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 vehicle gateway module adapted to communicate using short range wireless communication (SRWC) and a method of receiving data from a wireless source via a SRWC chipset in a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: detecting the wireless source using a first SRWC chipset in a gateway module in the vehicle; in response to detecting the wireless source with the first SRWC chipset, triggering a second SRWC chipset in the gateway module to wake-up by exiting a POWER OFF mode, wherein the first and second SRWC chipsets are configured to communicate according to different SRWC protocols; and in response to the triggering step: exiting the POWER OFF mode at the second SRWC chipset; and receiving content data from the wireless source at the gateway module via the second SRWC chipset.

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 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 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 dynamic wireless multi-channel switch including a networking device providing access to communicate messages on at least two frequency bands. A wireless access manager module determines a utilization of each frequency band based on the communicated messages. The wireless access manager module dynamically adjusts a time slot ratio of each frequency band as a function of the utilization of the communicated messages by the networking device.

Abstract: A transportation-vehicle system for use in virtualizing sensor data from an add-on device for use by a vehicle application. The system includes a hardware-based processing unit and a computer-readable storage device. The storage includes (i) a virtual-sensor-arrangement client configured to communicate with a virtual-sensor-arrangement server of the add-on device, including receiving, from the virtual-sensor-arrangement server, the sensor data corresponding to sensing performed at a sensor of the add-on device. The add-on device is not a part of the transportation vehicle as originally manufactured. The storage also includes (ii) a virtual input/output device driver configured to, when executed by the processing unit, process the sensor data received, yielding virtualized sensor data for delivery to the vehicle application. The technology also includes processes for making and using the system for virtualizing sensor data from an add-on device for use by a vehicle application.

Abstract: A vehicle system virtualizing add-on device hardware for a vehicle application. The system includes a computer-readable storage device comprising a client application, middleware components, kernel-space components, and a vehicle application. The client application communicates with an add-on-device server application for virtualizing the add-on-device hardware component at the vehicle. The middleware, in various embodiments, includes an emulated system-call application-program-interface module that receives add-on-device-hardware data from the client application, sends the data to the kernel-space components after processing, and receives the data having been processed at the kernel space. The middleware includes a frameworks-and-abstraction module that receives add-on-device-hardware data, having been processed at the kernel space and the emulated system-call-application-program-interface module and after processing sends the data for use at the vehicle application.

Abstract: A communication system that includes a vehicle and a mobile device, and a method of indicating to a mobile device an availability to hand-over a first short-range wireless communication (SRWC) link for a second SRWC link, which is carried out using the communication system. The method includes the steps of: establishing the first SRWC link between the mobile device and a first wireless hotspot device; providing wireless hotspot data to the mobile device using the first SRWC link; discovering a second wireless hotspot device using the first wireless hotspot device; determining whether credentials of the second wireless hotspot device are known to the first wireless hotspot device or the mobile device; and when the credentials are known, providing an indication to the mobile device of the availability of the second SRWC link via the first SRWC link.

Abstract: A mobile communication system and a method of establishing a wireless connection between a vehicle and at least one mobile device. The method includes: establishing a first short range wireless communication (SRWC) link between the vehicle and the mobile device; and using the first SRWC link to establish a second SRWC link between the vehicle and the mobile device, wherein the first and second SRWC links use different SRWC protocols.

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 controlling Wi-Fi module operation based on vehicle location includes: detecting at a vehicle a geopolitical identifier broadcast by a wireless carrier system; determining whether operational settings of the Wi-Fi module conform to operational settings specified for the detected geopolitical identifier; and changing the operational settings of the Wi-Fi module when not conforming to the operational settings specified for the detected geopolitical identifier.

Abstract: A method for initiating a projection session between one of a plurality devices and an infotainment system of a motor vehicle includes establishing communications with each of the plurality of mobile devices. Each of the plurality of devices is identified against a predetermined priority, such that each of the plurality of devices identified with a predetermined priority is assigned the predetermined priority. Each of the plurality of devices is prioritized from the highest to lowest based on the predetermined priority. A user configuration of the one of the plurality of devices with the highest priority is red. A connection between the one of the plurality of devices with the highest priority and the infotainment system of the motor vehicle is attempted. A communication session between the one of the plurality of devices with the highest priority and the infotainment system of the motor vehicle is then established.

Abstract: A dynamic wireless multi-channel switch including a networking device providing access to communicate messages on at least two frequency bands. A wireless access manager module determines a utilization of each frequency band based on the communicated messages. The wireless access manager module dynamically adjusts a time slot ratio of each frequency band as a function of the utilization of the communicated messages by the networking device.

Abstract: A system and method for using data that is external to a vehicle in vehicular applications. The system and method include determining data that is external to the vehicle is available for use, comparing the external data to data that is available from a vehicle system, and determining whether the external data has a higher utility function compared to data that is available from a vehicle system. The system and method further include using the external data to enhance a vehicular application if the external data has a higher utility function.

Abstract: A communication system that includes a vehicle and a mobile device, and a method of continuing a mirroring session between the mobile device and a display in the vehicle, which is carried out using the communication system. The method includes the steps of: establishing the mirroring session between the mobile device and the vehicle display; providing mirroring data from the mobile device to the vehicle display via the mirroring session; receiving at the mobile device a keep-alive message from the vehicle display; and in response to receiving the keep-alive message, continuing the mirroring session following an initiation of an inactivity mode of the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling Wi-Fi module operation based on vehicle location includes: detecting at a vehicle a geopolitical identifier broadcast by a wireless carrier system; determining whether operational settings of the Wi-Fi module conform to operational settings specified for the detected geopolitical identifier; and changing the operational settings of the Wi-Fi module when not conforming to the operational settings specified for the detected geopolitical identifier.

Abstract: A communication system that includes a vehicle and a mobile device, and a method of continuing a mirroring session between the mobile device and a display in the vehicle, which is carried out using the communication system. The method includes the steps of: establishing the mirroring session between the mobile device and the vehicle display; providing mirroring data from the mobile device to the vehicle display via the mirroring session; receiving at the mobile device a keep-alive message from the vehicle display; and in response to receiving the keep-alive message, continuing the mirroring session following an initiation of an inactivity mode of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for initiating a projection session between one of a plurality devices and an infotainment system of a motor vehicle includes establishing communications with each of the plurality of mobile devices. Each of the plurality of devices is identified against a predetermined priority, such that each of the plurality of devices identified with a predetermined priority is assigned the predetermined priority. Each of the plurality of devices is prioritized from the highest to lowest based on the predetermined priority. A user configuration of the one of the plurality of devices with the highest priority is red. A connection between the one of the plurality of devices with the highest priority and the infotainment system of the motor vehicle is attempted. A communication session between the one of the plurality of devices with the highest priority and the infotainment system of the motor vehicle is then established.

Abstract: A communication system and various methods using that communication system, including a method of providing mobile device media content in a vehicle. One method includes the steps of: identifying one or more mobile devices at the vehicle using vehicle electronics that include a vehicle multi-tainment unit (VMU); determining whether any of the one or more mobile devices are connected via a non-legacy short-range wireless communication (SRWC) link; when the VMU determines a connected mobile device from among the one or more mobile devices, then indexing at the VMU media content on the connected mobile device; receiving a request from a vehicle user for media content; and providing the requested media content via vehicle electronics.