Wireless telecommunications method and apparatus

• US 8,331,279 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MicroPairing Technologies LLC (Micropairing Technologies Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eagle Harbor Holdings, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Lutter, Robert Pierce, Preston, Dan Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau B
• Application Number:
  US12/789,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 370/313, 370/329, 370/338, 370/349, 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/465, 370/466, 701/29, 701/33, 701/36, 701/213, 713/168, 713/200, 713/201, 709/201, 709/202, 709/205, 709/217, 709/230, 709/310, 709/311, 709/313, 455/67.1, 455/72, 455/99, 455/410, 455/456
• US Class Current: 370/313
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2028 eliminating a faulty processor or activating a spare
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2035 without idle spare hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2046 where the redundant components share persistent storage G06F11/2043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3013 where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3051 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

A multiprocessor system used in a car, home, or office environment includes multiple processors that run different real-time applications. A dynamic configuration system runs on the multiple processors and includes a device manager, configuration manager, and data manager. The device manager automatically detects and adds new devices to the multiprocessor system, and the configuration manager automatically reconfigures which processors run the real-time applications. The data manager identifies the type of data generated by the new devices and identifies which devices in the multiprocessor system are able to process the data.

Claims

1. A wireless telecommunications apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

multiple on-board processors configured to operate in a multiprocessor system, wherein the multiprocessor system is configured to;

operate a wireless transceiver;

detect a first wireless device brought into or next to the vehicle;

establish a first wireless connection between the wireless transceiver and the first wireless device;

identify a first priority for a first application operating in the multiprocessor system;

conduct a first wireless communication over the first wireless connection with the first wireless device;

detect a second wireless device brought into or next to the vehicle;

establish a second wireless connection between the wireless transceiver and the second wireless device;

identify a second priority for a second application operating in the multiprocessor system;

monitor data in the multiprocessor system;

dynamically identify at least some of the data from at least some of the multiple processors in the multiprocessor system for logging as log data;

store the log data in a memory, wherein the memory comprises at least one of nonvolatile flash memory and high volume hard disk memory;

responsive to detecting a predetermined condition in the log data and in response to identifying the second priority of the second application as having a higher priority than the first priority of the first application, automatically terminate and preempt the first wireless communication over the first wireless connection with the first wireless device with a second wireless communication over the second wireless connection with the second wireless device; and

transmit an outgoing message over the second connection, wherein at least a portion of the log data is retrieved from the memory and transmitted in the outgoing message over the second wireless connection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one processor in the multiprocessor system is configured to:

monitor for wireless signals from the first wireless device as the first wireless device is moved into or next to the vehicle, wherein the first wireless device is not currently coupled to the multiprocessor system and runs a first software application that processes a first type of data;

wirelessly connect the first wireless device to the multiprocessor system;

identify data codes in the wireless signals and use the data codes to identify the first type of data processed by the first application running on the first wireless device;

responsive to identifying the data codes from the first wireless device, select a third software application from among multiple different software applications contained within the memory in the multiprocessor system, wherein the third software application is configured to process the first type of data processed by the first wireless device;

download the third software application from the memory to a selected one of the multiple processors in the multiprocessor system, wherein the third software application is not currently loaded in the selected one of the multiple processors;

reconfigure the selected one of the multiple processors to run the third software application downloaded from the memory; and

process the first type of data received from the first wireless device with the third software application operating in the selected one of the multiple processors.

3. The wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the wireless transceiver is one of Bluetooth, 802.11, cellular packet data or satellite link.

4. The wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first wireless device brought into or next to the vehicle is for at least one of audio and video playback.

5. The wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second wireless device brought into or next to the vehicle is a phone.

6. The wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data monitored in the multiprocessor system comprises data associated with sensors including at least one of:

engine-monitoring data,

speed data,

oil temperature data,

water temperature data, or

temperature inside the car data.

7. The wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data monitored in the multiprocessor system comprises data associated with applications including at least one of:

braking control,

security systems, or

airbag deployment.

8. A distributed processing system comprising multiple on-board processors configured to operate in a vehicle and control portable devices and exchange data with the portable devices based on assigned priorities, the distributed processing system further comprising:

a wireless telecommunications apparatus comprising an on-board transceiver coupled to one of the on-board processors in the vehicle, wherein the wireless telecommunications apparatus is configured to;

establish a first wireless connection with a first wireless transceiver coupled to a first portable device;

establish a second wireless connection with a second wireless transceiver coupled to a second portable device;

dynamically monitor, detect and automatically establish a first wireless communication between the first portable device and an application running in one of the on-board processors in the vehicle;

identify a first priority associated with the first portable device and a second priority associated with the second portable device;

a data logging apparatus comprising at least one of the on-board processors in the distributed processing system configured to;

monitor data transferred over the distributed processing system;

detect a vehicle condition based on the monitored data;

identify at least some of the data for logging as log data;

store the log data in a memory in response to the detected vehicle condition, wherein the memory comprises at least one of nonvolatile flash memory and high volume hard disk memory;

in response to the detected vehicle condition and based on the second priority associated with the second portable device having a higher priority than the first priority associated with the first portable device, terminate the wireless communication with the first portable device and establish a second wireless communication over the second wireless connection established with the second portable device; and

in response to the detected vehicle condition, transmit at least some of the log data from the memory in an outgoing message in the second wireless communication with the second portable device.

