Cloud-based vehicle information and control system

• US 9,031,710 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenny Insurance Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: CloudCar, Inc.
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAZZARA, ANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US13/671,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20140129047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/537
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/046 involving vehicles, e.g. floating traffic data [FTD] or vehicle traffic prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: providing a first layer of a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, the first layer being in data communication with at least one network resource via a network cloud; providing a second layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the first layer, the second layer being in data communication with at least one mobile device; providing a third layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the second layer, the third layer including a subsystem for linking the third layer to at least one electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle; and causing, by use of a data processor, data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU to be communicated to a component in the first layer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a first layer of a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, the first layer being in data communication with at least one network resource via a network cloud;

providing a second layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the first layer, the second layer being in data communication with at least one mobile device;

providing a third layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the second layer, the third layer including a subsystem for linking the third layer to at least one electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle;

causing, by use of a data processor, data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU to be communicated to a component in the first layer;

converting the data indicative of a state change from a vehicle-specific format to a mobile device format defined by an Application Programming Interface (API); and

exposing the data indicative of a state change in a mobile device format via the API to the at least one network resource in a standardized manner.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 including providing a vehicle information and control system in the first layer to receive the data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 including providing a geo-location-based support subsystem in the vehicle information and control system.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 including providing a people/communication-based support subsystem in the vehicle information and control system.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2 including providing a media support subsystem in the vehicle information and control system.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2 including providing a vehicle support subsystem in the vehicle information and control system.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one subsystem in the second layer substantially mirroring the functionality of a corresponding subsystem in the first layer.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one subsystem in the second layer providing a reduced level of functionality of a corresponding subsystem in the first layer if communication with the network cloud is interrupted.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one subsystem in the second layer providing an interface to a mobile app on the at least one mobile device.

10. A system comprising:

one or more data processors; and

a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, executable by the one or more data processors, to;

provide a first layer of a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, the first layer being in data communication with at least one network resource via a network cloud;

provide a second layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the first layer, the second layer being in data communication with at least one mobile device;

provide a third layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the second layer, the third layer including a subsystem for linking the third layer to at least one electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle;

cause data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU to be communicated to a component in the first layer;

convert the data indicative of a state change from a vehicle-specific format to a mobile device format defined by an Application Programming Interface (API); and

expose the data indicative of a state change in a mobile device format via the API to the at least one network resource in a standardized manner.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 being further configured to provide a vehicle information and control system in the first layer to receive the data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to provide a geo-location-based support subsystem in the vehicle information and control system.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to provide a people/communication-based support subsystem in the vehicle information and control system.

14. The system as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to provide a media support subsystem in the vehicle information and control system.

15. The system as claimed in claim 11 being further configured to provide a vehicle support subsystem in the vehicle information and control system.

16. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one subsystem in the second layer substantially mirroring the functionality of a corresponding subsystem in the first layer.

17. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one subsystem in the second layer providing a reduced level of functionality of a corresponding subsystem in the first layer if communication with the network cloud is interrupted.

18. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one subsystem in the second layer providing an interface to a mobile app on the at least one mobile device.

19. A non-transitory machine-useable storage medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

provide a first layer of a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, the first layer being in data communication with at least one network resource via a network cloud;

provide a second layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the first layer, the second layer being in data communication with at least one mobile device;

provide a third layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the second layer, the third layer including a subsystem for linking the third layer to at least one electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle;

cause data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU to be communicated to a component in the first layer;

convert the data indicative of a state change from a vehicle-specific format to a mobile device format defined by an Application Programming Interface (API); and

expose the data indicative of a state change in a mobile device format via the API to the at least one network resource in a standardized manner.

20. The machine-useable storage medium as claimed in claim 19 being further configured to provide a vehicle information and control system in the first layer to receive the data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU.