Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to a system and method for supporting a mobile device using more than one network connectivity option and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing a flexible network connectivity manager that accommodates different types of network connectivity options and that selects a desired connectivity option for one or more mobile devices. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Cell phones have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, and are now commonly used for email, internet access, various special-purpose applications, and, of course, their utility as a phone. Cell phones with such capabilities are often referred to as smartphones. Smartphones are typically designed to allow wireless Local Area Network (wireless LAN, also known as WiFi) or other wireless communications to be used for all applications except actual cell phone calls. However, in the absence of WiFi or other wireless communication channels, the cellular communication network is used to deliver data for all applications on demand. 
         [0005]    Because of the wealth of applications supported by smartphones, many modern vehicles now support seamless integration of one or more smartphones with the vehicles&#39; infotainment systems. For example, a smartphone could be used to stream music from an internet radio service to be played over a vehicle&#39;s audio system, or the smartphone could access an internet-based video-sharing site and display the videos on the vehicle&#39;s rear-seat entertainment screen. Many vehicles support integration of smartphones using wireless communication technologies, such as Bluetooth and WiFi, within the vehicle. 
         [0006]    Other types of electronic devices are also frequently used in vehicles. Such devices include tablet-type computers and ebook readers, laptop computers, MP3 music players, gaming devices and others. Some of these devices may have cellular communications capability, while others do not. However, many such devices have some sort of wireless communication capability—such as Bluetooth or WiFi—which allow the devices to transfer files and data when network services are available. These devices may also have hardwire-connection data transfer capability, such as a universal serial bus (USB). 
         [0007]    While applications such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provide a way to use a vehicle display to project the screen of an electronic device in the vehicle, such as a smartphone, there is a need in the art for a way to determine the best connectivity option that is available between the vehicle and the smartphone to ensure the best quality projection possible. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method is disclosed for supporting mobile device connectivity with a vehicle. A mobile device is provided that includes at least one connectivity option for connecting to a communications channel of the vehicle. A flexible connectivity module that includes a controller is programmed to determine if there is at least one matching communication channel between the mobile device and the vehicle such that the mobile device and the vehicle may be in communication with each other. The controller selects the optimal connectivity option if there is more than one of the matching communication channels available and monitors the selected connectivity option and changes or modifies the selected connectivity option if a predetermined interference threshold is achieved. 
         [0009]    Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustration of a vehicle communications module that may be used to facilitate data transfer from an electronic device in a vehicle for screen replication on an in-vehicle infotainment system display; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustration of vehicle communications architecture that is able to choose the best communication path to facilitate the data transfer; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of an algorithm for utilizing a connectivity manager that determines the best communication path to facilitate the data transfer to provide optimal screen replication. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed to a system and method that determines the best communication path to facilitate data transfer to provide screen projection from an electronic device to a display on a vehicle is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses. For example, while a vehicle environment is described herein, other environments for screen replication may be used. 
         [0014]    As stated above, electronic devices that are capable of being connected to a vehicle&#39;s information and entertainment (infotainment system) is known to those skilled in the art, for the sake of simplicity, all electronic devices in the following discussion will be referred to as smartphones, but it is to be understood that the methods and systems described herein are applicable to any suitable electronic device. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustration of a vehicle  10  that includes communications architecture  12  that can be used to replicate a smartphone device screen on a vehicle display  30 . The display  30  is intended to represent any display that may be part of an infotainment system of the vehicle  10 . The vehicle communications architecture  12  includes a forward audio/video channel  14 , a reverse control channel  16  a Transmission Control Protocol/User Datagram Protocol (TCP/UDP)  18 , an Internet Protocol (IP)  20  and a flexible connectivity module  26 , which are described in detail below. A smartphone  22  is wirelessly connected to the communications architecture  12 , and a smartphone  24  is connected to the communications architecture  12  using a wired connection such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB). While the smartphone  24  is connected via a wired connection according to this exemplary embodiment, the smartphone  24  may also connect using a wireless communications link. As is described in detail below, the flexible connectivity module  26  determines the communications links that are available for each phone and utilizes the most desirable communications link that is available. