Abstract: A system and method of locating a key fob with respect to a vehicle includes: detecting short-range wireless signals communicated between the key fob and a plurality of nodes at the vehicle using an IEEE 802.11 protocol; calculating the distance of the key fob relative to each of the nodes attached to the vehicle based on the detected short-range wireless signal; and determining the location of the key fob based on the distance of the key fob relative to each of the nodes.

Abstract: Slot antennas built into metallic body panels utilize the vehicle body itself as an antenna radiator. Building the slot antennas directly into the metallic body panels converts the vehicle body from functioning as an RF shield into an RF antenna, which significantly improves mobile communication reception for a wide range of RF communication devices. Different types of slot antennas may be included for different communication channels utilized by different types of devices. Multi-band slot antennas are configured to receive multiple bands within a larger frequency channel. Dual-polarity antennas are configured to receive signals propagating in a dual-polarity mode. Multiple slot components may be configured as multi-band, dual-polarity antennas. Each slot antenna may be passive (without an RF pickup) or active with an RF pickup and coaxial cable connecting the antenna to an electronic device, such as receiver or amplifier located inside or otherwise interconnected with the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of planning communication network infrastructure includes calculating a potential capacity of a plurality of vehicular relay nodes in an area, wherein the plurality of vehicular relay nodes relay data between a plurality of portable devices and at least one base station. The method also includes calculating a potential data demand in the area for transferring data between the plurality of portable devices and the at least one base station. The method further includes determining whether a number of the at least one base station serving the area is sufficient by utilizing the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area and the potential data demand in the area.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for establishing a multipath connection between two endpoints. The method includes establishing a connection between a first of the two endpoints and one or more consumer devices, creating a virtual network interface in the first of the two endpoints for each of the one or more consumer devices connected to the first of the two endpoints, and transferring packets from the first of the two endpoints through each virtual network interface to a second of the two endpoints.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively providing cellular offload services to mobile user data devices via vehicle-based access points. Subscribers and affiliates of vehicle-related online services register their user data devices for authorized connections. Vehicle metrics are used to determine the state of a vehicle (being driven or parked), and the metrics of the user device can be compared with the vehicle metrics to determine if the user device is inside the vehicle. Limiting access to authorized user devices reduces load on the vehicular access points and allows preventing the vehicular access points from being erroneously included on access point maps and thereby infecting the maps.

Abstract: A system and method of locating a key fob with respect to a vehicle includes: detecting short-range wireless signals communicated between the key fob and a plurality of nodes at the vehicle using an IEEE 802.11 protocol; calculating the distance of the key fob relative to each of the nodes attached to the vehicle based on the detected short-range wireless signal; and determining the location of the key fob based on the distance of the key fob relative to each of the nodes.

Abstract: A method of planning communication network infrastructure includes calculating a potential capacity of a plurality of vehicular relay nodes in an area, wherein the plurality of vehicular relay nodes relay data between a plurality of portable devices and at least one base station. The method also includes calculating a potential data demand in the area for transferring data between the plurality of portable devices and the at least one base station. The method further includes determining whether a number of the at least one base station serving the area is sufficient by utilizing the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area and the potential data demand in the area.

Abstract: Slot antennas built into metallic body panels utilize the vehicle body itself as an antenna radiator. Building the slot antennas directly into the metallic body panels converts the vehicle body from functioning as an RF shield into an RF antenna, which significantly improves mobile communication reception for a wide range of RF communication devices. Different types of slot antennas may be included for different communication channels utilized by different types of devices. Multi-band slot antennas are configured to receive multiple bands within a larger frequency channel. Dual-polarity antennas are configured to receive signals propagating in a dual-polarity mode. Multiple slot components may be configured as multi-band, dual-polarity antennas. Each slot antenna may be passive (without an RF pickup) or active with an RF pickup and coaxial cable connecting the antenna to an electronic device, such as receiver or amplifier located inside or otherwise interconnected with the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of planning communication network infrastructure includes calculating a potential capacity of a plurality of vehicular relay nodes in an area, wherein the plurality of vehicular relay nodes relay data between a plurality of portable devices and at least one base station. The method also includes calculating a potential data demand in the area for transferring data between the plurality of portable devices and the at least one base station. The method further includes determining whether the number of base stations serving the area is sufficient by utilizing the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area and the potential data demand in the area.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating communication with a base station. The system includes a plurality of relay nodes configured to communicate wirelessly via primary communications links with the base station and transmit operational data to the base station and/or at least another of the relay nodes. At least one controller is configured to determine which of the plurality of relay nodes to place in an active state based at least partially on the operational data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compiling lists of prospective access points for offloading cellular data traffic for a vehicle, and for selecting an access point to establish a non-cellular wireless Internet connection. Vehicular data mobile access involves properties and characteristics different from those of portable user data devices, and thus exhibit different criteria for cellular data offloading. Embodiments of the invention provide vehicle metrics to be used in conjunction with data requirement metrics in compiling the access lists and making the optimum selections based on the vehicle's predicted route. A predictive look-ahead is also provided, for use when predictive routing information is not available or is unreliable.

