, said computer readable code being embodied in said cellular phone and in said automotive network and comprising:

a subprocess operating in a Media Access Control (MAC) layer encoder/decoder of said cellular phone for receiving incoming packets from said external network over said air link;

a subprocess for forwarding said incoming packets which are received by said MAC layer encoder/decoder to an adapter which operably connects said cellular phone to said automotive network, if said cellular phone is connected to said adapter, or through said protocol stack to said cellular phone otherwise;

a subprocess operating in said adapter for receiving packets, said received packets comprising (1) first outgoing packets from said cellular phone which have been forwarded from said cellular phone through said protocol stack, (2) second outgoing packets from one or more of said electronic information devices which have been forwarded over said automotive network, and (3) said incoming packets which have been forwarded from said MAC layer encoder/decoder;

a subprocess operating in said adapter for routing said received packets to one of (1) said automotive network for delivery to selected ones of said electronic information devices, (2) said protocol stack for delivery to said cellular phone, or (3) said MAC layer for delivery to said external network over said air link based on a destination address of said received packets; and

a subprocess for sending to said external network over said air link, operating in said MAC layer encoder/decoder, said packets which are routed from said adapter to said MAC layer encoder/decoder.

2. Computer readable code for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 1, wherein:

said subprocess for forwarding said incoming packets further comprises a subprocess for removing an incoming MAC header from each of said incoming packets prior to said forwarding;

said subprocess for sending to said external network further comprises a subprocess for adding an outgoing MAC header to each of said packets to be sent, prior to sending each said packet;

said subprocess for receiving packets in said adapter further comprises a subprocess for removing said incoming MAC header from each of said received packets, if said incoming MAC header is present.

3. Computer readable code for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 1, wherein said protocol stack is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack.

4. Computer readable code for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 1, wherein said protocol stack is a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) stack.

5. Computer readable code for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 1, wherein said communications capability of said phone is a wireless modem.

6. Computer readable code for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 1, wherein said subprocess for forwarding said incoming packets further comprises a subprocess for using a hardware switch in said adapter to determine if said cellular phone is connected to said adapter.

7. A system for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network, comprising:

a protocol stack embodied within said cellular phone, said protocol stack being adapted for communicating over an air link to an external network using a communications capability of said cellular phone,

an automotive network having one or more electronic information devices attached thereto;

an adapter for operably connecting said cellular phone to said automotive network;

means, operating in a Media Access Control (MAC) layer encoder/decoder of said cellular phone, for receiving incoming packets from said external network over said air link;

means for forwarding said incoming packets which are received by said MAC layer encoder/decoder to said adapter if said cellular phone is connected to said adapter, or through said protocol stack to said cellular phone otherwise;

means, operating in said adapter, for receiving packets, said received packets comprising (1) first outgoing packets from said cellular phone which have been forwarded from said cellular phone through said protocol stack, (2) second outgoing packets which have been forwarded over said automotive network from one or more of said electronic information devices, and (3) said incoming packets which have been forwarded from said MAC layer encoder/decoder;

means, operating in said adapter, for routing said received packets to one of (1) said automotive network for delivery to selected ones of said electronic information devices, (2) said protocol stack for delivery to said cellular phone, or (3) said MAC layer encoder/decoder for delivery to said external network over said air link, based on a destination address of said received packets; and

means for sending to said external network over said air link, by said MAC layer encoder/decoder said packets which are routed from said adapter to said MAC layer encoder/decoder.

8. The system for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 7, wherein:

said means for forwarding said incoming packets further comprises means for removing an incoming MAC header from each of said incoming packets prior to said forwarding;

said means for sending to said external network further comprises means for adding an outgoing MAC header to each of said packets to be sent, prior to sending each said packet;

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said means for receiving packets in said adapter further comprises means for removing said incoming MAC header from each of said received packets, if said incoming MAC header is present.

9. The system for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 7, wherein said protocol stack is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack.

10. The system for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 7, wherein said protocol stack is a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) stack.

11. The system for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 7, wherein said communications capability of said phone is a wireless modem.

12. The system for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 7, wherein said means for forwarding said incoming packets further comprises means for using a hardware switch in said adapter to determine if said cellular phone is connected to said adapter.

13. A method for using a cellular telephone as a network gateway in an automotive network, comprising the steps of:

providing said cellular phone, said cellular phone having a protocol stack which is adapted for communicating over an air link to an external network using a communications capability of said cellular phone;

providing an adapter for operably connecting said cellular phone to said automotive network;

receiving, in a Media Access Control (MAC) layer encoder/decoder of said cellular phone, a plurality of incoming packets from said external network over said air link;

forwarding said incoming packets which are received by said MAC layer encoder/decoder to said adapter if said cellular phone is connected to said adapter or through said protocol stack to said cellular phone otherwise;

receiving packets, in said adapter, said received packets comprising (1) first outgoing packets from said cellular phone which have been forwarded from said cellular phone though said protocol stack, (2) second outgoing packets which have been forwarded over said automotive network from one or more electronic information devices which are attached to said automotive network, and (3) said incoming packets which have been forwarded from said MAC layer encoder/decoder;

routing, by said adapter, said received packets to one of (1) said automotive network for delivery to selected ones of said electronic information devices, (2) said protocol stack for delivery to said cellular phone, or (3) said MAC layer encoder/decoder for delivery to said external network over said air link, based on a destination address of said received packets; and

sending to said external network over said air link, by said MAC layer encoder/decoder, said packets which are routed from said adapter to said MAC layer encoder/decoder.

