Abstract: At least one transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive data from a source node that is external to a vehicle, the data including a unique identifier (ID) of the source node and at least one of: a first location of the source node; a first heading of the source node; a first speed of the source node; and a first object type of the source node. At least one of a camera and a sensor is configured to identify objects located around the vehicle. An anomaly module is configured to selectively indicate that an anomaly is present in the data. A distributed ledger includes a list of unique IDs associated with not-trusted source nodes. A ledger management module is configured to, in response to an indication that an anomaly is present in the data received from the source node, add the unique ID of the source node to the list.

Abstract: A system and method of managing short-range wireless communications (SRWC) at a vehicle, the method being carried out by vehicle electronics of the vehicle, wherein the method includes: detecting a vehicle SRWC initiation event; in response to the detection of the vehicle SRWC initiation event, sending a user data stream availability request to a remote facility; receiving a user data stream availability response from the remote facility; during a time between the detecting and receiving steps, operating a wireless communication device in an initial mode that suspends or forgoes transmission of SRWC connection message(s) pursuant to a SRWC service; determining whether to enable or disable use of the SRWC service at the wireless communications device based on the user data stream availability response; and when it is determined to enable use of the SRWC service at the wireless communications device, transmitting a SRWC connection message pursuant to the SRWC service.

Abstract: A system and method of method of operating a vehicle using wireless communications, the method including: receiving a remote vehicle ignition start request via a wireless signal, wherein the remote vehicle ignition start request is a request to start an ignition of the vehicle; when the remote vehicle ignition start request is received, obtaining vehicle state information including a vehicle operating state and/or a vehicle environmental state; in response to receiving the remote vehicle ignition start request, selecting one or more remote start operating parameters based at least partly on the obtained vehicle state information; and after determining the one or more operating parameters, carrying out the remote command request according to the one or more selected remote start operating parameters.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to provide a misplacement notification, the system including: a memory configured to include a program and a processor configured to execute the program, where the program enables the processor to, after a vehicle ingress event, cause a sensor to capture a reference image of a portion of a vehicle interior; after a vehicle egress event, cause the sensor to capture a test image of the portion of the vehicle interior; determine whether the test image includes one or more objects not found in the reference image; and generate a notification, based on the determination of whether the test image includes one or more objects not found in the reference image.

Abstract: A system and method of setting a clock at a vehicle, including: operating a vehicle clock installed in a vehicle; receiving an external time signal via wireless communications, wherein the external time signal is a wireless communications signal that includes a time value; determining whether a predetermined amount of time has passed since a most-recent clock update; when it is determined that a predetermined amount of time has passed since the most-recent vehicle clock update, then carrying out the following steps: (i) calculating a measured drift and a drift limit; (ii) determining whether the measured drift is less than the drift limit; and (iii) when it is determined that the measured drift is less than the drift limit, then setting the vehicle clock to the time value included in the received external time signal.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems are provided for vehicles for utilizing distributed ledger technology communications for vehicles. In certain embodiments, one or more sensors are disposed onboard the vehicle and are configured to provide sensor data pertaining to operation of the vehicle. A transceiver is disposed onboard the vehicle, and is configured to receive, using distributed ledger technology (DLT), peer network data from a peer network having, as actors, the vehicle as well as a plurality of other actors that are disposed remote from the vehicle, and that together form the peer network. The processor is disposed onboard the vehicle, and is configured to provide instructions for taking a vehicle action for the vehicle using the peer network data and the sensor data.

Abstract: A vehicle backend system and a method of using the backend system to determine availability of a cellular connection between the backend system and a vehicle prior to the backend system attempting to establish the cellular connection. The method includes: determining at the backend system that a vehicle service is to be provided to the vehicle; based on the determination, transmitting from the backend system to a wireless service provider (WSP) or a WSP server a query associated with the connection status of the vehicle; in response to transmitting the query, receiving at the backend system a response to the query, wherein the response indicates that the vehicle is either in a connected state or an un-connected state; and when the vehicle is in the connected state: attempting to establish the cellular connection between the backend system and the vehicle; and when the cellular connection is established, providing the vehicle service.

Abstract: A system and method of carrying out a teletypewriter (TTY) call at a vehicle, the method being carried out by vehicle electronics of the vehicle, wherein the method includes: receiving a TTY configuration request at the vehicle electronics of the vehicle; configuring the vehicle to operate based on the TTY configuration request, wherein the configuring includes storing TTY configuration data at the vehicle; receiving a telephone call initiation request at the vehicle, the telephone call initiation request corresponding to a telephone call with an end user; determining whether TTY functionality is enabled or disabled at the vehicle, wherein the determination of whether the TTY functionality is enabled or disabled at the vehicle includes inspecting the TTY configuration data; and when it is determined that the TTY functionality is enabled at the vehicle, carrying out a TTY call at the vehicle.

Abstract: A private computer network associated with a vehicle data service center and a method of aggregating vehicle data using the private computer network. The method includes the steps of: receiving from a first subscriber vehicle one or more upload messages at a load balancing computer (LBC), wherein each of the one or more upload messages comprise unencrypted data; based on the unencrypted data, selecting at the LBC at least one telematics server of a telematics server farm to send the one or more upload messages; and providing the one or more upload messages to the at least one telematics server for upload message aggregation, wherein the LBC and the telematics server farm are associated with the private computer network.

