Interworking among automobile buses, portable user equipment and mobile networks

• US 8,068,952 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Optis Cellular Technology LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Davidson, Walter Lee, Valentine, Eric Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/342,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20100161171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/3.06, 340/993
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 11/12 Accessories for subsequent treating or working cast stock in situ rolling immediately subsequent to continuous casting B21B1/46, B21B13/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/14 Packaging paper or like sheets, envelopes, or newspapers, in flat, folded, or rolled form
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 37/04 by vibratory feeders
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/30 Arrangements for mounting stoves or ranges in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• 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: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An interworking module and method are described herein which allows information to be exchanged between a user terminal (e.g., mobile phone) and a communication bus which is installed within a vehicle. The communication bus is connected to different components (e.g., engine sensors, on-board diagnostic systems, video-audio equipment, heating-cooling equipment, stereo system, and seats) which are installed within the vehicle.

Claims

1. An interworking module for use in a vehicle, said interworking module comprising:

one or more processors; and

at least one memory that includes processor-executable instructions, where the one or more processors are adapted to interface with the at least one memory and execute the processor-executable instructions to;

allow communications between a user terminal and a communication bus that is installed within the vehicle;

implement a first user configuration which comprises;

running an uplink monitoring loop that includes;

receiving sensor information from the communication bus, where the sensor information is related to one or more components within the vehicle;

building a message including the received sensor information; and

sending the message to the user terminal which then routes the message through a wireless communication network to an application server;

implement a second user configuration which comprises;

running a downlink monitoring loop that includes;

determining that the user terminal entered the vehicle;

determining if the user terminal has user configuration data which indicates an update needs to be made to one or more components in the vehicle;

if no, then re-starting the downlink monitoring loop;

if yes;

then determining if settings associated with the user configuration data are currently stored within the user terminal;

 

if no, then sending a message to the application server to obtain the settings associated with the user configuration data; and

 

if yes or after receiving the settings associated with the user configuration data from the application server, then sending the settings over the communication bus to the one or more components in the vehicle so the one or more components will be configured according to a preference of a user of the user terminal; and

implement a third user configuration which comprises;

storing a profile of an owner of the vehicle;

determining if an identity of the user terminal that entered the vehicle matches a stored identity of a user terminal specified as being associated with the owner of the vehicle;

if no, requesting an updated owner profile through the user terminal that entered the vehicle by;

sending a message to the application server to obtain the updated owner profile;

receiving the updated owner profile which contains user configuration data;

sending settings associated with the updated owner profile over the communication bus to the one or more components in the vehicle so the one or more components will be configured according to a preference of the owner, wherein the preference of the owner prevents the vehicle from operating or controls other aspects of the vehicle depending on an identity of the user terminal that entered the vehicle.

2. The interworking module of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and the at least one memory interface with a plurality of layers that include:

an interface layer which interfaces with the user terminal;

application addressing-message formation layer which interfaces with the interface layer;

an application data processing layer which interfaces with the application addressing-message formation layer; and

a protocol termination layer which interfaces with the application data processing layer and the communication bus that is installed within the vehicle.

3. The interworking module of claim 2, wherein the interface layer utilizes Bluetooth technology to interface with the user terminal.

4. The interworking module of claim 1, wherein the communication bus also interfaces with at least one of the following:

a multimedia bus;

an entertainment bus;

a seating bus;

a plurality of engine sensors;

at least one on-board diagnostic systems;

at least one input device;

video-audio equipment;

heating-cooling equipment;

a stereo system; and

seats.

5. The interworking module of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors further execute the processor-executable instructions wherein while running the uplink monitoring loop and after receiving the sensor information a determination is made to determine if the received sensor information classifies as a triggering event, wherein if the result is no then re-start the uplink monitoring loop, and wherein if the result is yes then build the message including the received sensor information and send the message to the user terminal which then routes the message through the wireless communication network to the application server.

