Vehicle communication using publish-subscribe messaging protocol

A method of communicating with a vehicle through use of a publish-subscribe messaging protocol, wherein the vehicle includes a wireless communications device that is capable of carrying out data communications with a remote server or system through use of a messaging broker according to the publish-subscribe messaging protocol, the method comprising:

• establishing a connection with a messaging broker using the wireless communications device, wherein the connection is established using a publish-subscribe messaging protocol, and wherein the connection is established by:
• sending a connection request message from the vehicle to the messaging broker;
• and
• after sending the connection request message, receiving a connection acknowledgement message from the messaging broker, wherein the connection acknowledgement message indicates that the established connection is successful;
• obtaining vehicle information from one or more vehicle system modules (VSMs) of the vehicle;
• generating a publish message at the vehicle, wherein the publish message comprises metadata and a payload that includes the obtained vehicle information, and wherein the metadata includes a topic name corresponding to the vehicle and/or the obtained vehicle information;
• sending the publish message from the vehicle to the messaging broker using the publish-subscribe messaging protocol, wherein the messaging broker is configured to send at least part of the publish message to one or more client devices that are subscribed to the topic name that was included in the publish message;
• and
• after sending the publish message, receiving a publish acknowledgement message from the messaging broker.

A vehicle communications system, comprising:

• a vehicle backend services facility that comprises:
• one or more servers that each include a processing device and a memory device;
• and
• one or more databases that includes vehicle information;
• and
• a vehicle comprising:
• a wireless communications device including a processing device, a memory device, and wireless communications circuitry;
• a plurality of vehicle system modules (VSMs);
• and
• a communications bus that connects the wireless communications device with the plurality of VSMs;
• wherein the wireless communications device is configured to:
• receive a first set of messages from the plurality of VSMs using the communications bus;
• and
• send a second set of messages to a messaging broker according to a publish-subscribe messaging protocol using the wireless communications circuitry, wherein the second set of messages are based at least partly on the first set of messages;
• and
• wherein the messaging broker is configured to:
• receive the second set of messages from the vehicle;
• determine whether the vehicle backend services facility is subscribed to a topic name included in the second set of messages;
• and
• when it is determined that the vehicle backend services facility is subscribed to a topic name included in the second set of messages, send a third set of messages to the vehicle backend services, wherein the third set of messages includes vehicle information contained in the second set of messages;
• and
• wherein the vehicle backend services facility includes computer instructions included on the memory device that, when executed, cause the processing device to:
• receive the third set of messages from the messaging broker according to the publish-subscribe messaging protocol;
• extract the vehicle information contained in the payload of third set of messages;
• and
• store the vehicle information into the one or more databases.