US 9,439,121 B2 · Method and apparatus for multi-network communication in vehicular networks

Abstract

Wireless network data router for a vehicle, and operating method thereof, comprising: a multi-connection interface for wireless access in vehicular environments, herewith WAVE; a wireless local area network, herewith Wi-Fi, interface; a mobile network data interface; a downlink data connection for the vehicle and/or users in the vehicle and its vicinity; a data processing unit for routing data between said interfaces; wherein the data processing unit is configured to: calculate a score for each reachable network on the WAVE, Wi-Fi and mobile network interfaces; switch the uplink connection of the wireless network data router to the reachable network with the best score. Also a wireless network data router for vehicles for connecting vehicles to the Internet through a multi-network device, said router being a mobile router suitable to form a mesh network of connected vehicles, wherein the router is arranged for using parked cars for redistributing Wi-Fi signal from fixed hotspots.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A mobile wireless network data router configured to connect vehicles to an Internet infrastructure through a multi-technology network device;

wherein the router is configured to form a mesh network of vehicles connected to the infrastructure,
wherein the router is configured to redistribute a Wi-Fi signal from a fixed hotspot among a plurality of parked vehicles, and
wherein a expected contact time between the network data router of a vehicle i and a reachable network j of another vehicle or Wi-Fi hotspot or roadside unit (“RSU”), is derived from a formula comprising:
-
(
a
·
c
+
b
·
d
)
±
(
c
2
+
d
2
)
·
R
2
+
(
b
·
c
-
a
·
d
)
2
c
2
+
d
2
wherein,
a=xj(0)−xi(0)
b=yj(0)−yi(0)
c=vj·cos(θj)−vi·cos(θi)
d=vj·sin(θj)−vi·sin(θi)
and further wherein x and y are, respectively, the positions of the vehicles or Wi-Fi hotspots or RSUs in a Cartesian coordinate system, v represents a speed of vehicles and is equal to 0 for Wi-Fi hotspots or RSUs, wherein 8 is the angle formed with the road in which the vehicle is traveling, and R is the radio communication range of Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (“WAVE”) or Wi-Fi connections.

43 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for multi-network communication in vehicular networks

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for multi-network communication in vehicular networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19