Abstract: A system and method to obtain vehicle positional information as it is traveling. The method of generating a vehicle path includes obtaining a first position of a vehicle; monitoring an occurrence of a positional trigger event; after the occurrence of the positional trigger event, obtaining a second position of the vehicle; and transmitting the first and second positions to a storage device wherein the first and second positions form the path. The disclosure also provides for a system to generate the path of the vehicle. The system includes a vehicle system module configured to perform the various steps described herein.

Abstract: At least one transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive a unique identifier (ID) of a source node that is external to a vehicle. A distributed ledger includes a list of unique IDs associated with trusted source nodes. An ID comparison module is configured to compare the unique ID of the source node with the list. The at least one transceiver is configured to, in response to a determination that the unique ID of the source node is not within the list, wirelessly transmit the unique ID of the source node the trusted source nodes of a connected network for execution of a consensus algorithm. A ledger management module is configured to, in response to a determination to trust the source node via execution of the consensus algorithm, add the unique ID of the source node to the list.

Abstract: At least one transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive data from a source node that is external to a vehicle, the data including a unique identifier (ID) of the source node and at least one of: a first location of the source node; a first heading of the source node; a first speed of the source node; and a first object type of the source node. At least one of a camera and a sensor is configured to identify objects located around the vehicle. An anomaly module is configured to selectively indicate that an anomaly is present in the data. A distributed ledger includes a list of unique IDs associated with not-trusted source nodes. A ledger management module is configured to, in response to an indication that an anomaly is present in the data received from the source node, add the unique ID of the source node to the list.

Abstract: A system and method of power management of a telematics unit in a vehicle is provided. An exemplary method includes determining that the vehicle is unpowered; determining that the vehicle is in a fringe region of a cellular network; and based the determining steps, entering a power-saving mode at the telematics unit.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a plurality of vehicle messages, wherein the method comprises: receiving a plurality of vehicle messages from a plurality of vehicles; generating a key n-tuple including a key and a time indicator for each of the vehicle messages; storing each of the vehicle messages in a data structure that comprises a priority queue for each key; storing each of the key n-tuples in a timer queue; obtaining a key n-tuple from the timer queue; recalling a vehicle message from a corresponding priority queue; and sending the vehicle message to at least one of a plurality of compute nodes.

Abstract: A vehicle email notification system and method in which triggers are used to initiate the generation and transmission of email messages that provide diverse types of dynamic vehicle information to the owner or other authorized subscriber. The email notifications are triggered by different events, some of which are independent of the vehicle (e.g., a 30 day trigger to provide the subscriber with a monthly vehicle status report), and others of which occur at the vehicle, such as a mileage or low oil life trigger. Upon occurrence of a trigger, the notification system builds and sends to the subscriber an email message that contains the dynamic vehicle information and identifies any detected vehicle condition for which action is needed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for classifying light detection and ranging sensor data are provided. The method includes transforming sensor data of the LIDAR into point cloud data, selecting a cell including a subset of the point cloud data, dividing the selected cell into a plurality of voxels, calculating a difference of gradients for the plurality of voxels, performing a first pass on the plurality of voxels to identify voxels that contain an object based the difference of gradients, performing a second pass on the plurality of voxels to identify voxels that contain the object by adjusting a voxel with at least one from among a jitter parameter and a rotation parameter, and outputting a centroid average of voxels identified as containing the object.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a plurality of vehicles. The method includes receiving route information from a plurality of telematics units installed into each of the vehicles. The information may be collected as the vehicles are traveling along a vehicle route. The method further includes determining an eligibility of the vehicle route for use with a semi-autonomous driving system of the vehicles from at least the received route information. The method may also include communicating the eligibility of the vehicle route to the vehicles. The system includes a plurality of telematics units configured to collect route information as the vehicles are traveling along a vehicle route. The system further includes a database in communication with the plurality of telematics units. The database includes an eligibility of the vehicle route for use with a super cruise system of the vehicles.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling vehicle functionality based on a geopolitical region of the vehicle, the method including the steps of: monitoring a geographical location of the vehicle; resolving the geographical location of the vehicle to a geopolitical region in which the vehicle is located; obtaining permitted vehicle function information for the geopolitical region in which the vehicle is located; and disabling or enabling one or more vehicle functions based on the obtained permitted vehicle function information.

Abstract: A method of generating a navigation-based route for a vehicle. The method includes: determining route information from a starting point to a destination using a navigation unit associated with the vehicle, wherein the route information includes one or more route segments; determining that one or more of the route segments wholly or partially overlap a toll zone; obtaining traffic information for at least some of the route segments ahead of the vehicle; and when the traffic information indicates that there is a route that avoids the toll zone without a traffic delay, then generating the route to avoid the toll zone.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying licensed and unlicensed communications over a cellular protocol includes: wirelessly transmitting a communication session request from a wireless device to a wireless carrier system using the LTE cellular protocol; receiving a response at the wireless device from the wireless carrier system indicating that the wireless carrier system is providing a communication session using a licensed communications frequency band or an unlicensed communications frequency band; and establishing communications from the wireless device via the wireless carrier system based on whether the wireless carrier system is providing cellular communications via the licensed communications frequency band or the unlicensed communications frequency band.