(12) United States Patent
`Obradovich et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`Jun. 22, 2004
`
`US006754485B1
`
`(54) TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVELY
`PROVIDING MAINTENANCE AND
`INFORMATION TO VEHICLES
`
`_
`-
`-
`(75) Inventors‘ giggles‘)_Ll;lgglfalglowl?;failagitgeme’
`Nigllel, CA (Us)
`
`(73) Assignee: American Calcar Inc., Wilmington, DE
`(Us)
`,
`_
`_
`_
`SubJect to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adJusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`*
`,
`_
`) Notice.
`
`(
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`_
`(22) PCT F1160‘:
`
`09/622,869
`
`Dec- 6’ 1999
`
`(86) PCT NO‘:
`§ 371 (6X1),
`(2), (4) Date; Aug 23, 2000
`
`PCT/US99/28848
`
`5,400,018 A * 3/1995 Scholl et al. ............ .. 340/103
`5,442,553 A
`8/1995 Paffillo
`5,471,393 A * 11/1995 Bolger ..................... .. 701/217
`5,479,157 A * 12/1995 Suman et al. . . . . .
`. . . .. 340/5.28
`
`5,818,356 A * 10/1998 Schuessler
`.. 340/995.12
`5,832,394 A * 11/1998 Wortham ..................... .. 701/1
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`198 24 587 A1
`6/1998
`0 756 153 A2
`1/1997
`0 756 153
`* 1/1997
`
`_________ __ GO1C/21/20
`
`DE
`EP
`EP
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Paul C. Richardson, “CVAN: ARequirements De?nition for
`a Real—Time Local Area Network in Land Combat
`Vehicles”, US. Army TARDEC, Warren, MI, 1998 IEEE.
`
`Primary Examiner—William Trost
`Assistant Examiner—James EWart
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Kaye Scholer LLP
`
`(87) PCT Pub. N0.: W000/40038
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`PCT Pub. Date: Jul. 6 2000
`3
`
`Related US. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/113,397, ?led on Dec. 23,
`1998, and provisional application No. 60/117,958, ?led on
`141928, 1999-
`H04B 1/06
`(51) Int Cl 7
`'
`................................................
`.
`.
`(52) US. Cl. .............................. .. 455/414.1, 455/412.2,
`45_5/414'2; ABS/345; 455/46_6; 340/735;
`340/752’ 340/286'14’ 340/825'72’ 340/995'12
`_
`(58) Field of Search .......................... .. 455/96, 99, 345,
`455/414, 422, 426, 466, 507, 556, 557,
`4122; 340/752, 7-31, 7-35, 286-14, 425-5,
`426, 438, 457, 825.72, 825.52, 86.01, 994,
`995, 988
`
`56
`
`References Cited
`
`U~S~ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`In an automobile, communications to and from the automo
`bile are in the form of messages. Such messages are referred
`to as “electronic car-mail” or “C-mail” messages as each
`message has a destination of Origination address WhiCh
`includes an identi?er, e.g., a vehicle identi?cation number
`(VIN), identifying the automobile. The message may be
`delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a
`Communications network, e'g', the Internet‘ one Such mes_
`Sage may Contain a recall notice to the automobile‘ Another
`message may contain just-in-time map information for
`navigation, depending on the current location of the auto
`mobile_ Yet another message may Contain advertising infor_
`mation concerning selected entities, e.g., restaurants, gas
`stations, department stores, etc., also depending on the
`current location of the automobile. The messages transmit
`ted from the automobile to the remote server may contain,
`e.g., GPS information identifying the location of the
`automobile, d namic data furnished b sensors in the auto
`Y
`Y
`mobile for analysis, an odometer reading and a speedometer
`reading for records, etc.
`
`5,095,532 A * 3/1992 Mardus ................. .. 455/186.1
`5,218,629 A
`6/1993 Dumond, Jr. et al.
