APPARATUS FOR SMART ANTENNA SHARING IN A VEHICLE AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE APPARATUS

• US 20150375695A1
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 10,214,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A plug-in communication system, for implementation with a vehicle, comprising:

an onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, configured for mounting in the vehicle at, 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.

2. The plug-in communication system of claim 1, wherein the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device comprises security features inhibiting unauthorized use of the device.

3. The plug-in communication 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 plug-in communication 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 vehicle components.

5. A plug-in communication system, for implementation with a vehicle, comprising:

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.

6. The plug-in communication system of claim 5, further comprising:

an onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, configured for mounting in the vehicle at, or adjacent, an onboard diagnostics port; and

an onboard diagnostics port expansion connection line extending from the onboard diagnostics port-expansion device, the onboard diagnostics port expansion connection line being configured to connect the port-expansion device to one or more vehicle components;

wherein the one or more vehicle components are selected from a group consisting of;

the remote-services module;

a remote-service antenna; and

a vehicle antenna.

7. The plug-in communication system of claim 5, wherein the inline remote-services terminal comprises security features inhibiting unauthorized use of the terminal.

8. The plug-in communication 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.

9. The plug-in communication system of claim 5, further comprising an automated control device configured for operative connection to, and communication with, the inline remote-services terminal.

10. A computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining, in a first determination, whether a connection to a plug-in communication device has been made or is being requested or attempted;

initiating, in response to a positive result from the first determining operation, determining whether a connection with a plug-in communication device has been made or is being requested or attempted;

operating, in response to a negative response to the first determining operation, in a waiting routine;

performing, also in response to the positive result from the first determining operation, an antenna-access authentication routine;

operating, in response to a negative response to the authentication routine, in a waiting routine;

determining, in response to a positive response to the authentication routine, in a second determination, whether the connection is being made via an approved vehicle interface;

limiting, in response to a negative response to the authentication routine, functions to standalone operation mode functions;

performing, in response to a positive response to the authentication routine, a data-access authorization routine comprising determining, in a third determining operation, whether the plug-in communication device is authorized to receive certain vehicle data; and

allowing, in response to a positive response to the third determining operation, performance in a connected mode comprising allowance of fully-authorized communications by the plug-in communication device.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise determining, in a fourth determining operation, whether display access should be approved in connection with functions of the plug-in communication device.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise initiating, in response to a negative result from the fourth determining operation, providing to a destination of a signal to indicate that the connection is being attempted or that an initial connection for authentication has been made.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise allowing, in response to a positive result from the fourth determining operation, the plug-in communication device to provide notification relating to a current state.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is a subject vehicle and the destination is a remote vehicle or a remote destination.

15. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the fourth determination comprises at least one of a group consisting of:

a vehicle-driver evaluation;

processing of a default setting in the vehicle or remote to the vehicle;

processing of driver preferences;

evaluating whether the vehicle is running;

evaluating whether the vehicle is moving above a certain speed; and

evaluating a present status of the vehicle.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise limiting, in response to a negative response to the third determining operation, functions to standalone operation mode functions;

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein determining, in the first determination, whether a connection to the plug-in communication device has been made or is being requested or attempted comprises performing a polling function in which the plug-in communication device or a connection to the plug-in communication device is polled for responsiveness.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the authentication routine includes local-based authentication functions and/or remote-focused authentication functions.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the second determination operation comprises at least one function selected from a group consisting of:

confirming that the communication device is connected to the processor by way of a proper port expansion device; and

confirming that the communication device is not connected via an improper channel.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the certain vehicle data comprises proprietary vehicle motion and/or proprietary vehicle operation data.