System and method for providing resource sharing, synchronizing, media coordination, transcoding, and traffic management in a vehicular environment

• US 9,083,581 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Addepalli, Sateesh K., Moghe, Ashok K., Dai, Lillian Lei, Falaki, Mohammand H.
• Primary Examiner(s): POWERS, WILLIAM S
• Application Number:
  US13/111,425
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/45 Structures or tools for the administration of authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/008 where the control data relates to payload of a different packet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0858 One way delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/12 Shortest path evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2592 using tunnelling or encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• 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 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• 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 36/0009 : for a plurality of users or terminals, e.g. group communication or moving wireless networks user group management H04W4/08; processing of subscriber group data H04W8/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 : Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 : Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 : based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 : Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 : based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 : in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 : where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 : by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/12 : Outer and inner loops
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 : Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/225 : Calculation of statistics, e.g. average, variance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 : taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/346 : distributing total power among users or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 : based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 : for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 : Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 : Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 : Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 : Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 : between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/60 : Planning or developing urban green infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method in one embodiment includes maintaining a list of authorized devices; creating an association between a wireless device being operated by an end user and an onboard unit (OBU) element, which is provisioned in a vehicle; establishing a session over a designated port for an application to be executed on the OBU element; and accessing resources associated with the vehicle through the OBU element. In other examples, authentication of the wireless device can occur via a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) WiFi access point provided by the OBU element. Authentication of the wireless device can also occur via a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The resources can include any number of items such as speakers, a display, a microphone, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, or any other suitable element that may be provisioned in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

maintaining a list of authorized devices;

creating an association between a wireless device configured for operation by an end user and an onboard unit (OBU) element of a vehicle, which is provisioned in a vehicle;

determining one or more authentication requirements associated with the wireless device to authenticate itself to the OBU element of the vehicle;

after determining that the wireless device passes the one or more authentication requirements associated with the wireless device authenticating itself to the OBU element, establishing a control connection between the wireless device and the OBU element of the vehicle via a first port of the OBU element;

after the control connection is established, providing a port number associated with a second port of the OBU element to the wireless device;

establishing a command connection between the wireless device and the OBU element via the second port of the OBU element; and

allowing access, by the wireless device through the command connection, to one or more resources associated with the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein authentication of the wireless device occurs via a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) WiFi access point provided by the OBU element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein authentication of the wireless device occurs via a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the resources include a selected one of a group of resources, the group consisting of:

a) a speaker;

b) a display;

c) a microphone; and

d) a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the command connection is used to exchange requests for particular data associated with the resources of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the port number associated with the second port is provided to the wireless device in response to receiving a request from the wireless device on the first port for a new data channel.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after providing the port number associated with the second port to the wireless device, waiting to establish the command connection until a new connection request is received from the wireless device on the second port.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving heartbeat signals via the control connection from the wireless device at predefined intervals, wherein the heartbeat signals are received at least as long as the command connection is open.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

negotiating with the wireless device, via the control connection, one or more new connections to be established on one or more ports other than the first port.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the wireless device via the command connection to change a parameter of one of the resources on the OBU element.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the association is created when a local access network identifier provided by the OBU element is detected by the wireless device.

12. Logic encoded in non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:

maintaining a list of authorized devices;

creating an association between a wireless device configured for operation by an end user and an onboard unit (OBU) element of a vehicle, which is provisioned in a vehicle;

determining one or more authentication requirements associated with the wireless device to authenticate itself to the OBU element of the vehicle;

after determining that the wireless device passes the one or more authentication requirements associated with the wireless device authenticating itself to the OBU element, establishing a control connection between the wireless device and the OBU element of the vehicle via a first port of the OBU element;

after the control connection is established, providing a port number associated with a second port of the OBU element to the wireless device;

establishing a command connection between the wireless device and the OBU element via the second port of the OBU element; and

allowing access, by the wireless device through the command connection, to one or more resources associated with the vehicle.

13. The logic encoded in non-transitory media of claim 12, wherein authentication of the wireless device occurs via one of:

a) a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) WiFi access point provided by the OBU element;

or

b) a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.

14. The logic encoded in non-transitory media of claim 12, wherein the resources include a selected one of a group of resources, the group consisting of:

a) a speaker;

b) a display;

c) a microphone; and

d) a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

15. The logic encoded in non-transitory media of claim 12, wherein the command connection is used to exchange requests for particular data associated with the resources of the vehicle.

16. The logic encoded in non-transitory media of claim 12, wherein the port number associated with the second port is provided to the wireless device in response to receiving a request from the wireless device on the first port for a new data channel.

17. The logic encoded in non-transitory media of claim 12, wherein the code, when executed by the processor, is operable to perform further operations comprising:

after providing the port number associated with the second port to the wireless device, waiting to establish the command connection until a new connection request is received from the wireless device on the second port.

18. The logic encoded in non-transitory media of claim 12, wherein the code, when executed by the processor, is operable to perform further operations comprising:

receiving heartbeat signals via the control connection from the wireless device at predefined intervals, wherein the heartbeat signals are received at least as long as the command connection is open.

19. The logic encoded in non-transitory media of claim 12, wherein the code, when executed by the processor, is operable to perform further operations comprising:

negotiating with the wireless device, via the control connection, one or more new connections to be established on one or more ports other than the first port.

20. The logic encoded in non-transitory media of claim 12, wherein the code, when executed by the processor, is operable to perform further operations comprising:

receiving a request from the wireless device via the command connection to change a parameter of one of the resources on the OBU element.

21. The logic encoded in non-transitory media of claim 12, wherein the association is created when a local access network identifier provided by the OBU element is detected by the wireless device.

22. A apparatus comprising:

an onboard unit (OBU) element of a vehicle, wherein the OBU element includes a memory element configured to store data and a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and memory element cooperate such that the apparatus is configured to;

maintain a list of authorized devices;

create an association between a wireless device configured for operation by an end user and the OBU element of the vehicle;

determine one or more authentication requirements associated with the wireless device to authenticate itself to the OBU element of the vehicle;

after determining that the wireless device passes the one or more authentication requirements associated with the wireless device authenticating itself to the OBU element, establish a control connection between the wireless device and the OBU element of the vehicle via a first port of the OBU element;

after the control connection is established, provide a port number associated with a second port of the OBU element to the wireless device;

establish a command connection between the wireless device and the OBU element via the second port of the OBU element;

allow access, by the wireless device through the command connection, to one or more resources associated with the vehicle.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein authentication of the wireless device occurs via a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) WiFi access point provided by the OBU element.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein authentication of the wireless device occurs via a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the resources include a selected one of a group of resources, the group consisting of:

a) a speaker;

b) a display;

c) a microphone; and

d) a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the command connection is used to exchange requests for particular data associated with the resources of the vehicle.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the port number associated with the second port is provided to the wireless device in response to receiving a request from the wireless device on the first port for a new data channel.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor and memory element cooperate such that the apparatus is configured to:

after providing the port number associated with the second port to the wireless device, wait to establish the command connection until a new connection request is received from the wireless device on the second port.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor and memory element cooperate such that the apparatus is configured to:

receive heartbeat signals via the control connection from the wireless device at predefined intervals, wherein the heartbeat signals are received at least as long as the command connection is open.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor and memory element cooperate such that the apparatus is configured to:

negotiate with the wireless device, via the control connection, one or more new connections to be established on one or more ports other than the first port.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor and memory element cooperate such that the apparatus is configured to:

receive a request from the wireless device via the command connection to change a parameter of one of the resources on the OBU element.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the association is created when a local access network identifier provided by the OBU element is detected by the wireless device.