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a block diagram of the vehicle communications architecture  12  in more detail. The forward audio/video channel  14  provides content to a user via the display  30  and includes video encoding at box  32 , such as H.264 video encoding. Audio encoding is provided at box  34 . The audio is ultimately provided to the user through speakers associated with the display  30 , although not shown for the sake of accuracy. Packetized Elementary Stream (PES) packetization at box  36  carries the output of the video encoding at the box  32  and the output of the audio encoding at the box  34  into packets. High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) at box  38  prevents copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections. A MPEG 2.0 transport stream at box  40  provides generic coding for transferring picture and associated audio data. A Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) at box  42  defines a standardized packet format for delivering audio and video from the MPEG 2.0—TS at box  40  to the display  30 . 
         [0017]    The reverse control channel  16  includes a User Input Back Channel (UIBC)  44  and an Audio Back Channel (ABC)  46  to allow a user to provide commands via, for example, touchscreen events or button push events using the UIBC  44  and/or microphone events using the ABC  46 . A Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) at box  48  controls streaming media servers in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The smartphone  22  and/or  24  features from the box  14  as well as user features of the vehicle  10  from the box  16  use a TCP/UDP at box  18  that delivers files from one location to another in a manner known to those skilled in the art, and is a core protocol of the IP at box  20 . The flexible connectivity module  26  includes a connectivity manager  50  that determines the best connection to use between an electronic device, such as the smartphone  22  and/or  24 , and a vehicle infotainment system that includes a display in the vehicle  10 , such as the display  30 . When operating in a server-client mode  52 , the connectivity manager  50  utilizes USB tethering  54  or a WiFi tethering  56 . The USB tethering  54  includes a plug-in communications link that uses a USB connection. The WiFi tethering includes a communication link with one device being used as a router and the other devices connecting thereto. 
         [0018]    When the connectivity manager  50  is operating in a peer-to-peer mode  58 , the connectivity manager utilizes a WiFi direct connection  60  or a WiFi Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) connection  62 . The WiFi direct connection  60  could also include peer-to-peer negotiated connections such as Bluetooth. The WiFi TDLS connection  62  includes an intermediary connection such as a phone as a hotspot or a vehicle as the hotspot. As is described in more detail below, the connectivity manager  50  determines the most optimal way to utilize the connections  54 ,  56 ,  60  and  62 . The connections  54 ,  56 ,  60  and  62  are merely exemplary in nature, other communications/medium such as WiGig and other wireless communications may be used. Content streams may use, by way of example, the USB tethering  54  and in parallel microphone input or output may use the WiFi direct connection  60 . In addition, as is described in more detail below, data streams that are routed by the connectivity manager  50  may be re-routed by the connectivity manager as needed. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram  70  of an algorithm for utilizing the connectivity manager  50  to connect electronic devices such as the smartphones  22  and  24  to the vehicle  10  according to one embodiment of the invention. At box  72 , smartphone service is provided to a smartphone in the vehicle  10 , such as, for example, the smartphone  24 . The smartphone  24  scans local connectivity options at box  74  and publishes the available options at box  76 . At box  78 , the connectivity manager  50  of the flexible connectivity module  22  establishes service to the vehicle  10 . The connectivity manager  50  scans local connectivity options on the vehicle  10  and publishes the available options at box  80 . Next, the algorithm determines if matching technology between the connectivity options of the vehicle  10  and the connectivity options of the smartphone  24  is available. If matching technology is not found, the algorithm returns to box  80  and the connectivity manager  50  again scans local connectivity options. 
         [0020]    If matching technology between the connectivity options of the vehicle  10  and the connectivity options of the smartphone  24  are found at decision diamond  82 , the algorithm selects a preferred interface at box  84 . In determining what interface is preferred, the algorithm considers rule-based input at box  86  and/or a user selection upon user prompting at box  88 . Some examples of rule-based inputs are user ranking, cost function, etc. Any suitable rule-based input may be used. 
         [0021]    For example, when the smartphone  24  and the vehicle  10  connectivity options are scanned, the following table may result: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 WiFi 
                 WiFi 
                 WiFi 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Direct 
                 TDLS 
                 Tethering 
                 USB 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Server 
                 ✓(ch11, 
                   
