Automobile communication device

• US 9,084,228 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2013
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ofinno Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Dinan, Esmael Hejazi
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, KENNY S
• Application Number:
  US13/918,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20130343296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 758 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1877 for semi-reliable protocols, e.g. for less sensitive applications like streaming video buffer level management for video bitstream control arrangements H04N21/44004
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/26 Systems using multi-frequency codes H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/32 Carrier systems characterised by combinations of two or more of the types covered by groups H04L27/02, H04L27/10, H04L27/18 or H04L27/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0016 Time-frequency-code
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• 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 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

An automobile communication device receives a message from a peripheral device installed in an automobile. The message triggers a request to be transmitted to a server. The automobile communication device transmits the request over a primary cell group. The automobile communication device receives over the primary cell group a control message configuring a secondary cell group. The automobile communication device receives a plurality of packets over the primary cell group and the secondary cell group. The automobile communication device forwards the plurality of packets to the peripheral device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) receiving, by an automobile communication device from one of a plurality of peripheral devices installed in an automobile, at least one first message to trigger a request configured to be transmitted to an application server;

b) transmitting, by said automobile communication device to a base station over a primary cell, a first random access preamble in response to receiving said at least one first message;

c) receiving, by said automobile communication device from said base station, at least one first control message configured to cause;

i) configuration of a plurality of cells comprising said primary cell and at least one secondary cell; and

ii) assignment of each of said at least one secondary cell to a cell group in a plurality of cell groups, said plurality of cell groups comprising;

(1) a primary cell group comprising a first subset of said plurality of cells; and

(2) a secondary cell group comprising a second subset of said at least one secondary cell;

d) transmitting said request by said automobile communication device to said base station over said primary cell group;

e) transmitting a second random access preamble by said automobile communication device to said base station on said secondary cell group;

f) receiving a plurality of packets by said automobile communication device from said base station over said primary cell group and said secondary cell group; and

g) forwarding said plurality of packets by said automobile communication device to one or more of said plurality of peripheral devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one first message comprises an electrical output generated by one or more of said plurality of peripheral devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one first message is generated in response to input from an automobile user to one of said plurality of peripheral devices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said input is entered employing an input console in an automobile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said automobile communication device forwards said plurality of packets to said one or more of said plurality of peripheral devices via a short range wireless technology.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said automobile communication device receives said at least one first message via a short range wireless technology.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting said request to said application server over a radio bearer, said request triggering establishment of a connection with said application server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one of a plurality of peripheral devices is an on-board computer device, said on-board computer device to receive input from an automobile user via external devices.

9. A method comprising:

a) receiving, by an automobile communication device from one of a plurality of peripheral devices installed in an automobile, at least one first message to trigger a request configured to be transmitted to an application server, said at least one first message being generated in response to an input from an automobile user to one of said plurality of peripheral devices;

b) transmitting, by said automobile communication device to a base station over a primary cell of a plurality of cells, a first random access preamble in response to receiving said at least one first message;

c) receiving, by said automobile communication device from said base station, at least one first control message to cause configuration of a primary cell group comprising at least one first cell;

d) transmitting said request by said automobile communication device to said base station over said primary cell group;

e) receiving, by said automobile communication device from said base station over said primary cell group;

i) at least one second control message to cause configuration of a secondary cell group comprising at least one secondary cell; and

ii) an activation command to activate one or more secondary cells in said secondary cell group;

f) transmitting a second random access preamble by said automobile communication device to said base station on a cell in said secondary cell group;

g) receiving a plurality of packets by said automobile communication device from said base station over said primary cell group and said secondary cell group; and

h) forwarding said plurality of packets by said automobile communication device to one or more of said plurality of peripheral devices.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one first message comprises a packet generated by one of said plurality of peripheral devices.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said plurality of peripheral devices comprises at least one of the following:

a) a navigation system;

b) an entertainment system with a display;

c) a radio system;

d) an audio system;

e) a sensor system; and

f) an automobile control system.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said automobile communication device uses electrical power provided by at least one battery installed in an automobile.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said automobile communication device forwards said plurality of packets to said one or more of said plurality of peripheral devices via a short range wireless technology.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said automobile communication device receives said at least one first message via a short range wireless technology.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting said request to said application server over a radio bearer, said request to trigger establishment of a connection with said application server.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said one of a plurality of peripheral devices is an on-board computer device, said on-board computer device to receive an input from an automobile user via external devices.

17. An automobile communication device comprising:

a) one or more communication interfaces;

b) one or more processors; and

c) memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause said automobile communication device to;

i) receive at least one first message from one of a plurality of peripheral devices installed in an automobile, said at least one first message to trigger a request to be transmitted to an application server;

ii) transmit a first random access preamble to a base station over a primary cell of a plurality of cells in response to receiving said at least one first message;

iii) receive at least one first control message from said base station, said at least one first control message to cause configuration of a primary cell group comprising at least one first cell;

iv) transmit said request to said base station over said primary cell group, said request addressed to said application server;

v) receive, from said base station over said primary cell group, at least one second control message to cause configuration of a secondary cell group comprising at least one secondary cell; and

vi) transmit a second random access preamble to said base station over a cell in said secondary cell group;

vii) receive a plurality of packets from said base station over said primary cell group and said secondary cell group; and

viii) forward said plurality of packets to one of said plurality of peripheral devices.

18. The automobile communication device of claim 17, wherein said at least one first message comprises a packet generated by one of said plurality of peripheral devices.

19. The automobile communication device of claim 17, wherein said one of said plurality of peripheral devices comprises at least one of the following:

a) a navigation system;

b) an entertainment system with a display;

c) a radio system;

d) an audio system;

e) a sensor system; and

f) an automobile control system.

20. The automobile communication device of claim 17, wherein one of said plurality of peripheral devices is an on-board computer device, said on-board computer device receiving an input from an automobile user via at least one external device.