Abstract: A system and method of determining vehicle characteristics of an unknown vehicle through evaluation of wireless signals transmitted by the unknown vehicle, wherein the method includes: obtaining information from a wireless receiving device, wherein the wireless receiving device is configured to listen for wireless signals from one or more wireless transmission devices, wherein the obtained information is based at least partly on one or more wireless signals transmitted by an unknown vehicle, and wherein the one or more wireless signals only include non-uniquely identifying vehicle information; determining one or more characteristics concerning the unknown vehicle based on evaluating the obtained information in connection with vehicle information data that is stored in a vehicle information database; and storing the one or more characteristics concerning the unknown vehicle in a database.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying out wireless service discovery at a vehicle, the method comprising: determining that a wireless service is desired; determining a vehicle state, wherein the vehicle state is indicative of an operating vehicle state or an environmental vehicle state; selecting a wireless discovery mechanism based on the vehicle state, wherein the selection comprises selecting one of a plurality of different wireless discovery mechanisms, each of which utilizes a different wireless technology using the vehicle electronics; receiving one or more wireless communication messages at the vehicle using the wireless discovery mechanism, wherein the one or more received wireless communication messages include data corresponding to one or more wireless services; and determining availability of the wireless service based on the received communication messages.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a first vehicle hotspot at a vehicle. The first vehicle hotspot operates to provide wireless connectivity for one or more wireless devices located in the vehicle or within a proximity of the vehicle. The method is carried out by the vehicle and includes the steps of: detecting one or more channels of operation occupied by one or more other hotspots; selecting a channel of operation for the first vehicle hotspot according to a hotspot coordination policy; and configuring the first vehicle hotspot to use the selected channel of operation thereby allowing the one or more wireless devices to connect to the first vehicle hotspot through wireless communication over the selected channel of operation.

Abstract: A mobile communication system and a method of establishing short range wireless communication (SRWC) between a vehicle and a mobile device. The method includes: establishing a first short range wireless communication (SRWC) link between the vehicle and a first mobile device; receiving at the vehicle a request to establish a second SRWC link from a second mobile device; and disconnecting the first SRWC link between the vehicle and the first mobile device and, in response to the request, establishing the second SRWC link between the vehicle and the second mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method of facilitating wireless charging of an electric vehicle (EV) include the EV performing service discovery and negotiation via a neighborhood aware network (NaN) to determine charging compatibility of a WiFi enabled charging station or another EV with the EV. The method also includes the EV requesting a reservation from the charging station or a charge from the another EV based on determining that the EV is compatible with the charging station or the another EV by broadcasting a request message that includes a packet with the request via the NaN.

Abstract: In an example, an access point device for providing software updates to vehicles is disclosed. In an example implementation, the access point device includes a communication module that is configured to establish a wireless connection with respective control modules of the vehicles. The communication module is configured to receive vehicle identification information from the respective vehicles. The access point device also includes a vehicle update determination module that is configured to establish a connection with a server and determine whether a software update is available from the server for the vehicles based upon the vehicle identification information. The vehicle update determination module is configured to initiate a download of the software update from the server when the software update is available.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying out wireless service discovery at a vehicle, the method comprising: determining that a wireless service is desired; determining a vehicle state, wherein the vehicle state is indicative of an operating vehicle state or an environmental vehicle state; selecting a wireless discovery mechanism based on the vehicle state, wherein the selection comprises selecting one of a plurality of different wireless discovery mechanisms, each of which utilizes a different wireless technology using the vehicle electronics; receiving one or more wireless communication messages at the vehicle using the wireless discovery mechanism, wherein the one or more received wireless communication messages include data corresponding to one or more wireless services; and determining availability of the wireless service based on the received communication messages.

Abstract: A vehicle, and methods of operating a mobile hotspot at a vehicle including a plurality of mobile hotspots, are disclosed. The method includes detecting an availability of a first one of the mobile hotspot as an access point. The method also includes delaying an availability of a second one of the mobile hotspots as an access point by a period of time after the detection of the availability of the first one of the mobile hotspots. The vehicle may include a plurality of mobile hotspots, each configured to provide wireless connectivity for one or more non-vehicle wireless devices located in the vehicle or within a proximity of the vehicle. In accordance with the method, one of the mobile hotspots may be configured to delay its availability as an access point by a period of time after an availability of at least another one of the mobile hotspots is detected.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a plurality of services through a plurality of vehicle-generated Wi-Fi channels includes: generating at a first Wi-Fi module a first Wi-Fi channel that includes a master list of services provided by the first Wi-Fi module as well as one or more other Wi-Fi modules; receiving a request for a service included on the master list at the first Wi-Fi module from a wireless device communicating; determining that the service is not available through the first Wi-Fi module; identifying a second Wi-Fi module that provides the service; and transmitting a message to the wireless device identifying the second Wi-Fi module that provides the service identified in the request.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enabling an over-the-air update to a plurality of vehicles. A system and method include transmitting a wakeup signal over a communication network to the vehicles that are in a listen state. The update is transmitted over the Wi-Fi network to the vehicles. The transmitting of the update over the Wi-Fi network includes using a transmission scheme to overcome asynchronous communication wakeup of the vehicles.

