Vehicle based intelligent network interactivity

• US 7,487,252 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vossler, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit; Bunjob
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chankong; Dohm
• Application Number:
  US09/991,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,636 Days
• Field of Search: 709227-229, 709/237, 709/249, 340988-996, 701200-204, 701300-302
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4612 LAN interconnection over narrowband networks, e.g. N-ISDN, PSTN, X.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus that interactively determine which data is exchanged between two networks or devices operating on the networks and the order in which the data is transferred. One of the networks can be a vehicle area network. The determination is capable of being based on one or more data criteria, including file size, user access, device interaction, user preferences, history of use, and so on. The available time in which to communicate is forecasted so that the appropriate data can be transmitted. It is emphasized that this abstract is being provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow examiners and other searchers to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, as promised by the rules of the Patent Office.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing communications between a local area network and a vehicle area network when the vehicle area network enters a communication range of the local area network;

determining a status of the vehicle and communicating the status of the vehicle to the local area network;

predicting a time period during which the vehicle area network will remain within communication range of the local area network so that communications may occur, said predicting step being based at least in part on the vehicle status determined in said determining step;

selecting an appropriate file capable of being transferred within the time period predicted in said predicting step;

transferring the file between the local area network and the vehicle area network during the time period; and

additionally determining whether a remaining time period exists, the remaining time period being a period between execution of said transferring step and an end of the time period;

if a remaining time period exists, selecting an additional file of a size capable of being transferred during the remaining time period; and

additionally executing said transferring step for the additional file capable of being transferred within the remaining time period;

wherein the selecting of said additional file being based at least in part on a priority determination for prioritizing files based on a personal profile of at least one user so that a file having the highest priority is transferred during the first mentioned time period and a file having the second highest priority is transferred during the remaining time period, said priority determination for prioritizing files being based on both file importance and file size, and said time period predicting step being based on at least one of the following;

engine status, passenger status, door status, trunk status, hood status, and fuel cap status.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, the local area network comprising at least one of the following structures:

a home network, a wide area network, a vehicle area network, a personal area network, a fabric area network, and a world wide network.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, the vehicle area network comprising at least one of the following structures:

a home network, a wide area network. a personal area network, a fabric area network, and a world wide network.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, the local area network comprising at least one of the following structures:

a gas station, a truck stop;

a residence, a business establishment, a restaurant, a rest area, a tourist shop, a rental car facility, a warehouse, a theater, a service station, a parking lot, a parking garage, an event stadium, and a shopping mall.