`
`30 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`m9
`
`‘0151121305’
`111
`DEIECTION
`SUBSYSTEM
`
`1&1
`mcnon
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`124
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`515x001
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`SUBSYSTEM
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`s
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`IRANSMISSION/
`IHRDTILE
`m SUBSYSTEM
`s
`l
`
`12s
`s
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`s
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`nnzmc:
`
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`
`

`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`_
`5,931,878 A * 8/1999 ChaPmJr- ---------------- -- 701/30
`5,991,690 A * 11/1999 Murphy .................... .. 701/211
`6,018,657 A * 1/2000 Kennedy et a1
`455/426
`6,114,970 A * 9/2000 Kirson 9t 91- -------- -- 340/825-52
`6,210,210 B1 * 4/2001 KOZCl et a1. .............. .. 439/495
`6,240,365 B1 * 5/2001 Bunn ....................... .. 701/213
`
`6,275,231 B1 * 8/2001 Obradovich .............. .. 345/970
`6,405,033 B1 * 6/2002 Kennedy et a1. .......... .. 455/414
`6,427,075 B1 * 7/2002 Burg e161. ............ .. 455/4221
`6,580,914 B1 * @2003 Smith ~~~~~~~ n
`' 455/456'6
`6,598,016 B1 * 7/2003 Zavoli et a1. ............. .. 704/251
`2001/0044310 A1 * 11/2001 Lincke ..................... .. 455/456
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 22,2004
`
`Sheet 1 0f 7
`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`
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`
`
`5525 2222a 55m? 5523 552a
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 22, 2004
`
`Sheet 2 0f 7
`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`
`F I G. 2
`
`¢ CENTRAL
`23°
`SERVER
`
`250
`
`ACCESS
`222“ SERVER
`
`215
`/ ___________ —-~<"' —___\~<-S-~:__‘~\\
`(if
`WIRELESS cONNUNICATIONE'IJ)
`\._‘..\____A
`NETWORK
`I)
`
`129 _
`COMMUNICATIONS
`SUBSYSTEM
`205
`S
`TRANSCEIVER
`
`209
`S
`MODEM
`
`4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 22, 2004
`
`Sheet 3 0f 7
`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`
`FIG. 3
`
`303 W MAIL©CARCENTRALCDM
`
`307 ~/‘ JN 1 CA23D4TT56789D@VEHICLE.CDM
`311w
`SELECTED DYNAMIC DATA
`315*
`DATE AND TIME STAMP
`319v‘
`ODOMETER READING
`3231‘
`GPS DATA
`327w
`DIRECTION DATA
`331v‘
`SPEED DATA
`
`FIG. 4
`L32
`405
`S
`W
`411
`S:
`
`419% NAVIGATION
`
`HAIL
`5
`409
`
`4%5
`
`ENTER
`
`421v‘ WEATHER
`
`425v‘ TRAFFIC
`
`430w DIRECTORY
`
`5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 22, 2004
`
`Sheet 4 0f 7
`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`
`FIG. 5
`
`FROM: ABC AUTO MANUFACTURER
`<INFO@ABCAUTO.COM>
`TO: 1998 X MAKE Y MODEL
`<JN1CA23D4TT567890@VEHICLE.COM>
`SUBJECT: RECALL NOTICE
`
`DEAR VEHICLE USER:
`ABC AUTO MANUFACTURER IS RECALLING 1998 X MAKE Y
`MODEL FOR POSSIBLE FAULTY AIR-BAG DEPLOYMENT MECHANISM.
`
`PLEASE
`
`F I G. 6
`
`40s
`8
`MAIN DIRECTORY
`
`e07
`s
`
`REGIONAL
`
`609
`s
`
`INDIVIDUAL
`
`605
`s
`
`NATIONAL
`
`EMS-PRESTAURANT
`
`617-1MTHEME PARK
`
`619-1w BUSINESS
`
`615-2~’GAS STATION
`
`en-zw SOUVENIR
`
`619-2¢ PERSONAL
`
`615
`
`617
`
`e19
`
`_ , DEPARTMENT
`615 N
`STORE
`
`_ , REGIONAL
`WK RESTAURANT
`
`6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 22, 2004
`
`Sheet 5 0f 7
`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`
`FIG. 7
`
`OPTIONS
`s
`721
`
`BACK
`5
`725
`
`FORWARD v 727
`
`RESTAURANT ADVERTISING
`
`7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 22, 2004
`
`Sheet 6 0f 7
`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`
`FIG. 8
`
`805 “I
`
`SELECTION CONFIDENTIAL.
