Abstract: A vehicle control system (VCS) includes external communication interfaces, such as a Bluetooth interface, for communicating with a user communication and control device, such as a smart phone or a tablet. The user is enabled to operate certain features of the vehicle, such as the remote start, power locks/trunk, climate control, and security features, through the smart phone. The VCS may also communicate with a remote server via the user's smartphone, for example, providing telematics data and receiving service reminders for display to the user on the smartphone, the VCS, or a display built into the vehicle. The VCS may be custom installed in the vehicle using the user's or the installer's smartphone, without a physical connection from the VCS to the smartphone.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for providing on-demand services to vehicles are described. The disclosed technology determines information associated with a vehicle, generates a request for a fuel delivery on-demand service using the information, confirms identification of the vehicle using a wireless signal of the vehicle, provides access to the vehicle to enable performance of the fuel delivery on-demand service and secures the vehicle after completion of the fuel delivery on-demand service.

Abstract: Method of transmitting data in a distributed system of programmable controls, wherein data are transmitted between data sources and data sinks, both of which represent a respective node in the distributed system, and wherein the respective data sources and data sinks communicating with one another are determined by way of parameters.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling electro-mechanical (EM) latches. An EM latch may be controlled by receiving dynamic key information from a smart device and static access card information from an access card. A signal generator sends a signal to actuate the EM latch upon verification of the dynamic key information or static access card information. The smart device may be associated with a single user or with multiple users.

Abstract: A system for generating and managing usage-based insurance contracts configured to (i) store a plurality of offers for sharing transactions, where each of the plurality of offers includes an item being offered and an associated offerer; (ii) receive a selection from a buyer of an offer that is accepted by the buyer of the plurality of offers; (iii) automatically generate a usage-based insurance contract for the sharing transaction based on the offer; and (iv) transmit the insurance contract to at least one of the buyer and the associated offerer.

Abstract: The technology relates to autonomous vehicles suffering a breakdown along a roadway. Onboard systems may utilize various proactive operations to alert specific vehicles or other objects on or near the roadway about the breakdown. This can be done alternatively or in addition to turning on the hazard lights or calling for remote assistance. The disabled vehicle is able to detect nearby and approaching objects. The detection may be performed in combination with a determination of the type of object or predicted behavior for that object, enables the vehicle to generate a targeted alert that can be transmitted or otherwise presented to that particular object. This approach provides the other object, such as a vehicle, bicyclist or pedestrian, sufficient time and information about the breakdown to take appropriate corrective action. Different communication options are available and may be selected based on the particular object, environmental conditions and other factors.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides for an exemplary inventive system that includes at least the following components: an electronic control unit having a service oriented architecture (SOA ECU), where the SOA ECU includes: at least one exemplary inventive SOA server; where the SOA ECU is located within a vehicle; where the at least one SOA server is configured to provide at least one service to at least one client ECU that is located within the vehicle; and where the at least one SOA server is configured to assign at least one dedicated processing resource and at least one dedicated memory resource to provide the at least one service.

Abstract: Secure and automated vehicular control using multi-factor authentication is disclosed herein. An example system includes a processor; and memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in memory to: perform a first type of authentication of a user using a unique identifier for a user of a mobile device; transmit an unlock request to a vehicle controller when the first type of authentication is complete, the vehicle controller unlocking a door of the vehicle in response; perform a second type of authentication of the user; and transmit an indication to the vehicle controller of the vehicle to confirm that the second type of authentication is complete, wherein the vehicle controller starts an engine of the vehicle in response to the second type of authentication being complete.

Abstract: An information processing device that receives, from another information processing device, a communication message generated based on recency information and control data, includes: a recency information generation unit that generates the recency information; and a recency information management unit that extracts the recency information from the received communication message.

Abstract: A vehicle control system (VCS) includes external communication interfaces, such as a Bluetooth interface, for communicating with a user communication and control device, such as a smart phone or a tablet. The user is enabled to operate certain features of the vehicle, such as the remote start, power locks/trunk, climate control, and security features, through the smart phone. The VCS may also communicate with a remote server via the user's smartphone, for example, providing telematics data and receiving service reminders for display to the user on the smartphone, the VCS, or a display built into the vehicle. The VCS may be custom installed in the vehicle using the user's or the installer's smartphone, without a physical connection from the VCS to the smartphone.

