Abstract: A telematics system that includes a security controller is provided. The security controller is responsible for ensuring secure access to and controlled use of resources in the vehicle. The security measures relied on by the security controller can be based on digital certificates that grant rights to certificate holders, e.g., application developers. In the case in which applications are to be used with vehicle resources, procedures are implemented to make sure that certified applications do not jeopardize vehicle resources' security and vehicle users' safety. Relationships among interested entities are established to promote and support secure vehicle resource access and usage. The entities can include vehicle makers, communication service providers, communication apparatus vendors, vehicle subsystem suppliers, application developers, as well as vehicle owners/users.

Abstract: A telematics system that includes a security controller is provided. The security controller is responsible for ensuring secure access to and controlled use of resources in the vehicle. The security measures relied on by the security controller can be based on digital certificates that grant rights to certificate holders, e.g., application developers. In the case in which applications are to be used with vehicle resources, procedures are implemented to make sure that certified applications do not jeopardize vehicle resources' security and vehicle users' safety. Relationships among interested entities are established to promote and support secure vehicle resource access and usage. The entities can include vehicle makers, communication service providers, communication apparatus vendors, vehicle subsystem suppliers, application developers, as well as vehicle owners/users.

Abstract: A telematics system that includes a security controller is provided. The security controller is responsible for ensuring secure access to and controlled use of resources in the vehicle. The security measures relied on by the security controller can be based on digital certificates that grant rights to certificate holders, e.g., application developers. In the case in which applications are to be used with vehicle resources, procedures are implemented to make sure that certified applications do not jeopardize vehicle resources' security and vehicle users' safety. Relationships among interested entities are established to promote and support secure vehicle resource access and usage. The entities can include vehicle makers, communication service providers, communication apparatus vendors, vehicle subsystem suppliers, application developers, as well as vehicle owners/users.

Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing requests for individual items of information available from a target address as part of a request for content are provided. The characterization of requests for items of information is applied to select one of a plurality of communication channels for servicing the request. In addition, where different requests for items of information are assigned to different communication channels, those different communication channels can be used to obtain items of information from the target address simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing requests for individual items of information available from a target address as part of a request for content are provided. The characterization of requests for items of information is applied to select one of a plurality of communication channels for servicing the request. In addition, where different requests for items of information are assigned to different communication channels, those different communication channels can be used to obtain items of information from the target address simultaneously.

Abstract: A telematics system that includes a security controller is provided. The security controller is responsible for ensuring secure access to and controlled use of resources in the vehicle. The security measures relied on by the security controller can be based on digital certificates that grant rights to certificate holders, e.g., application developers. In the case in which applications are to be used with vehicle resources, procedures are implemented to make sure that certified applications do not jeopardize vehicle resources' security and vehicle users' safety. Relationships among interested entities are established to promote and support secure vehicle resource access and usage. The entities can include vehicle makers, communication service providers, communication apparatus vendors, vehicle subsystem suppliers, application developers, as well as vehicle owners/users.

Abstract: A telematics system that includes a security controller is provided. The security controller is responsible for ensuring secure access to and controlled use of resources in the vehicle. The security measures relied on by the security controller can be based on digital certificates that grant rights to certificate holders, e.g., application developers. In the case in which applications are to be used with vehicle resources, procedures are implemented to make sure that certified applications do not jeopardize vehicle resource'0 security and vehicle users' safety. Relationships among interested entities are established to promote and support secure vehicle resource access and usage. The entities can include vehicle makers, communication service providers, communication apparatus vendors, vehicle subsystem suppliers, application developers, as well as vehicle owners/users.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to facilitating communications and interoperability between/among applications and services. Such applications and services may be running on or associated with disparate platforms. The apparatus of the present invention provides for a message set that can be used by services to advertise available services, and by applications to identify desired services. According to certain embodiments, applications may subscribe to available services. In a further aspect of some embodiments, applications executable on and services available from disparate platforms are not required by themselves to support communications between/among the platforms. Instead, such support may be obtained from facilities that are provided as part of the platform itself.

Abstract: A telematics system that includes a security controller is provided. The security controller is responsible for ensuring secure access to and controlled use of resources in the vehicle. The security measures relied on by the security controller can be based on digital certificates that grant rights to certificate holders, e.g., application developers. In the case in which applications are to be used with vehicle resources, procedures are implemented to make sure that certified applications do not jeopardize vehicle resource'0 security and vehicle users' safety. Relationships among interested entities are established to promote and support secure vehicle resource access and usage. The entities can include vehicle makers, communication service providers, communication apparatus vendors, vehicle subsystem suppliers, application developers, as well as vehicle owners/users.