Abstract: Methods and systems for unauthorized base station detection are disclosed herein. In an example of the method, an in-vehicle controller of a vehicle or an application of a mobile communications device scans a cellular radio environment to identify an available base station. By a signal detection unit in operative communication with the in-vehicle controller or the application, a strength of a signal of the available base station is detected. The in-vehicle controller or the application recognizes that the signal strength is out of the expected signal strength range, and determines that the available base station is the unauthorized base station. While in connection with the unauthorized base station, the in-vehicle controller or the application determines a location of the unauthorized base station. Other examples of the method are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating communication with a base station. The system includes a plurality of relay nodes configured to communicate wirelessly via primary communications links with the base station and transmit operational data to the base station and/or at least another of the relay nodes. At least one controller is configured to determine which of the plurality of relay nodes to place in an active state based at least partially on the operational data.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating communication. The system includes a portable device and a base station. The system also includes a vehicle-based device configured to communicate wirelessly via a first communications link with the portable device, communicate via a second communications link with the base station, and relay data between the first communications link and the second communications link. The portable device is configured to determine a quality of the first communications link and reduce an emitted power in response to the quality of the first communications link being higher than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of planning communication network infrastructure includes calculating a potential capacity of a plurality of vehicular relay nodes in an area, wherein the plurality of vehicular relay nodes relay data between a plurality of portable devices and at least one base station. The method also includes calculating a potential data demand in the area for transferring data between the plurality of portable devices and the at least one base station. The method further includes determining whether the number of base stations serving the area is sufficient by utilizing the potential capacity of the plurality of vehicular relay nodes in the area and the potential data demand in the area.

Abstract: One or more vehicle communication systems associated with one or more vehicles may be activated. The one or more vehicles may, for example, include a gateway vehicle. A backhaul connection between a vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle and a cellular infrastructure may be established. Signals from the cellular infrastructure may be received at the vehicle communication system associated with gateway vehicle. Using the vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle, the signals received from the cellular infrastructure may be transmitted. Signals from one or more mobile devices may be received using the vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle. The signals received from the one or more mobile devices may be transmitted to the cellular infrastructure using the vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compiling lists of prospective access points for offloading cellular data traffic for a vehicle, and for selecting an access point to establish a non-cellular wireless Internet connection. Vehicular data mobile access involves properties and characteristics different from those of portable user data devices, and thus exhibit different criteria for cellular data offloading. Embodiments of the invention provide vehicle metrics to be used in conjunction with data requirement metrics in compiling the access lists and making the optimum selections based on the vehicle's predicted route. A predictive look-ahead is also provided, for use when predictive routing information is not available or is unreliable.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively providing cellular offload services to mobile user data devices via vehicle-based access points. Subscribers and affiliates of vehicle-related online services register their user data devices for authorized connections. Vehicle metrics are used to determine the state of a vehicle (being driven or parked), and the metrics of the user device can be compared with the vehicle metrics to determine if the user device is inside the vehicle. Limiting access to authorized user devices reduces load on the vehicular access points and allows preventing the vehicular access points from being erroneously included on access point maps and thereby infecting the maps.

Abstract: Methods and systems for unauthorized base station detection are disclosed herein. In an example of the method, an in-vehicle controller of a vehicle or an application of a mobile communications device scans a cellular radio environment to identify an available base station. By a signal detection unit in operative communication with the in-vehicle controller or the application, a strength of a signal of the available base station is detected. The in-vehicle controller or the application recognizes that the signal strength is out of the expected signal strength range, and determines that the available base station is the unauthorized base station. While in connection with the unauthorized base station, the in-vehicle controller or the application determines a location of the unauthorized base station. Other examples of the method are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly communicating over two wireless networks having different communication protocols using a single transceiver of a vehicle telematics unit. The method includes monitoring a first network for an incoming page using a transceiver and a first network access device (NAD); the transceiver and the first NAD may be components of a cellular device, such as a vehicle telematics unit. The method includes monitoring a second network for another incoming page using the same transceiver and a second NAD. The second NAD also may be a component of the cellular device. When a page is received over the second network, a call may be connected using the second NAD, and the first network may be periodically monitored for an incoming page without disconnecting the call of the second network.