9. The processing system according to claim 8 wherein the on-board transceiver is one of Bluetooth, 802.11, cellular packet data, or satellite link.

10. The processing system according to claim 8 wherein the first portable device is for at least one of audio or video playback.

11. The processing system according to claim 8 wherein the second portable device is a phone.

12. The processing system according to claim 8 wherein the monitored data comprises data associated with sensors including at least one of:

engine-monitoring data,

speed data,

oil temperature data,

water temperature data, or

temperature inside the car data.

13. The processing system according to claim 8 wherein the monitored data comprises data associated with applications including at least one of:

braking control,

security systems, or

airbag deployment.

14. A distributed processing system comprising multiple on-board processors configured to operate in a vehicle and control portable devices and exchange data with the portable devices based on assigned priorities, the distributed processing system further comprising:

a wireless telecommunications apparatus comprising an on-board transceiver coupled to one of the on-board processors in the vehicle, wherein the wireless telecommunications apparatus is configured to;

establish a first wireless connection with a first wireless transceiver coupled to a first portable device;

establish a second wireless connection with a second wireless transceiver coupled to a second portable device;

dynamically monitor, detect and automatically establish a first wireless communication between the first portable device and an application running in one of the on-board processors in the vehicle; and

identify a first priority associated with the first portable device and a second priority associated with the second portable device; and

a data logging apparatus comprising at least one of the on-board processors in the distributed processing system configured to;

monitor data transferred over the distributed processing system;

detect a vehicle condition based on the monitored data;

identify at least some of the data for logging as log data;

store the log data in a memory in response to the detected vehicle condition, wherein the memory comprises at least one of nonvolatile flash memory and high volume hard disk memory;

in response to a user initiated action, terminate the first wireless communication with the first portable device, and establish a second wireless communication over the second wireless connection established with the second portable device; and

transmit at least some of the log data from the memory in an outgoing message in the second wireless communication over the second wireless connection established with the second portable device.

15. The distributed processing system according to claim 14 wherein the on-board transceiver is one of Bluetooth, 802.11, cellular packet data, or satellite link.

16. The distributed processing system according to claim 14 wherein the first portable device is for at least one of audio and video playback.

17. The distributed processing system according to claim 14 wherein the second portable device is a phone.

18. The distributed processing system according to claim 14 wherein the monitored data comprises data associated with sensors including at least one of:

engine-monitoring data,

speed data,

oil temperature data,

water temperature data, or

temperature inside the car data.

19. The distributed processing system according to claim 14 wherein the monitored data comprises data associated with applications including at least one of:

braking control,

security systems, or

airbag deployment.

20. An apparatus comprising multiple on-board processors configured to operate in a vehicle and control portable devices and exchange data with the portable devices based on assigned priorities, the distributed processing system comprising:

a wireless telecommunications apparatus comprising an on-board transceiver coupled to one of the on-board processors in the vehicle, wherein the wireless telecommunications apparatus is configured to;

establish a wireless connection with a wireless transceiver coupled to a portable device brought into or next to the vehicle;

establish a first wireless communication over the wireless connection; and

a data logging apparatus comprising at least one of the on-board processors in the distributed processing system configured to;

monitor data transferred over the distributed processing system, wherein the monitored data includes at least a first data set and a second data set representing one or more vehicle conditions;

assign priorities to detected vehicle conditions monitored;

identify at least some of the data as low priority log data for logging and identify at least some of the data as high priority send data for sending as send data,

in response to identifying low priority log data for logging, store the low priority log data in a memory, wherein the memory comprises at least one of nonvolatile flash memory and high volume hard disk memory,

in response to identifying high priority send data for sending, terminate the first wireless communication over the wireless connection through the portable device, establish a second wireless communication over the wireless connection through the portable device, and transmit the high priority send data in an outgoing message over the second wireless communication over the wireless connection through the portable device.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the on-board transceiver comprises one of Bluetooth, 802.11, cellular packet data, or satellite link.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the wireless device is a phone.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the monitored data comprises data associated with sensors including at least one of:

engine-monitoring data,

speed data,

oil temperature data,

water temperature data, or

temperature inside the car data.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the monitored data comprises data associated with applications including at least one of:

braking control,

security systems, or

airbag deployment.