Abstract: An antenna assembly for a vehicle that includes an AM/FM mast antenna element for AM/FM signals and a WiFi or DSRC antenna element positioned at a tip of the mast, where the antenna assembly is mounted to a vehicle roof and where the WiFi or DSRC antenna element extends above a roof line of the vehicle.

Abstract: A portable system including a digital connection plug, a processing hardware unit, and a non-transitory storage device including code causing the processing hardware unit to perform operations including dividing a received source video file or virtualized source video into a plurality of equal- or non-equal-sized image components. A resulting data-content package is stored at the system such as at a framebuffer thereof. System operations further comprise generating a meta-index package comprising a plurality of index components, each index component corresponding to a respective one of the equal-sized image components, storing the meta-index package, and sending the data-content package and the meta-index package to the host device for publishing of the image components sequentially, in accord with an order of the meta-index package, for display rendering streaming video corresponding to the source video file or virtualized source video.

Abstract: A system for determining and executing an autonomous-vehicle vehicle travel route, including a hardware-based processing unit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium includes an input-interface module that, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, obtains factor data indicating factors relevant to determining a vehicle travel route. The storage medium also includes a route-generation module comprising a route-complexity sub-module. The route-complexity sub-module determines, based on the factor data, route-complexity indexes corresponding to respective optional routes. The route-generation module determines the vehicle travel route based on the route-complexity indexes. The storage in various embodiments includes other sub-modules associated with other elements, such as autonomous-driving safety, comfort, stress, pollution, scenery, or infrastructure-accessibility, for determining and executing an autonomous-driving travel route.

Abstract: A system for analyzing driver fitness to drive with consideration given to any of various conditions such as driver drowsiness, fatigue, and anxiety. The system includes a processing hardware unit, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising various modules to determine if the driver is impaired. The modules include an input interface module that, when executed by the processing unit, receives sensor data indicating a present driver health factor. A database module includes pre-established driver-profile data particular to a driver. And the modules include an activity module that, when executed by the processing unit, obtains the driver-profile data and the sensor data, and determines based on the present health factor and the pre-established driver-profile data, fitness of the driver to drive. The disclosure relates various embodiments to a computer-readable storage device, separately, and processes performed by the system and device.

Abstract: A method for acquiring road data onboard a vehicle, the road data associated with a segment of road is provided. The method obtains, via vehicle onboard sensors, sensor data associated with current weather conditions, current road conditions, and a physical road state; determines whether the current weather conditions indicate existence of severe weather, whether the current road conditions indicate potential slip, and whether the physical road state indicates one or more road anomalies; generates a road data result, based on existence of severe weather, potential slip, and one or more road anomalies; and transmits the road data result, via a vehicle onboard telematics unit.

Abstract: A crowd sensing system includes a central entity and remote entities. The remote entities receive queries from the central entity and transmit data to the central entity in response to the query. The sample data obtained from the queried remote entity is analyzed and an average value for the sample data is determined for a current time interval. The central entity determines whether a difference between the average values for the current time interval and a previous time interval is greater than a predetermined threshold. The central entity increases the number of entities in response to the difference being greater than the predetermined threshold, and decreases the respective number of remote entities sampled in response to the difference being less than the predetermined threshold. The central entity queries a number of remote entities in the plurality of regions equal to the adjusted number of samples identified by the central entity.

Abstract: A transportation-vehicle system including a processing hardware unit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising code causing the processing hardware unit to receive, from a mobile-electronic device, a mobile-device resource profile indicating a mobile-device resource, determine whether to use the mobile-device resource, and use the mobile-device resource in operation of the transportation-vehicle system. In another aspect, the technology relates to a mobile-electronic device including a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising code causing the processing unit to receive, from a transportation-vehicle system, a vehicle resource profile indicating a vehicle resource, determine whether to use the vehicle resource, and use the vehicle resource of the transportation-vehicle system in operation of the mobile-electronic device.

Abstract: A transportation-vehicle system including a processing hardware unit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising code causing the processing hardware unit to receive, from a mobile-electronic device, a mobile-device resource profile indicating a mobile-device resource, determine whether to use the mobile-device resource, and use the mobile-device resource in operation of the transportation-vehicle system. In another aspect, the technology relates to a mobile-electronic device including a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising code causing the processing unit to receive, from a transportation-vehicle system, a vehicle resource profile indicating a vehicle resource, determine whether to use the vehicle resource, and use the vehicle resource of the transportation-vehicle system in operation of the mobile-electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein include providing an on-sale vehicle, receiving an access request for the on-sale vehicle from a buyer, approving the access request, transmitting at least one authentication key, confirming an identity of the buyer, initiating a test drive, monitoring the test drive, and completing a transaction upon conclusion of the test drive including revoking the at least one authentication key in response to the buyer not purchasing the on-sale vehicle or revoking an authentication key of a prior titleholder in response to the buyer purchasing the on-sale vehicle.

Abstract: A system configured to receive baseline map data from a remote map-data source, and determine whether the baseline map data is sufficient for present mobile navigation-unit function, yielding a map-sufficiency determination. If the map-sufficiency determination is affirmative, using the baseline map data for the present mobile navigation-unit function. If the map-sufficiency determination is negative, the system predicts navigation-unit movement, obtains based on the navigation-unit movement predicted, supplemental map data, and uses the baseline map data and the supplemental map data for the present mobile navigation-unit function.