`
`807 w
`
`SELECTION NONCONFIDENTIAL.
`
`809 I
`
`ALWAYS NONCONFIDENTIAL.
`DO NOT ASK AGAIN.
`
`FIG. 9
`
`405
`S
`907
`S
`FAVORITE
`
`909
`S
`BACK
`
`911
`
`FORWARD
`
`903
`S
`VIEW
`
`905
`S
`NAVIGATE
`
`McDONALD’S RESTAURANT
`
`HWY 5, EXIT 10 SERVICE AREA
`PHONE N0. XXX-XXX-XXXX
`SERVICE HOURS
`OPEN DAILY: 730:AM — 12:30AM
`EAT-IN: 140 SEATS
`DRIVE THROUGH
`OUTDOOR KIDS’ PLAYGROUND
`PROMOTIONS: TREE TOYS FOR KIDS
`
`913w RESTAURANT
`WEBSITE
`
`RESTAURANT
`MENU
`
`8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 22, 2004
`
`Sheet 7 0f 7
`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`
`FIG.
`
`10
`
`1005“ ORDER
`
`BACK
`
`FORWARD
`
`RESTAURANT MENU
`
`HAMBURGER
`DOUBLE. BURGER
`
`BEVERAGE
`COLA
`STRAWBERRY SHAKE
`
`1113
`
`ADD
`
`DELETE
`
`1117
`
`ENTER
`
`FIG. 11
`
`BUSINESS REGISTRY
`
`COMPUTER
`"03“ EQUIPMENT
`COMPUSA (SPRINGFIELD, NJ)
`
`1105¢
`
`OFFICE
`SUPPLY
`STAPLES (ALL LOCATIONS)
`AB_C STATIONERY (NY, NY)
`
`1109 v" RESTAURANT
`
`XYZ RESTAURANT (LA, CA)
`EF_G STEAK (ALL LOCATIONS)
`
`9
`
`

`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`
`1
`TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVELY
`PROVIDING MAINTENANCE AND
`INFORMATION TO VEHICLES
`
`This application claims the bene?t of International Appli
`cation No. PCT/US99/28848 ?led on Dec. 6, 1999, Which
`claims the bene?t of US. Provisional Application No.
`60/113,397 ?led on Dec. 23, 1998 and the bene?t of US.
`Provisional Application No. 60/117,958 ?led on Jan. 28,
`1999.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The invention relates to a communications technique, and
`more particularly to a technique for communicating
`information, including advertising information, With auto
`mobiles.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`In this information age, virtually everyone is “connected”
`With one another via telephone, cellular phone, facsimile,
`pager, etc. In particular, because of recent major advance
`ments in Internet technology, many people also utiliZe a
`personal computer (PC), notebook computer, handheld
`computer, etc., With a modem to communicate electronic
`mail (E-mail) With one another over the Internet. In addition,
`With common Web broWser softWare of the type of the
`NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR or MICROSOFT INTERNET
`EXPLORER broWser installed in one such computer, a user
`is able to broWse, on the computer, Web pages from the
`World Wide Web (WWW), Which is a graphical subnetWork
`of the Internet.
`Many Web pages, especially those providing free services
`such as search engines and other portal services, contain
`paid advertisements. Some Web pages contain displayed
`options for providing directory assistance. One such option
`may be a “YelloW Page” option Whereby a user may specify
`the desired product or service, and the area in Which the user
`Wants to obtain same. In return, the user is presented With
`information concerning each location of the provider of the
`desired product or service in the speci?ed area.
`To keep automobile users “Wired” even While on the road,
`a PC speci?cally designed for them, namely, the “AutoPC,”
`has been introduced. The AutoPC, Which may be installed in
`the standard car stereo slot, comprises Well knoWn commu
`nications and navigation technologies. For example, the
`automobile users can utiliZe the AutoPC to communicate
`E-mail and pager messages. The users can also rely on the
`AutoPC to navigate With the aid of the US. government’s
`constellation of global positioning system (GPS) satellites.
