Abstract: A system of managing charging schedules in a fleet having electric vehicles includes a command unit. The command unit has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is adapted to define a plurality of discharge categories, including a transportation category, a transfer category and a reserve energy category. The respective battery power in the electric vehicles is proportioned by setting a respective percentage allocation for the plurality of discharge categories. The command unit is adapted to signal the electric vehicles to charge when at least one of the plurality of discharge categories falls below the respective percentage allocation. The command unit may be adapted to group the electric vehicles in respective virtual boxes based in part on their respective physical locations.

Abstract: A system includes a user equipment (UE) traveling at least at a predetermined velocity. The UE is in RRC_INACTIVE state since time T. The system further includes at least a first base station and a second base station. The first base station receives an RRC_INACTIVE state message from the UE. The RRC_INACTIVE state message includes a location and a velocity of the UE, and a time-lapse, which is an elapsed duration since T. In response to a paging message from a core network, the first base station predicts a location of the UE. In response to the UE being within range of the first base station, the first base station sends the paging message to the UE. In response to the UE being within range of the second base station, the first base station sends a request to the second base station to send the paging message to the UE.

Abstract: A method and system for smart selection of a charging station is contemplated. The selection may be based on a charging recommendation being generated in reply to a charging request for battery charging. The charging recommendation may identify one or more target charging stations suitable for the battery charging. The charging recommendation may include a state of health (SOH) matrix configured to report charging capabilities of the target charging stations according to vehicle and station charging metrics associated therewith.

Abstract: A system includes a user equipment (UE) traveling at least at a predetermined velocity. The UE is in RRC_INACTIVE state since time T. The system further includes at least a first base station and a second base station. The first base station receives an RRC_INACTIVE state message from the UE. The RRC_INACTIVE state message includes a location and a velocity of the UE, and a time-lapse, which is an elapsed duration since T. In response to a paging message from a core network, the first base station predicts a location of the UE. In response to the UE being within range of the first base station, the first base station sends the paging message to the UE. In response to the UE being within range of the second base station, the first base station sends a request to the second base station to send the paging message to the UE.

Abstract: A method of operating a mobile communication system of a motor vehicle is provided for initiating a voice call with a third party. The system includes an ECU, and the ECU includes a controller and a memory storing computer code. The method includes the steps of: (a) initiating a timer; (b) operating the ECU in a first mode in which the ECU attempts to engage in a VoNR call via a first network; (c) repeating step (b) within a predetermined amount of time until the ECU successfully engages in the VoNR call; and (d) operating the ECU in a second mode to attempt to engage in a VoLTE call via a second network in response to the controller determining that the ECU in the first mode did not successfully engage in the VoNR call within a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A method of facilitating on-demand wireless connectivity and data pooling with a vehicle platoon. The method includes detecting a potential host vehicle within a predetermined radius from the requesting vehicle; sending a request message to the potential host vehicle requesting to join the potential host vehicle in a vehicle platoon and to execute an application (APP) by utilizing the vehicle platoon's mobile edge computing (MEC) capabilities; sending a reply message by the host vehicle to join the potential host vehicle in the vehicle platoon; joining the potential host vehicle, by the requesting vehicle, in the vehicle platoon; and wirelessly transmitting to the potential host vehicle in the utilization of the host vehicle's MEC capabilities by pooling the APP data. The vehicle platoon is configured with an advance driver assisted system (ADAS) wireless communications, and MEC capabilities. A MEC module is disposed in at least one of the platoon vehicles.

Abstract: A method of facilitating on-demand wireless connectivity and data pooling with a vehicle platoon. The method includes detecting a potential host vehicle within a predetermined radius from the requesting vehicle; sending a request message to the potential host vehicle requesting to join the potential host vehicle in a vehicle platoon and to execute an application (APP) by utilizing the vehicle platoon's mobile edge computing (MEC) capabilities; sending a reply message by the host vehicle to join the potential host vehicle in the vehicle platoon; joining the potential host vehicle, by the requesting vehicle, in the vehicle platoon; and wirelessly transmitting to the potential host vehicle in the utilization of the host vehicle's MEC capabilities by pooling the APP data. The vehicle platoon is configured with an advance driver assisted system (ADAS) wireless communications, and MEC capabilities. A MEC module is disposed in at least one of the platoon vehicles.

