Abstract: A vehicle control module includes a vehicle device and a vehicle network interface. The vehicle device is operable to perform a vehicle function. The vehicle network interface facilitates communication regarding the vehicle function between the vehicle device and a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.

Abstract: A vehicle control module includes a vehicle device and a vehicle network interface. The vehicle device is operable to perform a vehicle function. The vehicle network interface facilitates communication regarding the vehicle function between the vehicle device and a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for provisioning IP features in a system-on-chip. A plurality of identical chips are fabricated, each of which is capable of have a number of features enabled or disabled. As a default, all features are disabled. A production process is later carried out, in which the chip is installed in a greater device. During this process, the manufacturer requests a license the IP owner for enablement of various features. Using secure communications, a license is granted identifying the features to be enabled, and a volume of units permitted to be manufactured. The license information is encrypted using a key already known to the chip, and sent to the manufacturer. The chip receives the license information during provisioning, extracts relevant provisioning information using the key, and a secure processing system provisions the relevant features. Log information is generated to allow the IP owner to verify license compliance.

Abstract: A system for determining the servicing needs of a vehicle. In various embodiments, the system includes a remote server and a vehicle control module of the vehicle. The vehicle control module includes a first communication interface to enable communications with at least one vehicle device via a network fabric of the vehicle. The vehicle control module is configured to receive status data, from the vehicle device, relating to a performance status or operational status of the vehicle. The vehicle control module further includes a second communication interface that enables wireless communications with the remote server. The wireless communications include sending status data to the remote server. The remote server is configured to receive and interpret the status data to determine if the vehicle requires service, and send a response to the vehicle. When service is required, the response may cause the vehicle to provide a service indication.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for provisioning IP features in a system-on-chip. A plurality of identical chips are fabricated, each of which is capable of have a number of features enabled or disabled. As a default, all features are disabled. A production process is later carried out, in which the chip is installed in a greater device. During this process, the manufacturer requests a license the IP owner for enablement of various features. Using secure communications, a license is granted identifying the features to be enabled, and a volume of units permitted to be manufactured. The license information is encrypted using a key already known to the chip, and sent to the manufacturer. The chip receives the license information during provisioning, extracts relevant provisioning information using the key, and a secure processing system provisions the relevant features. Log information is generated to allow the IP owner to verify license compliance.

Abstract: A system for controlling power distribution within a vehicular communication network, including a power source equipment comprising a first port in communication with a network node module of a device, and a Power over Ethernet (POE) management module. The POE management module is configured to enable POE to the device via the first port, monitor a current draw of the device, determine whether the current draw of the device exceeds a threshold, and disable POE to the device, responsive to determining that the current draw exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A vehicular communication device and method for communicating with a remote server. In various embodiments, the vehicular communication device receives a plurality of device packets from a vehicle device(s) via a vehicular communication network, including device packets having a first priority and device packets having a second priority. Processing circuitry of the vehicular communication device determines the respective priorities of the received device packets based upon the contents of the packets, and queues at least some of the received device packets (and/or informational packets derived therefrom) in accordance with the respective priorities. The queued packets are output to a remote server for processing. The vehicular communication device receives responsive content from the remote server, which may include safety content, a servicing notice and/or targeted commercial content.

Abstract: A system for determining the servicing needs of a vehicle. In various embodiments, the system includes a remote server and a vehicle control module of the vehicle. The vehicle control module includes a first communication interface to enable communications with at least one vehicle device via a network fabric of the vehicle. The vehicle control module is configured to receive status data, from the vehicle device, relating to a performance status or operational status of the vehicle. The vehicle control module further includes a second communication interface that enables wireless communications with the remote server. The wireless communications include sending status data to the remote server. The remote server is configured to receive and interpret the status data to determine if the vehicle requires service, and send a response to the vehicle. When service is required, the response may cause the vehicle to provide a service indication.

Abstract: A system and method for performing vehicle safety processing within a vehicle includes determining whether a driver is present in a vehicle, receiving driver sensed data, processing the driver sensed data to recognize a safety issue. The method continues by determining if the driver sensed data also indicates an externally sensed safety issue. For the driver sensed data without the externally sensed safety issue, the method includes generating one or more control signals to activate a driver awareness measure. For the driver sensed data with an externally sensed safety issue, the method includes activating auto safety precaution measures, determining whether the auto safety measures were successful in avoiding an accident, and, if not, recording the driver sensed data in a one-time programmable (OTP) memory device.

Abstract: A system for determining the servicing needs of a vehicle. In various embodiments, the system includes a remote server and a vehicle control module of the vehicle. The vehicle control module includes a first communication interface to enable communications with at least one vehicle device via a network fabric of the vehicle. The vehicle control module is configured to receive status data, from the vehicle device, relating to a performance status or operational status of the vehicle. The vehicle control module further includes a second communication interface that enables wireless communications with the remote server. The wireless communications include sending status data to the remote server. The remote server is configured to receive and interpret the status data to determine if the vehicle requires service, and send a response to the vehicle. When service is required, the response may cause the vehicle to provide a service indication.