Abstract: The playing of games with advertising over a network, such as the Internet, is provided. The system for on-line game playing and advertising includes one or more client machines, game servers with advertisement servers, together with at least one database server. One advertisement is displayed using the client machine immediately after a validated detection of the completion of the game is made by the game server. This advertisement is displayed using the client machine for at least a predetermined time interval during which the player is not provided with control for removing the advertisement. Another advertisement is displayed using the client machine at the time the game is being played using game elements, such as card backs and banners. Advertising data is stored related to each displayed advertisement including the identity of the advertisement, when the advertisement was displayed, and the reaction to the advertisement by each player playing the on-line game utilizing a client machine.

Abstract: A communications system is provided for sending and receiving information relative to a mobile unit in which a number of network channels are available through which the information can be transferred. The system includes a link selector for selecting an acceptable network channel using application requirements for the particular channel, together with channel operating parameter values. When such a channel does not become available, the link selector is also involved with recovery procedures. These network channel operating parameters include bandwidth, information transfer costs and information transfer packet loss, latency and jitter. Weighting vectors are also utilized with such channel operating parameters in determining suitability values associated with the available network channels. The link selector communicates with a link scheduler that has responsibility for determining when information should be transferred including when there should be a change in the timing of the information transfer.

Abstract: A communications apparatus for enabling communications among networks, buses, devices and other subsystems having different communication requirements is provided. The communications apparatus offers an open architecture for interoperability among diverse subsystems. The communications apparatus is particularly applicable in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a portal apparatus located remote from the vehicle facilitates communications with the communications apparatus, particularly where the vehicle is part of a vehicle fleet. The communications apparatus includes a common module that has at least one protocol by which disparate subsystems can communicate with each other. One or more managers can be defined as being part of the common module. The disparate subsystem managers provide the necessary interfacing to enable the disparate subsystems to communicate between and among each other using the common module. Each such manager has dedicated functionalities to facilitate communications.

Abstract: Wireless communications relative to a vehicle using a wireless communications device, a pocket for holding the wireless communication device and an interface module in communication with the pocket are provided. The pocket can include a processor for translating communications between the wireless communications device and the interface module. The interface module has processing capability and can communicate with different pockets and thereby different wireless communications devices. In at least one embodiment, the interface module manages voice recognition and text-to-speech commands to facilitate hands-free communications in the vehicle. The interface module can function as a communications hub involving a number of vehicle subsystems. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle subsystems are separately addressable using the interface module and/or other processing hardware/software. However, in communicating over the Internet, a vehicle IP address is utilized.

Abstract: The playing of games with advertising over a network, such as the Internet, is provided. The system for on-line game playing and advertising includes one or more client machines, game servers with advertisement servers, together with at least one database server. One advertisement is displayed using the client machine immediately after a validated detection of the completion of the game is made by the game server. This advertisement is displayed using the client machine for at least a predetermined time interval during which the player is not provided with control for removing the advertisement. Another advertisement is displayed using the client machine at the time the game is being played using game elements, such as card backs and banners. Advertising data is stored related to each displayed advertisement including the identity of the advertisement, when the advertisement was displayed, and the reaction to the advertisement by each player playing the on-line game utilizing a client machine.

Abstract: The playing of games with advertising over a network, such as the Internet, is provided. The system for on-line game playing and advertising includes one or more client machines, game servers with advertisement servers, together with at least one database server. One advertisement is displayed using the client machine immediately after a validated detection of the completion of the game is made by the game server. This advertisement is displayed using the client machine for at least a predetermined time interval during which the player is not provided with control for removing the advertisement. Another advertisement is displayed using the client machine at the time the game is being played using game elements, such as card backs and banners. Advertising data is stored related to each displayed advertisement including the identity of the advertisement, when the advertisement was displayed, and the reaction to the advertisement by each player playing the on-line game utilizing a client machine.

Abstract: A communications system is provided for sending and receiving information relative to a mobile unit in which a number of network channels are available through which the information can be transferred. The system includes a link selector for selecting an acceptable network channel using application requirements for the particular channel, together with channel operating parameter values. When such a channel does not become available, the link selector is also involved with recovery procedures. These network channel operating parameters include bandwidth, information transfer costs and information transfer packet loss, latency and jitter. Weighting vectors are also utilized with such channel operating parameters in determining suitability values associated with the available network channels. The link selector communicates with a link scheduler that has responsibility for determining when information should be transferred including when there should be a change in the timing of the information transfer.

Abstract: Communication of information including data between a remote computer and a vehicle is managed and facilitated using an apparatus compatible with standardized network communication links. In one embodiment, the standardized network communication links include the Internet and a controller area network used in vehicles. The apparatus preferably includes a controller contained in the vehicle. The controller is comprised of a number of hardware and software elements including a processor. A TCP/IP stack is part of the controller for providing the necessary control in checking for communicating information, such as requests and data, over the Internet. A web server communicates with the TCP/IP stack for servicing information related requests in http format including obtaining or sending information in operative communication with the TCP/IP stack.