Abstract: A method of arranging platooning vehicles based on the vehicles' historic wireless performance. The method includes a requesting vehicle requesting permission from a lead vehicle of a platoon to join the platoon. The lead vehicle determines if the Advance Driver Assisted Systems (ADAS) Instance State-of-Health (SOH) Scores are above a predetermined minimal threshold and if so, then whether the Overall Historic ADAS SOH Score contains one or more discrepancies. If the Overall Historic ADAS SOH Score contains no discrepancies, the lead vehicle than analyzes the historic wireless performance data from the requesting vehicle and determines a historic wireless performance (WP) score for the requesting vehicle. The requesting vehicle is then arranged in the platoon based on the relative historic WP score of the requesting vehicle to the WP score of the platooning vehicles.

Abstract: A millimeter wave communication system for enhanced downlink beamforming and pairing is described. This includes a beamforming system for pairing with a mobile UE, using a base station with a MIMO antenna and a controller. The controller transmits first downlink beams from the MIMO antenna, including channel state information (CSI) reference signals. The mobile UE identifies a provisional downlink beam having a highest intensity CSI reference signal at the mobile UE. The controller receives a CSI reference signal resource indicator (CRI) feedback from the mobile UE that is responsive to the downlink beams and includes the provisional downlink beam, a present geographic position and trajectory of the mobile UE. A refined downlink beam is determined based upon the provisional downlink beam, the present geographic position, and trajectory of the mobile UE. The MIMO antenna transmits the refined downlink beam to execute a pairing with the mobile UE.

Abstract: A method of operating a mobile communication system of a motor vehicle is provided for initiating a voice call with a third party. The system includes an ECU, and the ECU includes a controller and a memory storing computer code. The method includes the steps of: (a) initiating a timer; (b) operating the ECU in a first mode in which the ECU attempts to engage in a VoNR call via a first network; (c) repeating step (b) within a predetermined amount of time until the ECU successfully engages in the VoNR call; and (d) operating the ECU in a second mode to attempt to engage in a VoLTE call via a second network in response to the controller determining that the ECU in the first mode did not successfully engage in the VoNR call within a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A system and method for reminding a user to dock a mobile device in a docking apparatus within a vehicle are provided. A docking apparatus includes: one or more sensors for determining whether an object is present in the docking apparatus; and at least one of speakers, a vibration mechanism, and one or more display indicators for reminding a user to place the mobile device in the docking apparatus when the one or more sensors determine that an object is not present in the docking apparatus. A system includes the docking apparatus and a mobile device. The method includes receiving an indication that the vehicle ignition is turned on; determining whether the mobile device is in a docking apparatus; and reminding the user to dock the mobile device in the docking apparatus.

Abstract: A method of collecting vehicle operating information using a wireless device includes the steps of communicatively linking a wireless device located within a vehicle to a vehicle telematics unit; receiving vehicle data at the wireless device from the vehicle telematics unit using the link; recording the received vehicle data at the wireless device; detecting that the wireless device is no longer present in the vehicle; and wirelessly transmitting the recorded vehicle data to a central facility using the wireless capabilities of the wireless device based on the detection.

Abstract: An aftermarket device is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the aftermarket device includes, but is not limited to, a housing that is configured to be mounted to an internal surface of a vehicle. The aftermarket device further includes, but is not limited to a processor that is mounted within the housing. The aftermarket device still further includes, but is not limited to, a mounting sensor that is associated with the housing and that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The mounting sensor is configured to detect a mounting status of the housing and to provide a signal to the processor. The signal contains information indicative of the mounting status of the housing. The processor is configured to determine that the housing is improperly mounted to the internal surface of the vehicle based on the mounting status.