Abstract: A system and method for performing vehicle safety processing within a vehicle includes determining whether a driver is present in a vehicle, receiving driver sensed data, processing the driver sensed data to recognize a safety issue. The method continues by determining if the driver sensed data also indicates an externally sensed safety issue. For the driver sensed data without the externally sensed safety issue, the method includes generating one or more control signals to activate a driver awareness measure. For the driver sensed data with an externally sensed safety issue, the method includes activating auto safety precaution measures, determining whether the auto safety measures were successful in avoiding an accident, and, if not, recording the driver sensed data in a one-time programmable (OTP) memory device.

Abstract: A system for performing multi-level video processing within a vehicle includes a pre-processing module for determining an encoding mode and enabling one or more levels of encoding based on the encoding mode. The pre-processing module further receives a video stream from a camera attached to the vehicle via a vehicular communication network and encodes the video stream based on the encoding mode to produce a packet stream output. The system further includes a video decoder for receiving the packet stream output and decoding the packet stream output in accordance with the encoding mode to produce a decoded video output.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for provisioning IP features in a system-on-chip. A plurality of identical chips are fabricated, each of which is capable of have a number of features enabled or disabled. As a default, all features are disabled. A production process is later carried out, in which the chip is installed in a greater device. During this process, the manufacturer requests a license the IP owner for enablement of various features. Using secure communications, a license is granted identifying the features to be enabled, and a volume of units permitted to be manufactured. The license information is encrypted using a key already known to the chip, and sent to the manufacturer. The chip receives the license information during provisioning, extracts relevant provisioning information using the key, and a secure processing system provisions the relevant features. Log information is generated to allow the IP owner to verify license compliance.

Abstract: A vehicular communication device and method for communicating with a remote server. In various embodiments, the vehicular communication device receives a plurality of device packets from a vehicle device(s) via a vehicular communication network, including device packets having a first priority and device packets having a second priority. Processing circuitry of the vehicular communication device determines the respective priorities of the received device packets based upon the contents of the packets, and queues at least some of the received device packets (and/or informational packets derived therefrom) in accordance with the respective priorities. The queued packets are output to a remote server for processing. The vehicular communication device receives responsive content from the remote server, which may include safety content, a servicing notice and/or targeted commercial content.

Abstract: A system for determining the servicing needs of a vehicle. In various embodiments, the system includes a remote server and a vehicle control module of the vehicle. The vehicle control module includes a first communication interface to enable communications with at least one vehicle device via a network fabric of the vehicle. The vehicle control module is configured to receive status data, from the vehicle device, relating to a performance status or operational status of the vehicle. The vehicle control module further includes a second communication interface that enables wireless communications with the remote server. The wireless communications include sending status data to the remote server. The remote server is configured to receive and interpret the status data to determine if the vehicle requires service, and send a response to the vehicle. When service is required, the response may cause the vehicle to provide a service indication.

Abstract: A video processing system includes a video encoder that encodes a video stream into an independent video layer stream and a first dependent video layer stream based on a motion vector data or grayscale and color data.

Abstract: A vehicle network node module includes device buffers, a network buffer, a switch circuit, and a processing module. The device buffers temporarily store outgoing device packets from, and temporarily store incoming device packets for, vehicle devices in accordance with a locally managed prioritization scheme. The network buffer receives incoming network packets from, and outputs the outgoing network packets to, a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network protocol. The network buffer also temporarily stores the incoming network packets and the outgoing network packets in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme. The switching circuit selectively couples the network buffer to individual ones of the device buffers in accordance with the locally managed prioritization scheme.

Abstract: A network node module within a vehicle operates to manage devices coupled to a vehicular communication network of the vehicle based on a use mode defining rights and privileges for operating in the vehicular communication network. Upon being configured in accordance with a particular use mode of a set of use modes, the network node module can identify a device coupled to the vehicular communication network and enable the device to operate within the vehicular communication network in accordance with the use mode. The network node module is securely reconfigurable to any use mode in the set of use modes.

Abstract: A network management module includes a network interface module, memory, and a processing module. The network interface module is operable for coupling the network management module to a vehicle communication network. The processing module is operable to manage a global vehicle network communication protocol that includes instituting a content-based network packet processing protocol and managing the vehicle communication network to support the network packet processing protocol. The content-based network packet processing protocol includes determining content type of a packet, determining a processing requirement of the packet, and prioritizing execution of the processing requirement based on the content type.

Abstract: A data bridge controls packet transfers between network fabrics forming a closed network, such as a vehicular network and a home network. The data bridge includes two or more sets of modules, each of which communicates with a different network fabric. When a packet is to be delivered between network fabrics, a first set of modules, which is used to communicate with a first network fabric, decides whether to accept the packet or discard it. If the packet is accepted, it is delivered to a second set of modules, which is used for communicating with a second network fabric. The second set of modules makes a second, independent decision about whether the packet will be sent to the second network fabric. Each set of modules can base its decision on packet content type, and may discard any packet not to be delivered to the other network.