                 ✓(ch1, 
                 ✓(USB3.0) 
               
               
                 (Phone) 
                 12 Mbps) 
                   
                 AP-WPS) 
               
               
                 Client 
                 ✓(ch11, 
                 ✓(ch6, 
                   
                 ✓(USB2.0) 
               
               
                 (HU) 
                 24 Mbps) 
                 AP-WPS, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 6 Mbps) 
               
               
                 Common 
                 ✓ 
                   
                   
                 ✓ 
               
               
                 Availability 
               
               
                 Final 
                 ✓(ch11, 
               
               
                 Choice 
                 12 Mbps) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0022]    Table 1 shows four different connectivity options (WiFi Direct, WiFi TDLS, WiFi Tethering and USB) are possible, but only two of the possible options are found on both the vehicle  10  and the smartphone  24  (WiFi Direct, USB). In this example, the algorithm takes into consideration rule-based selection and user preference and determines that channel  11  at  24  megabytes using WiFi Direct is the preferred interface. The preferred interface is determined for the data that flows between the vehicle  10  and the smartphone  24 , and may vary for different data. For example, audio/video from the smartphone  24  may use USB tethering as the preferred interface, where microphone input may use WiFi Direct at the preferred interface. The algorithm may determine the preferred interface for each of the data boxes  32 - 42  of the forward audio/video channel at the box  14  and for each of the boxes  44 - 48  of the reverse control channel at the box  16  to deliver using the most efficient communication path for the data. 
         [0023]    Once the preferred interface is selected at the box  84 , parameter exchange occurs at box  90  and a session is established at box  92 . Once the session is established at the box  92 , the screen of the smartphone  24  is projected to the vehicle display  30 . The session is monitored at box  96  and the algorithm determines if there is a performance failure at decision diamond  98 . If no, the algorithm returns to the box  94  and continues to project the screen of the smartphone  24  to the vehicle display  30 . If there is a performance failure, the algorithm returns to the box  84  and selects a new preferred interface. For example, if the smartphone  24  is connected using WiFi Direct as the preferred interface, and a second passenger with a second smartphone  22  enters the vehicle, the WiFi in the smartphone  24  may interfere with the WiFi direct preferred interface between the vehicle  10  and the smartphone  24 . If interference occurs that causes a predetermined performance degradation, a performance failure is detected by the algorithm at decision diamond  98  and the preferred interface may be re-selected at the box  84 . For example, to correct the interference, WiFi direct may still be used but the chosen operational parameters, for example, frequency range, may be changed to prevent interference between the smartphones  22  and  24 . Thus, a new session of the WiFi preferred interface may be created for the smartphone  24  to compensate for the presence of the smartphone  22 . Alternatively, the new preferred interface could result in switching from WiFi to USB for the smartphone  24  at the box  84 . 
         [0024]    Using the algorithm above, high-quality video and screen replication of the smartphone  24  to the display  30  may be achieved using the optimal qualified physical medium, i.e., connection that is available and not simply a user selected connection as is known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0025]    As will be well understood by those skilled in the art, the several and various steps and processes discussed herein to describe the invention may be referring to operations performed by a computer, a processor or other electronic calculating device that manipulate and/or transform data using electrical phenomenon. Those computers and electronic devices may employ various volatile and/or non-volatile memories including non-transitory computer-readable medium with an executable program stored thereon including various code or executable instructions able to be performed by the computer or processor, where the memory and/or computer-readable medium may include all forms and types of memory and other computer-readable media. 
         [0026]    The foregoing discussion disclosed and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Category: 5