Abstract:
A method of operating a vehicle wireless access point (WAP), including the steps of establishing short range wireless communication between a vehicle WAP and one or more wireless devices over one or more corresponding communication channels operating over a first frequency band; suspending the communication between the vehicle WAP and the wireless device(s); scanning for another non-vehicle WAP using the first frequency band; connecting the vehicle WAP as a client device to the non-vehicle WAP; resuming the communication with at least some of the wireless device(s) over the wireless communication channel(s); and providing the wireless device(s) with data access to remote networks sequentially via both the vehicle WAP and the non-vehicle WAP.
Abstract:
A system and method for coordinating wireless cellular communications for a plurality of cellular devices at a wireless coordination device. The method comprises establishing a data connection between the wireless coordination device and the plurality of cellular devices, wherein the cellular devices are configured to connect to at least one cellular network via wireless cellular communications; determining whether each cellular device is currently connected to a cellular network; determining at least one performance metric for each of the plurality of cellular devices that are currently connected to a cellular network; evaluating the performance metric(s) for each of the plurality of cellular devices; selecting one of the plurality of cellular devices based at least in part on one or more the evaluations; and configuring each of the plurality of cellular devices to carry out wireless cellular communications through the selected cellular device.
Abstract:
A vehicle, and methods of operating a mobile hotspot at a vehicle including a plurality of mobile hotspots, are disclosed. The method includes detecting an availability of a first one of the mobile hotspot as an access point. The method also includes delaying an availability of a second one of the mobile hotspots as an access point by a period of time after the detection of the availability of the first one of the mobile hotspots. The vehicle may include a plurality of mobile hotspots, each configured to provide wireless connectivity for one or more non-vehicle wireless devices located in the vehicle or within a proximity of the vehicle. In accordance with the method, one of the mobile hotspots may be configured to delay its availability as an access point by a period of time after an availability of at least another one of the mobile hotspots is detected.
Abstract:
A system and method for operating a first vehicle hotspot at a vehicle. The first vehicle hotspot operates to provide wireless connectivity for one or more wireless devices located in the vehicle or within a proximity of the vehicle. The method is carried out by the vehicle and includes the steps of: detecting one or more channels of operation occupied by one or more other hotspots; selecting a channel of operation for the first vehicle hotspot according to a hotspot coordination policy; and configuring the first vehicle hotspot to use the selected channel of operation thereby allowing the one or more wireless devices to connect to the first vehicle hotspot through wireless communication over the selected channel of operation.
Abstract:
A communication system that includes a vehicle and a mobile device, and a method of indicating to a mobile device an availability to hand-over a first short-range wireless communication (SRWC) link for a second SRWC link, which is carried out using the communication system. The method includes the steps of: establishing the first SRWC link between the mobile device and a first wireless hotspot device; providing wireless hotspot data to the mobile device using the first SRWC link; discovering a second wireless hotspot device using the first wireless hotspot device; determining whether credentials of the second wireless hotspot device are known to the first wireless hotspot device or the mobile device; and when the credentials are known, providing an indication to the mobile device of the availability of the second SRWC link via the first SRWC link.
Abstract:
In an example, an access point device for providing software updates to vehicles is disclosed. In an example implementation, the access point device includes a communication module that is configured to establish a wireless connection with respective control modules of the vehicles. The communication module is configured to receive vehicle identification information from the respective vehicles. The access point device also includes a vehicle update determination module that is configured to establish a connection with a server and determine whether a software update is available from the server for the vehicles based upon the vehicle identification information. The vehicle update determination module is configured to initiate a download of the software update from the server when the software update is available.
Abstract:
A system and method for operating a wireless device installed in a vehicle. The method carried out by the system includes: determining one or more services utilized by the wireless device; receiving a signal indicating one or more services currently available from a wireless access point installed in the vehicle; determining if the one or more services utilized by the wireless device are currently available from the wireless access point; and based on the determinations deciding whether to connect the wireless device to the wireless access point or, if already connected, whether to disconnect so as to free up the wireless access point for use by other wireless devices on the vehicle.
Abstract:
A mobile communication system and a method of establishing short range wireless communication (SRWC) between a vehicle and a mobile device. The method includes: establishing a first short range wireless communication (SRWC) link between the vehicle and a first mobile device; receiving at the vehicle a request to establish a second SRWC link from a second mobile device; and disconnecting the first SRWC link between the vehicle and the first mobile device and, in response to the request, establishing the second SRWC link between the vehicle and the second mobile device.