Abstract: A method of configuring a wireless connection between a vehicle and a non-vehicle wireless access point (WAP) includes receiving at a vehicle communications device data relating to at least one non-vehicle WAP, wherein the data includes configuration data for establishing a connection to the at least one non-vehicle WAP, and when the at least one non-vehicle WAP is identified as being a user-specific non-vehicle WAP, automatically configuring the vehicle communications device as a client device to the user-specific non-vehicle WAP and establishing the wireless connection to the non-vehicle WAP associated with the user-specific location using the configuration data.

Abstract: A vehicle system, for implementation at a subject vehicle, including a vehicle storage component having a device-discovery module that, when executed by a vehicle processing unit, determines, using vehicle communication hardware, presence of non-subject-vehicle devices. The storage component also includes a service-discovery module that, when executed, uses the communication hardware in determining needs of various devices including any of the non-subject-vehicle devices and any vehicle device. The storage component also includes a resource-discovery module that, when executed, determines what resources amongst the various devices available to serve the needs determined. The component also includes a grouping module that, when executed, establishes one or more groups amongst the various devices, yielding grouped devices of the various devices. The storage may also include a role-assignment module, a maintenance module, a soft-state-refresh module, and a broker module including an auction-and-bid protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for coordinating wireless cellular communications for a plurality of cellular devices at a wireless coordination device. The method comprises establishing a data connection between the wireless coordination device and the plurality of cellular devices, wherein the cellular devices are configured to connect to at least one cellular network via wireless cellular communications; determining whether each cellular device is currently connected to a cellular network; determining at least one performance metric for each of the plurality of cellular devices that are currently connected to a cellular network; evaluating the performance metric(s) for each of the plurality of cellular devices; selecting one of the plurality of cellular devices based at least in part on one or more the evaluations; and configuring each of the plurality of cellular devices to carry out wireless cellular communications through the selected cellular device.

Abstract: A system and method of automatically establishing a secure wireless connection, the method comprising: transmitting a wireless signal indicating availability of a secured wireless service; receiving a request from a vehicle in response to the wireless signal; in response to receiving the request, sending a message via wireless communications to the vehicle, wherein the message includes encrypted access point credentials, and wherein the encrypted access point credentials are encrypted using a key; and establishing a secure wireless connection with the vehicle based on receipt of access point credentials in one or more messages sent from the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a wireless device installed in a vehicle. The method carried out by the system includes: determining one or more services utilized by the wireless device; receiving a signal indicating one or more services currently available from a wireless access point installed in the vehicle; determining if the one or more services utilized by the wireless device are currently available from the wireless access point; and based on the determinations deciding whether to connect the wireless device to the wireless access point or, if already connected, whether to disconnect so as to free up the wireless access point for use by other wireless devices on the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle system, for implementation at a subject vehicle, including a vehicle storage component having a device-discovery module that, when executed by a vehicle processing unit, determines, using vehicle communication hardware, presence of non-subject-vehicle devices. The storage component also includes a service-discovery module that, when executed, uses the communication hardware in determining needs of various devices including any of the non-subject-vehicle devices and any vehicle device. The storage component also includes a resource-discovery module that, when executed, determines what resources amongst the various devices available to serve the needs determined. The component also includes a grouping module that, when executed, establishes one or more groups amongst the various devices, yielding grouped devices of the various devices. The storage may also include a role-assignment module, a maintenance module, a soft-state-refresh module, and a broker module including an auction-and-bid protocol.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle wireless access point (WAP), including the steps of establishing short range wireless communication between a vehicle WAP and one or more wireless devices over one or more corresponding communication channels operating over a first frequency band; suspending the communication between the vehicle WAP and the wireless device(s); scanning for another non-vehicle WAP using the first frequency band; connecting the vehicle WAP as a client device to the non-vehicle WAP; resuming the communication with at least some of the wireless device(s) over the wireless communication channel(s); and providing the wireless device(s) with data access to remote networks sequentially via both the vehicle WAP and the non-vehicle WAP.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying out wireless communications at a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a wireless communications device and a plurality of vehicle system modules, wherein the method is carried out by the wireless communications device. The method can include the steps of: receiving an anticipatory vehicle ignition termination signal; setting the wireless communications device to operate in a station mode; detecting the presence of a wireless access point using the wireless communications device in the station mode; providing an indication to at least one of the vehicle system modules of the presence of the wireless access point; establishing a wireless connection between the wireless communications device and the wireless access point; and communicating data between the wireless access point and one or more vehicle system modules via the established wireless connection using the wireless communications device.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a plurality of services through a plurality of vehicle-generated Wi-Fi channels includes: generating at a first Wi-Fi module a first Wi-Fi channel that includes a master list of services provided by the first Wi-Fi module as well as one or more other Wi-Fi modules; receiving a request for a service included on the master list at the first Wi-Fi module from a wireless device communicating; determining that the service is not available through the first Wi-Fi module; identifying a second Wi-Fi module that provides the service; and transmitting a message to the wireless device identifying the second Wi-Fi module that provides the service identified in the request.

Abstract: A system and method for coordinating wireless cellular communications for a plurality of cellular devices at a wireless coordination device. The method comprises establishing a data connection between the wireless coordination device and the plurality of cellular devices, wherein the cellular devices are configured to connect to at least one cellular network via wireless cellular communications; determining whether each cellular device is currently connected to a cellular network; determining at least one performance metric for each of the plurality of cellular devices that are currently connected to a cellular network; evaluating the performance metric(s) for each of the plurality of cellular devices; selecting one of the plurality of cellular devices based at least in part on one or more the evaluations; and configuring each of the plurality of cellular devices to carry out wireless cellular communications through the selected cellular device.