Abstract: A system having a resource-availability module configured to cause the processing unit to determine whether a resource scarcity condition exists in connection with providing map data to a mobile navigation unit. The system also includes a tuning-parameter module configured to cause the processing unit to, in response to determining that the resource scarcity condition exists, determine a tuning parameter to use in preparing map data to provide to the mobile navigation unit. The system further includes an encoding module configured to cause the processing unit to encode map data based on the tuning parameter, and a map-data-delivery module configured to cause the processing unit to provide or make available the encoded map data to the mobile navigation unit.

Abstract: A method of remotely controlling a graphic display unit. Requesting, by a host system, assistance of a remote system relating to a respective application, host system including at least one host graphic display unit displaying operational graphics relating to a dedicated application of the host system. The at least one host graphic display unit of the host system is accessed by the remote system. Graphical application data relating to the respective application display is transmitted from the remote system to the host system. Instructional graphic information is projected on the at least one host graphics display unit. Remotely controlling, by the remote system, the at least one host vehicle graphic display unit by displaying to a user of the host system instructional information relating to the respective application. An adaptive session protocol controls a speed in which data is transmitted from the remote system to the host system.

Abstract: An aftermarket vehicle communications device that that is part of a V2X communications system. The device can be a plug-in device, a wireless device separate from the vehicle, such as a key fob, wearable or a smart phone, or a permanent retrofit device mounted to the vehicle. The device is electrically coupled to the vehicle by, for example, an OBD connection, a USB connection, a CAN bus connection, an HDMI connection or wirelessly. The device includes a radio for transmitting and/or receiving communications signals, a memory for storing security information and vehicle application data, a location processor such as a global navigation satellite system receiver, a verification processor for verifying messages, and a communications processor configured to be put in electrical communication with a CAN bus on the vehicle, where the communications processor receives vehicle location signals from the location processor, files from the memory and signals from the radio.

Abstract: A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle is provided. The method includes: receiving conditions data from one or more collision avoidance systems; determining an alert mode based on the conditions data, wherein the alert mode indicates at least two of alert conditions, vehicle conditions, and driving scenarios; and at least one of arbitrating, synchronizing, and combining at least two alert patterns associated with the at least two of the alert conditions, the vehicle conditions, and the driving scenarios and associated with one or more alert devices.

Abstract: A method of authorizing access and operation for vehicle sharing via a portable device. A request reservation is generated to reserve a vehicle via a portable device carried by a user. The reservation includes a portable device identifier and reservation details. Authentication keys are transmitted to the portable device and a plug-in device coupled to the vehicle in response to a successful authorization. The plug-in device is used to perform vehicle access and vehicle operations of the vehicle. The authentication keys enable the portable device and the plug-in device to be paired for enabling vehicle access and operations. An authorization is executed between the portable device carried by a user and a plug-in device coupled to the vehicle. Access to the vehicle operations are enabled in response to a successful authorization.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a vehicle driver based on driver behaviors. The system and method include analyzing a sequence of vehicle start-up behaviors for rapid identification of the driver. The start-up analysis includes detecting and evaluating the sequence and timing of events including door opening, door closing, seat belt fastening, ignition switch usage and shift/drive, among others. The technique further includes analyzing a set of longitudinal (or long-term) behaviors for more robust verification of driver identification. The longitudinal behaviors include acceleration and braking patterns, speed pattern (compared to road type and speed limit), stop sign behavior, cruise control usage and many others. Statistical clustering techniques are employed for both the start-up and longitudinal behavior analyses to identify the driver.

Abstract: A system and method for providing navigation routing options to a vehicle driver, including estimated fuel consumption and fuel cost. A server collects data from a large number of road vehicles driving different routes, where the data includes road grade, average speed, stop/start and acceleration/deceleration info and vehicle specifications, and the data is collected via a telematics or other wireless system. The server also receives map data, point of interest data and real-time traffic data from their respective providers. When a driver of a road vehicle requests navigation routing from a start point to a destination, the server provides multiple routing options including not only distance and time for each routing option, but also fuel consumption and cost. The estimated fuel consumption is computed using models based on the crowd-sensed data from the other vehicles driving the routes, where the models include a physics-based model and a machine learning model.

Abstract: A method of determining ride share compatibility. Vehicle data acquisition devices are employed to collect user attribute information relating to a travel route and locations traveled by the operator. The attribute information includes regularity data, frequency data, and duration data. A regression analysis is applied by a processor for using the regularity data, the frequency data, and the duration data, for identifying an importance probability of each of the locations visited by the operator. A match is determined between the operator and a potential travel partner traveling to locations in proximity to the locations traveled by the operator.

Abstract: An aftermarket vehicle communications device that that is part of a V2X communications system. The device can be a plug-in device, a wireless device separate from the vehicle, such as a key fob, wearable or a smart phone, or a permanent retrofit device mounted to the vehicle. The device is electrically coupled to the vehicle by, for example, an OBD connection, a USB connection, a CAN bus connection, an HDMI connection or wirelessly. The device includes a radio for transmitting and/or receiving communications signals, a memory for storing security information and vehicle application data, a location processor such as a global navigation satellite system receiver, a verification processor for verifying messages, and a communications processor configured to be put in electrical communication with a CAN bus on the vehicle, where the communications processor receives vehicle location signals from the location processor, files from the memory and signals from the radio.

Abstract: A portable system including a processor and a storage device comprising computer-executable code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform various operations including receiving visual media content from a source, and determining an application characteristic selected from a group consisting of an application identity and an application category associated with a subject application stored at the portable system and/or at a host device in communication with the portable system. The operations further include determining, based on the application characteristic, which of multiple available codecs a host device should use to process the visual content, sending, to the host device, a communication indicating the codec for use in processing the visual content, and sending the visual content to the host device for display rendering using the codec determined.