`In response to signals from such satellites, in a conventional
`manner, the AutoPC pinpoints the vehicle’s location (in
`latitude and longitude). It also detects the vehicle’s speed
`and direction. With geographic information stored therein,
`the AutoPC is capable of verbally and visually communi
`cating to the user instructions for reaching the destination.
`The marriage of communications and GPS technologies
`bene?tting automobiles has been observed. The resulting
`service is knoWn as the “OnStar service.” This service
`requires that an OnStar system including a GPS receiver, and
`a cellular phone be installed in an automobile subscribing to
`the service. When an automobile user calls an OnStar
`service representative via the cellular phone, the system
`automatically communicates the vehicle’s location tracked
`by the GPS receiver. The service representative may then
`provide the user With directions, restaurant
`recommendations, and/or roadside assistance depending on
`the vehicle’s location.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`In addition, to obtain diagnostic information from, and
`upgrade certain softWare in, an automobile, a system
`Whereby an automobile communicates, With a remote
`station, data concerning the automobile is disclosed in US.
`Pat. No. 5,442,553 issued Aug. 15, 1995 to Parrillo. In the
`disclosed system, the remote station communicates the data
`via a cellular phone netWork to the automobile having a
`cellular phone connection, using the cellular phone number
`to locate the automobile.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`We have recogniZed that the prior art system described
`above Which uses the cellular phone number assigned to a
`cellular phone connection in a vehicle to locate the vehicle
`is disadvantageous. This stems from the fact that the cellular
`phone number appertains to, and is speci?cally associated
`With, the subscriber to the cellular phone service, Who is
`most likely the current oWner of the vehicle. As the cellular
`phone number is used for personal communications, When
`the oWnership of the vehicle changes, the neW oWner Would
`most likely replace the current cellular phone number With
`a neW number for his/her oWn personal communications. As
`a result, the remote station in the prior art system can no
`longer locate and communicate With the vehicle using the
`old cellular phone number. Thus, the practicability of the
`prior art system turns on Whether the system has a record of
`the latest phone numbers for locating vehicles. Even if
`procedures for registration of neW phone numbers are in
`place, the Workability of the system is undesirably subject to
`compliance by the neW oWners With the registration proce
`dures.
`In addition, utilizing the cellular phone netWork, the
`remote station in the prior art system When communicating
`data With multiple automobiles needs to call one automobile
`at a time. Thus, such a communication scheme is also
`ineffective especially When the remote station needs to
`transmit the same data, e.g., information concerning a recall
`of a certain type of automobile, to many automobiles. In that
`case, the remote station needs to make multiple calls to the
`respective vehicles to repeat the same data. Conversely,
`utiliZing the cellular phone netWork, a vehicle can commu
`nicate With one remote station at a time. In the event that the
`same data from the vehicle needs to be communicated to
`various stations for different analyses, multiple calls need to
`be made to the respective stations one at a time, Which is
`undesirable.
`In accordance With an aspect of the invention, the com
`munications betWeen a vehicle and remote stations or serv
`ers are realiZed using electronic car-mail, referred to as
`“C-mail.” Like a conventional E-mail message, a C-mail
`message is formatted in accordance With Well knoWn
`protocols, and it may be delivered by conventional mail
`servers on a communications netWork such as the Internet.
`HoWever, unlike E-mail Whose address identi?es a person
`for personal communications and is analogous to the afore
`mentioned cellular phone number, the C-mail has an address
`identifying the vehicle itself. For eXample, the C-mail
`address may be made up of the vehicle identi?cation number
`(VIN) identifying the vehicle. Such a C-mail address
`remains unchanged at least over the lifetime of the vehicle.
