Abstract: A passive entry-passive start portable device detection system. A portable device includes a transceiver. At least one vehicle-based transceiver broadcasts an interrogation signal. The transceiver of the portable device transmits a response signal in response to the interrogation signal. A controller determining at least a range of the portable device as a function of the time-of-flight of the interrogation and response signals.

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 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: Systems and methods are provided for securing and authenticating a network of a vehicle. At least one network key is generated by an electronic control module and distributed to at least one remote device over a wired power line. At least one signed transmission having a signature based on the at least one network key is transmitted from the at least one remote device to the electronic control module over a communication channel on the network separate from the wired power line. The electronic control module authenticates and encrypts the at least one signed transmission and receives a data stream from the at least one remote device over the communication channel.

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: A method and device are provided for synchronizing data transmission of multicasting/broadcasting services (MBS) by a plurality of Base Stations. Meanwhile, each of the Base Stations receives the MBS data to be transmitted and determines whether any of the MBS data has not been properly received. If so, the respective Base Station may initiate a process to recover the missing MBS data and/or to obtain information regarding the missing data to determine the duration of the time period that would have been required for transmitting the missing MBS. If the missing data has not been timely recovered, the respective Base Station determines a starting point and the duration of a silence period based on the information obtained, and refrains from transmitting signals along a communication channel allocated for transmission of MBS data, during that silence period.

Abstract: A social media system for a vehicle and a method of operating the social media system are provided. The social media system, for example, may include, but is not limited to a camera, an interface, a memory configured to store one or more safety settings, and a processor communicatively coupled to the camera, the interface and the memory, the processor being configured to receive, via the interface, a command request to utilize the social media system, determine, based upon the safety settings stored in the memory, when the command request may be completed, and executing the command request when the processor determines that command request may be completed.

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: 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: A method and device are provided for synchronizing data transmission of multicasting/broadcasting services (MBS) by a plurality of Base Stations. Meanwhile, each of the Base Stations receives the MBS data to be transmitted and determines whether any of the MBS data has not been properly received. If so, the respective Base Station may initiate a process to recover the missing MBS data and/or to obtain information regarding the missing data to determine the duration of the time period that would have been required for transmitting the missing MBS. If the missing data has not been timely recovered, the respective Base Station determines a starting point and the duration of a silence period based on the information obtained, and refrains from transmitting signals along a communication channel allocated for transmission of MBS data, during that silence period.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for synchronizing data transmission of multicasting/broadcasting services (MBS) by a plurality of Base Stations. Meanwhile, each of the Base Stations receives the MBS data to be transmitted and determines whether any of the MBS data has not been properly received. If so, the respective Base Station may initiate a process to recover the missing MBS data and/or to obtain information regarding the missing data to determine the duration of the time period that would have been required for transmitting the missing MBS. If the missing data has not been timely recovered, the respective Base Station determines a starting point and the duration of a silence period based on the information obtained, and refrains from transmitting signals along a communication channel allocated for transmission of MBS data, during that silence period.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for vehicle data communications. The system includes a vehicle communication component configured to receive data, encode the data to be transmitted, and transmit the encoded data wirelessly. A data delivery unit is configured to receive the encoded data, decode the encoded data, and present data in at least one format. A wired communication link couples the vehicle communication component and the data delivery unit. The wired communication link is configured to relay decoding information from the vehicle communication component to the data delivery unit such that the data delivery unit may decode the encoded data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for statistical data learning under privacy constraints. The method includes: receiving, by a processor, a plurality of pieces of statistical information relating to a statistical object and aggregating, by the processor, the plurality of pieces of statistical information so as to provide an estimation of the statistical object. Each piece of statistical information includes an uncertainty variable, the uncertainty variable being a value determined from a function having a predetermined mean. The number of pieces of statistical information aggregated is proportional to the reliability of the estimation of the statistical object.

Abstract: In a wireless communications network comprising a plurality of multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zones each of which comprises at least one base station, there is provided a method for providing a multicast and broadcast service to a mobile terminal capable of moving from one MBS zone to another. The method comprises the steps of: providing the mobile terminal with one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions comprising at least one multicast connection identification (MCID) associated with an MBS zone other than a current MBS zone at which the mobile terminal is currently receiving the one or more multicasting/broadcasting transmissions; retrieving information regarding the at least one MCID; and upon detecting that the mobile terminal is capable of receiving transmissions associated with the other MBS_ZONE, utilizing the MCID associated with that other MBS_ZONE to receive multicasting/broadcasting transmissions intended for that mobile terminal.

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: A method is provided for combining corrupted messages received in a wireless network which comprises the following steps: (a) receiving a first message transmitted from one of a plurality of communication devices, wherein that first message is received as a corrupted message; (b) following the receipt of the first corrupted message, receiving a first plurality of messages, wherein the first plurality of messages are received as corrupted messages and wherein at least one of the first plurality of corrupted messages is essentially identical to the first message; (c) combining the first corrupted message with the at least one of the first plurality of corrupted messages that is essentially identical to that first message to form a combined message; and (d) deriving from the combined message information which was transmitted within the first message.