Abstract: A method of tuning a point-of-interest (POI) definition in a mobile communication device location data analysis application. The method comprises configuring a POI group definition into the analysis application, causing by a POI tuning application the analysis application to execute and count intersections of routes of mobile communication devices with a POI group based on the POI group definition, for each POI that is associated with the POI group, assigning the count of intersections with the POI group by the analysis application to a count of intersections of routes of devices with the POI, receiving information about the count of intersections of the routes of devices with the plurality of POIs in the POI group from the analysis application by the POI tuning application, and presenting the information about the count of intersections in a user interface by the POI tuning application, whereby the analysis application is iteratively tuned.

Abstract: Determining a type of actor performing an activity includes monitoring the performance of the activity via at least one sensor to produce activity readings over a dimension. The activity readings are then compared to reference readings that are generated based on a machine performing same activity. The comparison of the reference readings to the activity readings is used to determine a variance between the activity readings and reference readings. Once the variance is determined, the variance is compared with a threshold value to determine the type of actor performing the activity.

Abstract: A security system unlocks a locked state, which limits a use of a vehicle device attached to a vehicle, by inputting a preset genuine password. The security system may generate key information by converting the genuine password based on a predetermined rule. The key information is used for generating an alternative password that unlocks the locked state instead of the genuine password. The security system may generate the alternative password based on the key information. The security system may unlock the locked state when the alternative password is input.

Abstract: To provide greater efficiency in connecting and establishing communicational equipment, the communicational system type can be automatically detected and the communicational equipment can configure itself in accordance with the automatically detected communicational type. Additionally, to accommodate dynamic reconfiguration, or changes to the communicational type after an initial configuration, the communicational type can be automatically monitored and the communicationally equipment automatically reconfigured if changes are detected. Different sets of comparator circuitry can be utilized to compare the voltages observed at known inputs to known thresholds of different communicational types to automatically detect the communicational type being utilized by existing equipment to which the newly-connected equipment is communicationally coupled.

Abstract: A communication device includes: a communication section that transmits and receives a message in a network; an acquisition unit that acquires state information on a state of an object for which the network is provided; an estimation unit that estimates the state of the object based on the state information acquired in the acquisition unit; a setting unit that sets a filtering rule based on the state estimated in the estimation unit; and a filter unit that executes filtering processing for the message in accordance with the filtering rule set in the setting unit.

Abstract: The invention is a system for interfacing mobile phones with an on-board diagnostic computer in a vehicle, wherein the on-board diagnostic computer monitors a set of operational characteristics of a vehicle. The information derived from this system will be processed on the mobile phone coupled with additional information and displayed on the mobile phone's screen, while simultaneously transmitting this information over the internet to be stored in a database.

Abstract: Door access control methods with two types of identifications use at least one of a biological unlocking identification and a non-biological unlocking identification. The first type of identification and the second type of identification can be used independently or jointly to control the locking state of a door access device correlated to a door access system.

Abstract: A system for determining a remaining useful life of a cooling component operatively connected to a prime mover. A controller performs a thermal strain analysis that includes determining the power output of the prime mover based upon sensor signals, determining a temperature output of the prime mover based upon the power output, determining a temperature at each of the plurality of analysis locations based upon the temperature output, determining a temperature difference based upon the temperature at each respective one of the plurality of analysis locations, and determining a thermal strain based upon the temperature difference. The controller repeats the thermal strain analysis at time intervals over a period of time, determines an accumulated damage for the cooling component based upon the thermal strain from each thermal strain analysis, and determines a remaining useful life of the cooling component based upon the material characteristics and the accumulated damage.

Abstract: A method for reducing the steering torque in a steering system of a vehicle. A method including the steps of monitoring a driver's torque as applied by a driver of the vehicle; providing a plurality of torques that can be imposed on the steering system; and reducing the torques that can be imposed on the steering system by a central reduction factor if monitoring of the steering system reveals a violation of a safety criterion.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides for an exemplary inventive system that includes at least the following components: an electronic control unit having a service oriented architecture (SOA ECU), where the SOA ECU includes: at least one exemplary inventive SOA server; where the SOA ECU is located within a vehicle; where the at least one SOA server is configured to provide at least one service to at least one client ECU that is located within the vehicle; and where the at least one SOA server is configured to assign at least one dedicated processing resource and at least one dedicated memory resource to provide the at least one service.

