Apparatus for smart antenna sharing in a vehicle and methods for implementing the apparatus

• US 10,214,163 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Grimm, Donald K., Talty, Timothy J., Carper, Duane S., Forest, Daniel J., Naizghi, Esayas
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US14/768,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20150375695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 701 314, 701 315, 701 324, 701 332
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

A plug-in communication system, for implementation with a vehicle. The system in one aspect includes an onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, configured for mounting in the vehicle to, or adjacent, an onboard diagnostics port, and an onboard diagnostics port expansion connection line extending from the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, the connection line being configured to connect the port-expansion device to one or more vehicle components. In another aspect, the system includes an inline remote-services terminal configured for wired connection inline, via a plurality of connection lines, to a remote-services module of the vehicle, a first connection line, of the plurality of connection lines, configured to connect to the inline remote-services terminal and to the remote-services module, and a second connection line, of the plurality of connection lines, configured to connect to the inline remote-services terminal and to the remote-services module.

Claims

1. An onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system, for implementation with a vehicle of transportation, comprising:

an onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, configured to, for operation of the onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system;

mount in the vehicle at, or adjacent, an onboard diagnostics port and be connected to at least one pin or channel of the onboard diagnostics port; and

communicate with an original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module of the vehicle;

the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module being configured to communicate with a remote-services computing center being remote to the vehicle and customized to interface with the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module of the vehicle, and with other original-vehicle-equipment remote-services modules of other vehicles; and

the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module being connected, to an original-vehicle-equipment remote-services antenna of the vehicle for communicating with the remote-services computing center; and

an onboard diagnostics port expansion connection line extending from the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, the connection line being configured to connect the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device to the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module and, thereby, to the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services antenna.

2. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 1, wherein the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device comprises security features inhibiting unauthorized access to proprietary vehicle data by way of the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device and the onboard diagnostics port.

3. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 1, wherein at least the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device and the onboard diagnostics port expansion connection line are embodied in a single kit for sale and/or movement in commerce.

4. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 1, further comprising an automated control device configured for operative connection to, and communication with, at least one of the port-expansion device and the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module.

5. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises the remote-services module, and the system further comprises:

an inline remote-services terminal configured for wired connection inline, via a plurality of connection lines, to the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module;

a first connection line, of the plurality of connection lines, configured to connect to the inline remote-services terminal and to the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module; and

a second connection line, of the plurality of connection lines, configured to connect to the inline remote-services terminal and to the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module.

6. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 5, wherein the inline remote-services terminal comprises security features inhibiting unauthorized access to proprietary vehicle data by way of the inline remote-services terminal.

7. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 5, wherein the inline remote-services terminal and the plurality of connection lines are embodied in a single kit for sale and/or movement in commerce.

8. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 5, further comprising an automated control device configured for operative connection to, and communication with, the inline remote-services terminal.

9. An onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system, for implementation with a vehicle of transportation, comprising:

an onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, configured to, for operation of the onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system;

mount in the vehicle at, or adjacent, an onboard diagnostics port and be connected to at least one pin or channel of the onboard diagnostics port; and

communicate with an original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module of the vehicle;

wherein the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module is configured to communicate with a remote-services computing center being remote to the vehicle and customized to interface with the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module of the vehicle, and with other original-vehicle-equipment remote-services modules of other vehicles; and

the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module is connected to an original-vehicle-equipment remote-services antenna of the vehicle for communicating with the remote-services computing center.

10. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 9, wherein the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device comprises security features inhibiting unauthorized access to proprietary vehicle data by way of the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device and the onboard diagnostics port.

11. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 9, wherein at least the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device and an onboard diagnostics port expansion connection line are embodied in a single kit for sale and/or movement in commerce.

12. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 9, further comprising an automated control device configured for operative connection to, and communication with, at least one of the port-expansion device and the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module.

13. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle comprises the remote-services module, and the system further comprises:

an inline remote-services terminal configured for wired connection inline, via a plurality of connection lines, to the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module;

a first connection line, of the plurality of connection lines, configured to connect to the inline remote-services terminal and to the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module; and

a second connection line, of the plurality of connection lines, configured to connect to the inline remote-services terminal and to the original-vehicle-equipment remote-services module.

14. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 13, wherein the inline remote-services terminal comprises security features inhibiting unauthorized access to proprietary vehicle data by way of the inline remote-services terminal.

15. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 13, wherein the inline remote-services terminal and the plurality of connection lines are embodied in a single kit for sale and/or movement in commerce.

16. The onboard-diagnostics-port expansion system of claim 13, further comprising an automated control device configured for operative connection to, and communication with, the inline remote-services terminal.