`As the C-mail address appertains to, or speci?cally associ
`ated With, the vehicle, rather than a person, e.g., the oWner
`of the vehicle, communications With the vehicle using
`C-mail is intact throughout the lifetime of the vehicle,
`surviving all changes in the oWnership of the vehicle. In
`addition, by taking advantage of the Well knoWn E-mail
`features, the vehicle may multicast via C-mail the same
`
`10
`
`

`
`US 6,754,485 B1
`
`3
`information, e.g., diagnostic information, simultaneously to
`various servers on the Internet for different analyses.
`Conversely, a server may multicast via C-mail the same
`information, e.g., recall information, simultaneously to
`selected vehicles using the corresponding VINs as parts of
`their C-mail addresses.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, a user
`may utiliZe a car broWser to broWse advertising information
`from a communications netWork, e.g., the Internet. The
`advertising information is provided in a just-in-time (JIT)
`fashion, Whose content is dependent upon the current loca
`tion of the vehicle indicated by GPS coordinates.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`Further objects, features and advantages of the invention
`Will become apparent from the folloWing detailed descrip
`tion taken in conjunction With the accompanying draWing
`shoWing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, in
`Which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information and control
`system for use in a vehicle in accordance With the invention;
`FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement in Which a communi
`cations subsystem in the system of FIG. 1 communicates
`With a remote server through a communications netWork;
`FIG. 3 illustrates data ?elds in an electronic car-mail
`message in accordance With the invention communicated by
`the communications subsystem;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a screen containing displayed options
`concerning navigation capabilities provided by a navigation
`subsystem in the system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a screen displaying an electronic car
`mail message;
`FIG. 6 illustrates a screen containing displayed options
`for accessing GPS based advertising information in accor
`dance With the invention;
`FIG. 7 illustrates a screen displaying an advertising page;
`FIG. 8 illustrates a displayed WindoW including inquiries
`as to con?dentiality of accessing certain advertising infor
`mation;
`FIG. 9 illustrates a screen displaying information con
`cerning a restaurant-advertiser;
`FIG. 10 illustrates a screen containing restaurant menu
`information; and
`FIG. 11 illustrates a screen containing information con
`cerning favorite product/service providers for business pur
`poses.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates information and control system 100
`embodying the principles of the invention for use in a
`vehicle, e.g., an automobile. In accordance With the
`invention, system 100 is capable of communicating infor
`mation With remote servers through a communications
`netWork, e.g., the Internet in this instance. As to be described
`hereinbeloW, system 100 may transmit information concern
`ing the vehicle including, e.g., diagnostic information, GPS
`information, etc., to one or more servers, and receive there
`from information including, e.g., map information, Weather
`information, traf?c information, directory information, etc.
`In a prior art system, a remote station communicates, With
`a vehicle having a cellular phone connection, data concern
`ing the vehicle through a cellular phone netWork, using the
`cellular phone number assigned to the connection to locate
`the vehicle. HoWever, such a communications scheme based
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`on the knowledge of the cellular phone number is de?cient
`in that the cellular phone number appertains to, and is
`speci?cally associated With, the subscriber to the cellular
`phone service, Who is most likely the current oWner of the
`vehicle. As the cellular phone number is used for personal
`communications, When the oWnership of the vehicle
`changes, the neW oWner Would most likely replace the
`current cellular phone number With a neW number for his/her
`oWn personal communications. As a result, the remote
`station can no longer locate and communicate With the
`vehicle using the old cellular phone number. Thus, the
`practicability of the prior art system turns on Whether the
`system has a record of the latest phone numbers for locating
`vehicles. Even if procedures for registration of neW phone
`numbers are in place, the Workability of the system is
`undesirably subject to compliance by the neW oWners With
`the registration procedures.
`In addition, utiliZing the cellular phone netWork, the
`remote station in the prior art system When communicating
`data With multiple automobiles needs to call one automobile
`at a time. Thus, such a communication scheme is also
`ineffective especially When the remote station needs to
`transmit the same data, e.g., information concerning a recall
`of a certain type of automobile, to many automobiles. In that
`case, the remote station needs to make multiple calls to the
`respective vehicles to repeat the same data. Conversely,
`utiliZing the cellular phone netWork, a vehicle can commu
`nicate With one remote station at a time. In the event that the
`same data from the vehicle needs to be communicated to
`various stations for different analyses, multiple calls need to
`be made to the respective stations one at a time, Which is
`undesirable.
