Abstract: An system and method for providing software upgrades to components of a vehicle, wherein the labor, time and expense of providing the upgrades are minimized. In one embodiment, a network is installed in the vehicle, wherein the network comprises a transmission medium and one or more network devices coupled thereto. The network devices are addressable using IP addresses or object terminology. Data, software or service upgrades may be provided to the devices coupled to the network. The data, software and services may be delivered to the network through a first device, such as a wireless communication device, and then transmitted through the network to the device which is to be upgraded. The network may join an external network which is configured to query the in-vehicle network and/or automatically download data to the in-vehicle network.

Abstract: A system for communicating between a first network and a second network, wherein the first network may alternately communicate through one of a plurality of communication devices, each having a different IP address. In one embodiment, the first network is contained in a vehicle. The first network initiates communications through one of the communication devices and communicates the IP address of this currently-used device to a proxy server. If communications are lost, the first network attempts to establish communications through another of the communication devices. In a first mode, the first network communicates with the second network directly, using the IP address of the currently-used communication device for return communications. In a second mode, the first network communicates with the second network directly, but return communications are routed through the proxy server, which forwards them to the first network.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method and apparatus for remotely managing data in a network system comprising at least one mobile device (e.g. a PDA, cellular phone, two-way pager, or mobile computer) and a least one server computer connected via an interconnection fabric, wherein the mobile device is registered with the server and configured to issue commands to a bot service using electronic mail messages or some other viable data transmission mechanism. The bot service responds to the commands by interfacing with the server computer to perform the requested action on behalf of the mobile device.

Abstract: An integrated sub-network for a vehicle. The sub-network includes one or more devices which are addressable using IP addresses or object terminology. The sub-network may appear as a single IP address to an external network. The devices may include various servers and clients, such as microphones, cameras, GPS receivers, interfaces to on-board diagnostic systems, communication devices, displays, CD players, radios, speakers, security devices and LANs (local are networks,) to name only a few. Devices may easily be connected or disconnected to upgrade or reconfigure the vehicle's systems, and software and services can easily be provided to the various devices through the network. The network can enable the interaction of various network devices to increase the capabilities or utility of devices which may otherwise be limited. The system therefore provides an easy and inexpensive means to improve or otherwise modify the functionality of the vehicle.

Abstract: An architecture for components of a vehicle, wherein the architecture facilitates the upgrading, replacement, removal or addition of the components in the vehicle. In one embodiment, a network is installed in the vehicle, wherein the network comprises a transmission medium and one or more network devices coupled thereto. The network devices are addressable using IP addresses or object terminology. The network devices may be configured to determine the capabilities of other devices, or they may be configured to look up the services provided by devices on the network, and they may utilize these services and capabilities themselves. The network devices are not constrained to use predetermined designs or interfaces which may be necessitated by the use of proprietary buses or connections. The network devices may be automatically integrated into the network using a discover-and-join protocol and may easily be removed from the network.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting information from a vehicle wherein the vehicle incorporates an internal network having a device coupled thereto for collecting or generating the vehicle information and a communication device coupled thereto for transmitting the vehicle information to an external receiver. In one embodiment, the devices coupled to the network are addressable using corresponding IP addresses. In another embodiment, the devices are addressable using object terminology which references their respective services. The vehicle information may include location, traffic, diagnostic or other types of information. The vehicle information may be transmitted to the external receiver automatically or the transmission may be initiated by a network user within the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for emulating vehicle components, wherein a device having limited capabilities in a stand-alone configuration is coupled to a network and utilizes services provided by other network devices to enable it to emulate a component which has less-limited capabilities. In one embodiment, a network having a server is installed in a vehicle. The limited-capability device is coupled to the network, and a memory in the limited-capability device provides data regarding the device to the server. The data may itself describe services needed by the device, or it may identify a location at which this information can be found. When the needed information is provided to the limited-capability device, the limited-capability device appears to other devices on the network (and to devices external to the network) as if it were not limited in its capabilities. In the one embodiment, a display which is not IP-addressable contacts a server to register interest in data packets of a particular type.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting information from a vehicle wherein the vehicle incorporates an internal network having a device coupled thereto for collecting or generating the vehicle information and a communication device coupled thereto for transmitting the vehicle information to an external receiver. In one embodiment, the devices coupled to the network are addressable using corresponding IP addresses. In another embodiment, the devices are addressable using object terminology which references their respective services. The vehicle information may include location, traffic, diagnostic or other types of information The vehicle information may be transmitted to the external receiver automatically or the transmission may be initiated by a network user within the vehicle.

Abstract: A dashboard for a vehicle, comprising a monitor which displays graphical images depicting dashboard instruments. In one embodiment, the monitor is a general purpose LCD graphics display coupled to a graphics generator. The graphics generator is a processor which executes a virtual dashboard software application. The processor receives vehicle information such as speed, fuel level, mileage and battery charge, and processes this information using the virtual dashboard software application to generate graphics signals which are transmitted to the monitor for display to the driver. The images displayed to the driver are determined by the virtual dashboard application, and not by the monitor itself. The displayed images are user-selectable so that they can be varied to suit the preferences of different drivers. The driver may alternately select different groups of images to view on the monitor using touch screens or speech commands.

Abstract: A system for providing a spectrophotometric analysis of a plurality of fluid samples, the system including a spectrophotometer having a low pressure flow cell and an automatic injector device which stores the fluid samples without exposure to the atmosphere and injects the samples successively at low pressure into the flow cell where they can be scanned to produce scanned data for processing. The system prevents the scanning of each fluid sample until the injection thereof has been completed, the processing of scanned data for each fluid sample being performed substantially simultaneously with the injection of the next successive fluid sample into the flow cell.