Abstract: A collision sensor, a collision sensing system, and a method of mounting a collision sensor to a vehicle are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the collision sensor includes, but is not limited to, a processor and a three-axis accelerometer that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The three-axis accelerometer is configured to detect an acceleration experienced by a vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the acceleration. The processor is configured to obtain the signal from the three-axis accelerometer and to determine when the vehicle has experienced a collision based, at least in part, on the signal.

Abstract: An aftermarket module arrangement for installation into a vehicle having a vehicle bus and an electric power source is disclosed herein. The arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a module configured to communicatively couple with the vehicle bus and to electrically couple with the electric power source via a first electric power line, and further configured to engage in power line communications over the first electric power line. The arrangement further includes an aftermarket module configured to electrically couple with the electric power source over a second electric power line and to engage in power line communications over the second electric power line. The aftermarket module is further configured to communicatively couple with the module via power line communications and to communicate over the vehicle bus through the module.

Abstract: A vehicle-incident detection method is disclosed herein. Vehicle data is received at a cloud computing system from a vehicle, where the vehicle data is generated by the vehicle in response to an initial detection of a vehicle-related event. After receiving the data, the cloud computing system requests additional vehicle data from the vehicle. The additional vehicle data is generated by the vehicle at a time subsequent to the initial detection of the vehicle-related event. The additional vehicle data is received from the vehicle, and an application resident in the cloud computing system analyzes the vehicle data and the additional vehicle data to determine that the vehicle-related event occurred. The application includes computer readable code embedded on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium for performing the analyzing. Also disclosed herein is a vehicle-incident detection system.

Abstract: A method for teaching an aftermarket accessory component how to actuate a vehicle function is disclosed herein. The aftermarket accessory component is configured to monitor communications across a vehicle bus. The method includes, but is not limited to, sampling message traffic transmitted across the vehicle bus while the vehicle function is not actuated. The method further includes setting filters in the aftermarket accessory component based on the sampled message traffic. The method further includes prompting a user to actuate the vehicle function in a first manner. The method further includes collecting filtered message traffic from the vehicle bus while the vehicle function is actuated in the first manner. The method further includes parsing the filtered message traffic to identify a command associated with actuation of the vehicle function. The method further includes testing the command to confirm that the command actuates the vehicle function.

Abstract: A collision sensor, a collision sensing system, and a method of mounting a collision sensor to a vehicle are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the collision sensor includes, but is not limited to, a processor and a three-axis accelerometer that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The three-axis accelerometer is configured to detect an acceleration experienced by a vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the acceleration. The processor is configured to obtain the signal from the three-axis accelerometer and to determine when the vehicle has experienced a collision based, at least in part, on the signal.

Abstract: An aftermarket device is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the aftermarket device includes, but is not limited to, a housing that is configured to be mounted to an internal surface of a vehicle. The aftermarket device further includes, but is not limited to a processor that is mounted within the housing. The aftermarket device still further includes, but is not limited to, a mounting sensor that is associated with the housing and that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The mounting sensor is configured to detect a mounting status of the housing and to provide a signal to the processor. The signal contains information indicative of the mounting status of the housing. The processor is configured to determine that the housing is improperly mounted to the internal surface of the vehicle based on the mounting status.

Abstract: A method for teaching an aftermarket accessory component how to actuate a vehicle function is disclosed herein. The aftermarket accessory component is configured to monitor communications across a vehicle bus. The method includes, but is not limited to, sampling message traffic transmitted across the vehicle bus while the vehicle function is not actuated. The method further includes setting filters in the aftermarket accessory component based on the sampled message traffic. The method further includes prompting a user to actuate the vehicle function in a first manner. The method further includes collecting filtered message traffic from the vehicle bus while the vehicle function is actuated in the first manner. The method further includes parsing the filtered message traffic to identify a command associated with actuation of the vehicle function. The method further includes testing the command to confirm that the command actuates the vehicle function.