`In accordance With the invention, the communications
`betWeen a vehicle and remote stations or servers are realiZed
`using electronic car-mail, hereinafter referred to as
`“C-mail.” Like a conventional E-mail message, a C-mail
`message is formatted in accordance With Well knoWn pro
`tocols such as the Well knoWn mail transfer protocol and
`transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP),
`and it may be delivered by conventional mail servers on the
`Internet. HoWever, unlike E-mail Whose address identi?es a
`person for personal communications and is analogous to the
`aforementioned cellular phone number, the C-mail has an
`address identifying the vehicle itself.
`A typical E-mail address is in the format of <user
`id>@<domain>, e.g., “jsmith@aol.com”. As is Well knoWn,
`the <user-id> part before the “@” sign, e.g., “jsmith”,
`identi?es the E-mail user, e.g., Joe Smith. The <domain>
`part after the “@” sign, e.g., “aol.com”, identi?es the access
`mail server, e.g., an American Online server connected to the
`Internet, providing the E-mail service for Joe Smith in this
`instance. HoWever, in accordance With the invention, a
`C-mail address is in the format of <vehicle-id>@<domain>.
`In this instance, the <vehicle-id> part consists of a vehicle
`identi?cation number (VIN) Which identi?es the vehicle to
`Which the C-mail address is assigned. In a conventional
`manner, the VIN uniquely identi?es the vehicle by its make,
`model, year, etc. The <domain> part may represent a pre
`determined access mail server connected to the Internet for
`serving the C-mail needs of vehicles. For illustrative
`purposes, the <domain> part may be “vehicle.com” in this
`eXample.
`Thus, the C-mail address of the vehicle in question here
`may be “JNlCA23D4TT567890@vehicle.com”, Where
`“JN1CA23D4TT567890” is the VIN of the vehicle. This
`C-mail address is stored in memory 107 in system 100, and
`remains unchanged at least over the lifetime of the vehicle.
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`It should be noted that memory 107 here generically repre
`sents a combination of volatile, non-volatile and cache
`memories. As the C-mail address appertains to, or speci?
`cally associated With, the vehicle, rather than a person, e.g.,
`the oWner of the vehicle, communications With the vehicle
`using C-mail is intact throughout the lifetime of the vehicle,
`surviving all changes in the oWnership of the vehicle. In
`addition, as described hereinbeloW, by taking advantage of
`the Well knoWn E-mail features, the vehicle may multicast
`via C-mail the same information, e.g., diagnostic
`information, simultaneously to various servers on the Inter
`net for different analyses. Conversely, a server may multi
`cast via C-mail the same information, e.g., recall
`information, simultaneously to selected vehicles using the
`corresponding VINs as parts of their C-mail addresses.
`System 100 includes communications subsystem 109 for
`communicating information, including C-mail, in the
`vehicle. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of subsystem 109 Which
`comprises transceiver 205, Which includes, e.g., a cellular
`phone, for transmitting and receiving information via Wire
`less communications netWork 213, e.g., the Well knoWn
`advanced mobile phone service (AMPS) netWork, digital
`AMPS netWork, personal communications service (PCS)
`netWork, global system for mobile communications (GSM)
`netWork, paging netWork, hybrid personal communications
`netWork (HPCN), satellite netWork, microWave netWork,
`milliWave netWork, etc. Subsystem 109 also comprises
`modem 209 for modulating and demodulating carriers car
`rying C-mail data to and from data channels, e.g., cellular
`digital packet data (CDPD) channels, in Wireless commu
`nications netWork 213.
`Referring back to FIG. 1, subsystem 109 is connected via
`common bus 113 to other subsystems in system 100
`including, e.g., detection subsystem 111, electronic
`transmission/throttle system 113, brake subsystem 116, trac
`tion control subsystem 121, engine subsystem 126, Wheel
`subsystem 129, climate control subsystem 131, auxiliary
`subsystem 134, clock subsystem 136, user interface 139 and
`navigation subsystem 141. Subsystem interface 151
`includes, e. g., an ensemble of standard inputs/outputs (I/O’s)
`connecting processor 103 to all of the subsystems. Under
`control of processor 103, combinations of the subsystems
`synergistically carry out various vehicle functions.