6. A method for enabling a user terminal to interface with a communication bus within a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

installing an interworking module within the vehicle;

connecting the interworking module to the communication bus within the vehicle;

using the interworking module to allow communications between a user terminal and the communication bus; and

implementing a first user configuration which comprises;

running an uplink monitoring loop which includes the steps of;

receiving sensor information from the communication bus, where the sensor information is related to one or more components within the vehicle;

building a message including the received sensor information; and

sending the message to the user terminal which then routes the message through a communication network to an application server;

implementing a second user configuration which comprises;

running a downlink monitoring loop that includes;

determining that the user terminal entered the vehicle;

determining if the user terminal has user configuration data which indicates an update needs to be made to one or more components in the vehicle;

if no, then re-starting the downlink monitoring loop;

if yes, then determining if settings associated with the user configuration data are currently stored within the user terminal;

 

if no, then sending a message to the application server to obtain the settings associated with the user configuration data; and

 

if yes or after receiving the settings associated with the user configuration data from the application server, then sending the settings over the communication bus to the one or more components in the vehicle so the one or more components will be configured according to a preference of a user of the user terminal; and

implementing a third user configuration which comprises;

storing a profile of an owner of the vehicle;

determining if an identity of the user terminal that entered the vehicle matches a stored identity of a user terminal specified as being associated with the owner of the vehicle;

if no, requesting an updated owner profile through the user terminal that entered the vehicle by;

sending a message to the application server to obtain the updated owner profile;

receiving the updated owner profile which contains user configuration data;

sending settings associated with the updated owner profile over the communication bus to the one or more components in the vehicle so the one or more components will be configured according to a preference of the owner, wherein the preference of the owner prevents the vehicle from operating or controls other aspects of the vehicle depending on an identity of the user terminal that entered the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor information is routine maintenance information including at least one of mileage information and sensor status.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor information is emergency maintenance information including at least one of tire pressure, engine temperature, oil pressure and sensor status.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor information is driver preference information including at least one of climate settings, a seat position, and stereo presets.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor information is safe driving information including at least one of instantaneous speed, maximum speed since most current reset, distance driven since most current reset, vehicle location, and cell phone usage.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor information is incident notification information including at least one of vehicle location, and airbag deployment.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensor information is vehicle webcam information including at least one of a video stream, and a video file.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the application server processes the sensor information in the received message per a specific application and sends a notification message to at least one of a personal computer, another user terminal and emergency personnel.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the application server sends a query to the interworking module to obtain data from the communication bus.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of running the downlink monitoring loop further includes the step of:

downloading information from the user terminal to the communication bus within the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the downloaded information is driver-passenger information including at least one of a text message, and a voice call.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the downloaded information is entertainment content including at least one of an audio-video file, and a multicast information.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the downloaded information is driver profile information including at least one of seat position, stereo presets, climate control settings, and alarm thresholds.

19. A vehicle telematics system, comprising:

a communication bus; and

an interworking module that includes;

one or more processors; and

at least one memory that includes processor-executable instructions, where the one or more processors are adapted to interface with the at least one memory and execute the processor-executable instructions to;

allow communications between a user terminal and the communication bus;

implement a first user configuration which comprises;

running an uplink monitoring loop that includes;

receiving sensor information from the communication bus, where the sensor information is related to one or more components within the vehicle;

building a message including the received sensor information; and

sending the message to the user terminal which then routes the message through a wireless communication network to an application server;

implement a second user configuration which comprises;

running a downlink monitoring loop that includes;

determining that the user terminal entered the vehicle;

determining if the user terminal has user configuration data which indicates an update needs to be made to one or more components in the vehicle;

if no, then re-starting the downlink monitoring loop;

if yes, then determining if settings associated with the user configuration data are currently stored within the user terminal;

if no, then sending a message to the application server to obtain the settings associated with the user configuration data; and

if yes or after receiving the settings associated with the user configuration data from the application server, then sending the settings over the communication bus to the one or more components in the vehicle so the one or more components will be configured according to a preference of a user of the user terminal; and

implement a third user configuration which comprises;

storing a profile of an owner of the vehicle;

determining if an identity of the user terminal that entered the vehicle matches a stored identity of a user terminal specified as being associated with the owner of the vehicle;

if no, requesting an updated owner profile through the user terminal that entered the vehicle by;

sending a message to the application server to obtain the updated owner profile;

receiving the updated owner profile which contains user configuration data;

sending settings associated with the updated owner profile over the communication bus to the one or more components in the vehicle so the one or more components will be configured according to a preference of the owner, wherein the preference of the owner prevents the vehicle from operating or controls other aspects of the vehicle depending on an identity of the user terminal that entered the vehicle.