System and method for managing wireless vehicular communications

• US 6,728,603 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ent Services Development Corporation LP (DXC Technology Company)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thayer, Peter A., Enyart, Steven J., Pruzan, Brian M., Phillips, Paul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US10/025,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/35, 701/36, 701/29, 340/441, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/531, 340/539, 340/993, 370/57-60, 370/63, 370/34, 370/41, 370/44
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4604 LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A system and method for managing wireless vehicular communications include the ability to detect a message relating to a vehicle bus at a remote system and determine whether the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement. The system and method also include the ability to generate a command for a protocol converter if the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement and form a wireless message containing the command. The system and method further include the ability to transmit the wireless message over a wireless communication link and receive vehicle bus data over the wireless communication link.

Claims

1. A method for managing wireless vehicular communications, comprising:

detecting a message relating to a vehicle bus at a remote system;

determining whether the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement;

generating a command for a protocol converter if the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement;

forming a wireless message containing the command;

transmitting the wireless message over a wireless communication link; and

receiving vehicle bus data over the wireless communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a message relating to a vehicle bus comprises a command generated by a vehicle diagnostic program for a controller coupled to a vehicle bus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement comprises a request that only a certain type of vehicle bus data be received.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the requested data is the engine speed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the message into a vehicle bus format if the message is not a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement; and

forming a wireless message containing the converted message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the vehicle bus format is J1939.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a query to discover protocol converters in the vicinity;

receiving responses to the query; and

detecting selection of a protocol converter.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating the establishment of the wireless communication link to a protocol converter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication link is a high-speed, short-range wireless link.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a user interface containing the vehicle bus data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless message was transmitted during a previous communication session.

12. A system for managing wireless vehicular communications, comprising:

a computer operable to;

detect a message relating to a vehicle bus,

determine whether the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement, and

generate a command for a protocol converter if the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement; and

a wireless communication device coupled to the computer and operable to;

form a wireless message containing the command,

transmit the wireless message over a wireless communication link, and

receive vehicle bus data over the wireless communication link.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a message relating to a vehicle bus comprises a command generated by a vehicle diagnostic program for a controller coupled to a vehicle bus.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement comprises a request that only a certain type of vehicle bus data be received.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the requested data is the engine speed.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the computer is further operable to convert the message into a vehicle bus format if the message is not a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement; and

the wireless communication device is further operable to form a wireless message containing the converted message.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the vehicle bus is J1939.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer is further operable to:

instruct the wireless communication device to transmit a query to discover protocol converters in the vicinity;

receive responses to the query; and

detect selection of a protocol converter.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication link is a high-speed, short-range wireless link.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer is further operable to generate a user interface containing the vehicle bus data.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a display coupled to the computer and operable to show the user interface.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless message may be transmitted during a previous communication session.

23. A set of logic encoded on a computer-readable medium, the logic operable to perform operations for managing wireless vehicular communications, comprising:

detect a message relating to a vehicle bus;

determine whether the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement;

generate a command for a protocol converter if the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement;

initiate transmission of the command over a wireless communication link; and

receive vehicle bus data.

24. The logic of claim 23, wherein a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement comprises a request that only a certain priority of vehicle bus data be received.

25. The logic of claim 23, wherein the logic is further operable to:

convert the message into a vehicle bus format if the message is not a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement; and

form a wireless message containing the converted message.

26. The logic of claim 23, wherein the logic is further operable to:

initiate the transmission of a query to discover protocol converters in the vicinity;

receive responses to the query; and

detect selection of a protocol converter.

27. The logic of claim 23, wherein the logic is further operable to generate a user interface containing the vehicle bus data.

28. A system for managing wireless vehicular communications, comprising:

an application operable to analyze vehicle bus messages;

an application program interface operable to convert vehicle bus messages into a format appropriate for the application; and

a wireless manager operable to manage wireless communication of vehicle bus messages.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the application program interface is further operable to detect a message relating to a vehicle bus, determine whether the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement, and generate a command for a protocol converter if the message is a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein a command that a protocol converter has the ability to implement comprises a request that only a certain type of vehicle bus data be received.