`For example, system 100 affords an adaptive cruise con
`trol function using detection subsystem 111, electronic
`transmission/throttle subsystem 113 and brake subsystem
`116. Speci?cally, detection subsystem 111, Which includes
`sonar, infrared transceiver, laser transceiver and/or Doppler
`radar, measures the distance to the vehicle just ahead. With
`electronic transmission/throttle subsystem 113 and brake
`subsystem 116, processor 103 adjusts the vehicle’s speed to
`keep it moving With the traffic flow. If the vehicle ahead
`speeds up or sloWs doWn, subsystem 111 signals processor
`103 to accordingly adjust the throttle or brakes to maintain
`a safe distance. Other automatic driving methodologies
`involving the above subsystems may be found in copending
`commonly assigned US. patent application Ser. No. 08/904,
`855 (“the ’855 application”), entitled “Centralized Control
`and Management System for Automobiles,” Which hoWever
`are deemed to be out of the scope of the present invention,
`and their description are thus omitted here.
`Traction control subsystem 121, Which may be of the type
`of the TRAXXAR stability control system, includes sensors
`for measuring the steering Wheel position, yaW rate and
`lateral acceleration of the vehicle. These sensors Work With
`processor 103 to controllably apply brakes at selected
`Wheels to avoid potential skids.
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`Similarly, under the control of processor 103, engine
`subsystem 126 runs the engine of the vehicle at a selected
`R.P.M. using a selected fuel/air mixture to provide appro
`priate poWer for the vehicle.
`Wheel subsystem 129 includes sensors for reading tire
`pressures, detection of loss of tire traction or tread, etc.
`Climate control subsystem 131, Which includes thermo
`stats and an air?oW controller, controllably cools or heats the
`vehicle compartment for the comfort of passengers, and the
`trunk/storage to properly preserve cargo; selects an air flow
`mode; sets fan speeds; enables or disables seat heaters;
`selects fresh or recirculated air; and enables or disables front
`and rear defrosters, mirror defrosters and steering Wheel
`heaters.
`Through auxiliary subsystem 134, processor 103 controls
`the functions of the doors, WindoWs, hood, trunk, mirrors,
`air-bags, restraint devices, lights, etc., of the vehicle.
`The above-described subsystems each include sensors
`(not shoWn) to provide a variety of dynamic data concerning
`the components associated thereWith to processor 103.
`Speci?cally, sensors in communications subsystem 109 pro
`vides dynamic data concerning Whether transceiver 205 and
`modem 209 are in proper order, Which includes information
`concerning the level of battery poWer therefor.
`Sensors in detection subsystem 111 provide dynamic data
`concerning Whether the radars and transceivers associated
`thereWith are functioning properly, Which also includes
`information concerning the level of battery poWer for such
`radars and transceivers.
`Sensors in electronic transmission/throttle subsystem 113
`provide dynamic data concerning transmission or the status
`of the transmission, as Well as the status of variables in the
`transmission including ?uid levels, etc.
`Sensors in brake subsystem 116 provide dynamic data
`concerning the Wear of the brakes, status of the emergency
`brake and Whether all of the brakes are in proper order.
`The aforementioned sensors in traction control subsystem
`121 provide dynamic data concerning measurements of the
`steering Wheel position, yaW rate and lateral acceleration of
`the vehicle.
`Sensors in engine subsystem 126 provide dynamic data
`concerning the engine R.P.M., fuel/air mixture, emissions,
`pollution content, remaining life of engine oil before the
`next requisite oil change, etc.
`The aforementioned sensors in Wheel subsystem 129
`provide dynamic data concerning tire pressures, loss of tire
`traction or tread, etc.