Abstract: A method and a device locate wheels of a vehicle, according to which method at least one wheel has wheel electronics. In accordance with the method, a signal is received on the vehicle side by the wheel electronics, which signal allows conclusions to be drawn about a point in time at which the wheel assumed a first rotation angle position. The signal contains a plurality of packets. At least one time interval between the packets is determined, and at least one estimated value for the at least one time interval is provided on the basis of the at least one determined time interval.

Abstract: A method includes collecting a data for a time from sensors to a fixed monitoring system. The fixed monitoring system is fixedly coupled to a turbo-machinery and the sensors are configured to monitor the turbo-machinery, also, the time comprises at least one week. The method also includes recovering the data by coupling a portable machinery monitor to the fixed monitoring system and retrieving the data into the portable machinery monitor. The method also includes analyzing the data to determine one or more machinery conditions. The analyzing the data comprises analyzing the data via the portable machinery monitor, an external system, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: One or more braking event detection computing devices and methods are disclosed herein based on fused sensor data collected during a window of time from various sensors of a mobile device found within an interior of a vehicle. The various sensors of the mobile device may include a GPS receiver, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a microphone, a camera, and a magnetometer. Data from vehicle sensors and other external systems may also be used. The braking event detection computing devices may adjust the polling frequency of the GPS receiver of the mobile device to capture non-consecutive data points based on the speed of the vehicle, the battery status of the mobile device, traffic-related information, and weather-related information. The braking event detection computing devices may use classification machine learning algorithms on the fused sensor data to determine whether or not to classify a window of time as a braking event.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for monitoring a vehicle operator and for monitoring the environment of a vehicle operator. In particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for determining a physical position of an operator within a vehicle and for determining environmental conditions surrounding the vehicle operator. The systems may include at least one of: an image sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a microphone or a combination or sub-combination thereof. The methods may determine a position and/or an orientation of a vehicle operator's head, arms, hands, legs, feet, etc., a combination thereof or a sub-combination thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for processing requests for vehicular data, including receiving a vehicle request for a vehicle parameter from a client system (e.g., third party application); verifying client access to the vehicle parameter; determining one or more parameter values for the requested vehicle parameter; and transmitting the one or more parameter values to the client system.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a vehicle includes a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically, and capable of receiving a program to be written into the nonvolatile memory in units of a predetermined size by means of communication using a communication buffer. The electronic control unit for the vehicle uses communication buffers, the number of which is greater than the number of communication buffers used in an in-vehicle communication environment, to receive the program.

Abstract: An electrical infrastructure system and method of use of the system for a vehicle. There are several electronic control units (ECU) for one or several functional units (30n) for the vehicle. The ECUs are connected through a network (32). The infrastructure system is configured to implement a state map including various operational states Sn that the vehicle can adopt. These operational states are connected by one or several transitions Tn, where the transition from one operational state to another depends on predetermined transition conditions being satisfied. The infrastructure system is configured to receive one or several input signals (34) to at least one ECU, comprising parameter values that represent events. The at least one ECU is configured to analyze the input signals with the aid of the transition conditions, to determine an operational state, and to make the operational state that has been determined available on the network (32).