31. A system of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of applications, wherein the application program interface is operable to assign an identifier to each filter for the currently executing applications.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the wireless manager is further operable to generate a user interface containing the vehicle bus data.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the application is a vehicle diagnostic program.

34. A user interface for managing wireless vehicular communications, comprising:

a section that indicates available protocol converters and allows the selection of one of the indicated protocol converters; and

a section that indicates parameters for the selected protocol converter.

35. The user interface of claim 34, further comprising a section that allows the specification of filter criteria for vehicle bus messages.

36. The user interface of claim 35, wherein the filter criteria comprises the priority of vehicle bus messages.

37. The user interface of claim 34, further comprising a section that indicates devices available for wireless communication and allows the selection of one of the indicated wireless devices.

38. The user interface of claim 34, further comprising a section that displays vehicle bus messages being sent and received bus over a wireless link.

39. The user interface of claim 34, further comprising a section that indicates vehicle bus timing.

40. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the section allows specification of vehicle bus timing.

41. The user interface of claim 34, further comprising a section that indicates power level parameters for a wireless link.

42. The user interface of claim 34, further comprising a section that allows the specification of an alphanumeric name for a protocol converter.

43. The user interface of claim 34, wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

44. A system for managing wireless vehicular communications, comprising:

a bus connector adapted to be coupled to a vehicle bus;

a protocol transceiver coupled to the bus connector;

a computer coupled to the protocol transceiver, the computer operable to receive vehicle bus messages through the protocol transceiver and analyze the messages to determine whether to transmit the messages, the computer further operable to receive vehicle bus messages destined for communication through the bus connector and send the messages to the protocol transceiver; and

a wireless communication device coupled to the computer, the wireless communication device, using a wireless link, operable to transmit the messages from the computer and receive the messages destined for communication through the bus connector.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein:

the protocol transceiver is operable to;

receive the messages destined for communication through the bus connector and send the messages through the bus connector according to a vehicle bus protocol, and receive the vehicle bus messages arriving through the bus connector according to the vehicle bus protocol and send the messages to the computer; and

the computer is further operable to;

format the vehicle bus messages received from the protocol transceiver for communication to the wireless communication device, and

format the vehicle bus messages received from the wireless communication device for the protocol transceiver.

46. The system of claim 44, further comprising a second protocol transceiver, wherein the computer is further operable to determine which protocol transceiver is appropriate for a vehicle bus message destined for communication through the bus connector and send the message to the appropriate protocol transceiver.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the computer filters the vehicle bus messages received from the protocol transceiver based on the origination address of the messages to analyze the messages.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the computer is further operable to implement multiple filters.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein each filter has an associated identifier.

50. The system of claim 44, wherein the computer is further operable to manage messages to be transmitted over the wireless link.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the computer is operable to store a message in a buffer, determine whether a sufficient amount of such messages are present in the buffer, and transmit the messages if a sufficient amount of messages are present to manage messages to be transmitted over the wireless link.

52. The system of claim 44, wherein the computer is further operable to claim multiple addresses on the bus.

53. The system of claim 44, wherein the wireless communication device transmits messages at a rate greater than two-hundred and fifty kilobits per second.

54. The method of claim 44, wherein the messages received from the bus are according to J1708.

55. A method for managing wireless vehicular communications, comprising:

receiving vehicle bus messages at a protocol converter;

analyzing the messages to determine whether to transmit the messages;

transmitting the messages over a wireless link if they should be transmitted.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein analyzing the messages comprises determining whether the messages meet certain criteria.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein determining whether the messages meet certain criteria comprises determining whether the messages meet any one of a plurality of sets of certain criteria.

58. The method of claim 55, further comprising managing messages to be transmitted over the wireless link.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the computer is operable to store a message in a buffer, determine whether a sufficient amount of such messages are present in the buffer, and transmit the messages if a sufficient amount of messages are present to manage messages to be transmitted over the wireless link.

60. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

receiving vehicle bus messages over the wireless link; and

converting the vehicle bus messages from a wireless format into a format appropriate for a vehicle bus.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising determining into what vehicle bus protocol to convert the vehicle bus messages received over the wireless link.