14. The method for using a cellular telephone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 13, wherein:

said step of forwarding said incoming packets further comprises the step of removing an incoming MAC header from each of said incoming packets, prior to said forwarding;

said step of sending to said external network further comprises the step of adding an outgoing MAC header to each of said packets to be sent, prior to sending each said packet;

said step of receiving packets in said adapter further comprises the step of removing said incoming MAC header from each of said received packets, if said incoming MAC header is present.

15. The method for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 13, wherein said protocol stack is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack.

16. The method for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 13, wherein said protocol stack is a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) stack.

17. The method for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 13, wherein said communications capability of said phone is a wireless modem.

18. The method for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 13, wherein said step of forwarding said incoming packets further comprises the step of using a hardware switch in said adapter to determine if said cellular phone is connected to said adapter.

19. A system for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network, comprising:

a protocol stack embodied within said cellular phone, said protocol stack being adapted for communicating over an air link to an external network using a communications capability of said cellular phone;

an automotive network having one or more electronic information devices attached thereto;

an adapter for operably connecting said cellular phone to said automotive network;

means, operating in a Media Access Control (MAC) layer encoder/decoder of said cellular phone, for receiving incoming packets from said external network over said air link,

means for forwarding said incoming packets which are received by said MAC layer encoder/decoder through said protocol stack to said cellular phone if said cellular phone is not connected to said adapter or if said cellular phone is connected to said adapter and a first destination address in said incoming packet indicates that said incoming packet is addressed to said cellular phone, and forwarding said incoming packets to said adapter otherwise;

means, operating in said adapter, for receiving packets, said received packets comprising (1) first outgoing packets from said cellular phone which have been forwarded from said cellular phone through said protocol stack, (2) second outgoing packets which have been forwarded over said automotive network from one or more of said electronic information devices, and (3) said incoming packets which have been forwarded from said MAC layer encoder/decoder;

means, operating in said adapter, for routing said received packets to one of (1) said automotive network for delivery to selected ones of said electronic information devices, (2) said protocol stack for delivery to said cellular phone, or (3) said MAC layer encoder/decoder for delivery to said external network over said air link, based on a second destination address of said received packets; and

means for sending to said external network over said air link, by said MAC layer encoder/decoder, said packets which are routed from said adapter to said MAC layer encoder/decoder.

20. The system for using a cellular telephone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 19, wherein:

said means for forwarding said incoming packets further comprises means for removing an incoming MAC header from each of said incoming packets, prior to said forwarding;

said means for sending to said external network further comprises means for adding an outgoing MAC header to each of said packets to be sent, prior to sending each said packet; and

said means for receiving packets in said adapter further comprises means for removing said incoming MAC header from each of said received packets, if said incoming MAC header is present.

21. A method for using a cellular telephone as a network gateway in an automotive network, comprising the steps of:

providing said cellular phone, said cellular phone having a protocol stack which is adapted for communicating over an air link to an external network using a communications capability of said cellular phone;

providing an adapter for operably connecting said cellular phone to said automotive network;

receiving, in a Media Access Control (MAC) layer encoder/decoder of said cellular phone, a plurality of incoming packets from said external network over said air link;

forwarding said incoming packets which are received by said MAC layer encoder/decoder through said protocol stack to said cellular phone if said cellular phone is not connected to said adapter or if said cellular phone is connected to said adapter and a first destination address in said incoming packet indicates that said incoming packet is addressed to said cellular phone, and forwarding said incoming packets to said adapter otherwise;

receiving packets, in said adapter, said received packets comprising (1) first outgoing packets from said cellular phone which have been forwarded from said cellular phone though said protocol stack, (2) second outgoing packets which have been forwarded over said automotive network from one or more electronic information devices which are attached to said automotive network, and (3) said incoming packets which have been forwarded from said MAC layer encoder/decoder;

routing, by said adapter, said received packets to one of (1) said automotive network for delivery to selected ones of said electronic information devices, (2) said protocol stack for delivery to said cellular phone, or (3) said MAC layer encoder/decoder for delivery to said external network over said air link, based on a second destination address of said received packets; and

sending to said external network over said air link, by said MAC layer encoder/decoder, said packets which are routed from said adapter to said MAC layer encoder/decoder.

22. The method for using a cellular telephone as a network gateway in an automotive network according to claim 21, wherein:

said step of forwarding said incoming packets further comprises the step of removing an incoming MAC header from each of said incoming packets, prior to said forwarding;

said step of sending to said external network further comprises the step of adding an outgoing MAC header to each of said packets to be sent, prior to sending each said packet; and

said step of receiving packets in said adapter further comprises the step of removing said incoming MAC header from each of said received packets, if said incoming MAC header is present.