`Sensors in climate control subsystem 131 provide
`dynamic data concerning the temperatures of the compart
`ment and trunk/storage, air flow mode, fan speeds, air
`quality inside the compartment, and statuses of the front and
`rear defrosters, mirror defrosters and steering Wheel heater.
`Sensors in auxiliary subsystem 134 Which include, among
`others, the odometer and speedometer Which provide
`dynamic data concerning the current mileage and speed of
`the vehicle, respectively. Other sensors in system 134 pro
`vide dynamic data concerning statuses of the doors,
`WindoWs, hood, trunk, mirrors, air-bags, restraint devices,
`lights, etc., of the vehicle. In particular, some of the data
`concerns the integrity of the doors, WindoWs, hood, trunk
`and mirrors, detection of any physical impact on any of them
`as happens in a collision, and Whether or not the air-bags are
`ready to function or have been deployed, etc.
`In addition, clock subsystem 136 provides processor 103
`With data concerning the current time and date. Relying on
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`US 6,754,485 B1
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`7
`such data, processor 103 duly synchronizes activities of
`system 100 and keeps track of events. Moreover, utilizing
`the temporal data, processor 103 realizes planner functions
`such as scheduling vehicle maintenance, etc.
`It Will be appreciated that the dynamic data provided by
`the above-described subsystems is only for illustrative pur
`poses and, depending on the vehicle and the actual compo
`nents incorporated therein, additional and/or other dynamic
`data may be desired. In any event, processor 103 polls each
`subsystem from time to time for the dynamic data and, based
`on the dynamic data, it may issue Warnings, and messages
`describing irregularities through user interface 141
`described beloW. Some irregularities may cause processor
`103 to restrict certain vehicle operations until a corrective
`action therefor is taken. As described beloW, processor 103
`causes selected ones of the dynamic data to be transmitted
`via C-mail to one or more remote servers for analyses and
`records.
`Presently, in the United States, about 200 million vehicles
`operate on public roads. HoWever, the operations of the
`vehicles are subject to federal and state laWs. For instance,
`each operating vehicle needs to meet certain legal require
`ments concerning safety, emission, licensing, insurance,
`operational capabilities, etc. Thus, the laW enforcement is
`interested in obtaining certain information about each
`vehicle to determine Whether the operating vehicle meets
`such requirements.
`In addition, many of the vehicles in the United States are
`leased or ?nanced through ?nancial institutions. The latter
`typically place liens on the vehicles With the right to
`repossess them in the event of non-payment of the under
`lying loans. Thus, such ?nancial institutions are interested in
`knoWing the Whereabouts of the leased or ?nanced vehicles
`in case of repossession thereof.
`Further, auto repair services are interested in knoWing the
`Working history of each vehicle to be serviced for diagnostic
`purposes, and the maintenance history as to What and When
`previous services have been performed on, and parts have
`been replaced in, the vehicle. Similarly, potential buyers of
`a used vehicle may Want to have independent records of the
`Working and maintenance histories of the vehicle. In
`addition, they may Want to knoW Whether the vehicle Was
`involved in a collision, Whether its odometer reading is
`accurate, etc.
`Still further, auto manufacturers and original equipment
`manufacturers (OEMs) are interested in obtaining data con
`cerning components in each vehicle manufactured thereby to
`determine the durability of, and thus the appropriate War
`ranties for, the components after the original sale of the
`vehicle. Independent Watch groups are interested in such
`data as Well for generating reports on vehicle quality for
`various vehicle brands.
`In fact, all of the above data of interest may be provided
`via C-mail in accordance With the invention. Such data may
`be multicast by individual vehicles via C-mail to different
`servers on the Internet using the Well knoWn E-mail “carbon
`copy (cc:)” feature, Whereby the destination addresses of the
`servers can be speci?ed. Each server may be associated With
`a different entity and compile databases for use by that
`entity.
`Alternatively, in this instance, the data is collected by
`central server 230 in FIG. 2 serving as a data Warehouse,
`Which can be queried to extract useful information. To that
`end, processor 103 composes a C-mail message concerning
`the vehicle in question, and is programmed to cause the
`C-mail message to be transmitted by communication