Abstract: A maintenance device for a construction machine includes: an abnormality detection means for detecting abnormality of an apparatus installed on the construction machine; an abnormality information output means for outputting abnormality information about the apparatus detected by the abnormality detection means; and a maintenance mode setting means for setting a maintenance mode for performing a maintenance work of the apparatus, wherein the abnormality information output means for eliminating negation or output of the information, if any abnormality of the apparatus is detected in a state in which the maintenance mode is set by the maintenance mode setting means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system comprising a main electrical unit (2) and a peripheral electrical unit (3, 4,5), wherein the main electrical unit and the peripheral electrical unit are switchable between a low-power mode and a high-power mode. The main electrical unit is adapted to hand over a control of the system to the peripheral electrical unit, if the peripheral electrical unit is in the high-power mode, and to switch from the high-power mode to the low-power mode, after the control has been handed over. The peripheral electrical unit is adapted to receive the control from the main electrical unit and to control the system, if the peripheral electrical unit is in the high-power mode. This allows the system to be still in operation mode, although the main electrical unit has been switched to the low-power mode, thereby reducing the power consumption of the system.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processing device programmed to determine an ignition state and a vehicle speed. The processing device powers at least one vehicle subsystem if the ignition state is off and the vehicle speed is above a predetermined threshold. The processing device may disable the vehicle subsystem when the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a data bus system of a motor vehicle having data bus segments, at least one of the data bus segments is designed to switch from an active state to a rest state and vice versa. In a first step, a communication requirement is detected of a first control device of a first data bus segment in the rest state. If a communication requirement of the first control device is detected, the first data bus segment is brought from the rest state into the active state. If a communication requirement of the first control device with a second control device outside of the first data bus segment is detected, all other data bus segments of the data bus system outside of the first data bus segment that are in the rest state are additionally activated across the board.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system and a related computer-executed method of locating a source of a ground offset in a network of electronic devices interconnected by a communication bus. An exemplary method detects signal voltages on the communication bus that are indicative of a ground offset condition, and saves voltage timestamps for the detected signal voltages such that each detected signal voltage has a respective voltage timestamp. Message timestamps are added to messages on the communication bus, such that each message has a respective message timestamp. The message timestamps are compared against the voltage timestamps to identify at least one of the electronic devices as a ground offset source.

Abstract: An electronic control unit has a main controller that controls a drive of an actuator and a life-extending control instruction section that requests the main controller to change a drive condition of the actuator. The life-extending control instruction section includes a failure estimator that updates and outputs a failure rate based on a state of a control object, a life-extending control database that stores a failure rate reduction control of a monitoring object including the actuator, which reduces the failure rate of the monitoring object, when a failure of the monitoring object is estimated, and a control selector that searches the life-extending control database and selects a candidate control based on the failure rate of the monitoring object outputted from the failure estimator. The control selector requests the main control section to perform a life-extending control that changes an operation condition of the actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle electronic control device having a first microcomputer and a second microcomputer connected to an in-vehicle network. The first microcomputer includes a process load level detecting unit that detects a process load level of the first microcomputer, a table in which the process load level is associated with data identification information, and a reception data reducing unit that, in a case where the process load level becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold level, stops receiving one or more data which the first microcomputer has received before the process load level becomes greater than or equal to the first threshold value.

Abstract: A first network device determines whether a first reference code included in at least a first transmission on a communication channel is associated with a code configured in the first network device. The communication channel is shared among a plurality of communication networks and the first reference code is associated with a first communication network of the plurality of communication networks. The first network device joins the first communication network associated with the first reference code in response to determining the first reference code is associated with the code configured in the first network device. The first network device communicates with a second network device in the first communication network using the code configured in the first network device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure presents a method for managing a reference face database to improve face recognition performance under a restricted memory environment, said method comprising: acquiring a new input face image; determining a classification condition corresponding to the input face image with reference to classification conditions of existing registered face images of a reference face database used for face recognition; and if the classification condition corresponding to the input face image is a specific classification condition and the value of the face image corresponding to the specific classification condition in the reference face database is less than a preset threshold value, selecting the input face image as an image that can be additionally registered to the reference face database.

Abstract: A tire condition sensing apparatus includes a tire-based sensor for sensing two relative rotational positions of its associated tire relative to the earth's horizon as the tire rotates and provides first and second signals indicative thereof. A transmitter for transmits tire condition information and a signal processing time delay value in response to the first and second signals. A vehicle-based sensor monitors tire rotation relative to the vehicle's chassis and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller for monitors the transmitted tire condition information signal, the signal processing time delay value, and the signal from the vehicle-based sensor and associates tire location in response thereto.

Abstract: A gateway device includes a request receiving portion, a request storage, a request conversion portion, a request transmitting portion, a response receiving portion, a response storage, a response conversion portion, and a response transmitting portion. When receiving, from a first diagnosis purpose tool, a diagnosis request for performing a malfunction diagnosis to an ECU equipped to a vehicle, the gateway device relays a diagnosis request and a diagnosis response between the first diagnosis purpose tool and the ECU. When receiving, from a second diagnosis purpose tool, a diagnosis request for performing a malfunction diagnosis to the ECU equipped to the vehicle, the gateway device relays a diagnosis request and a diagnosis response between the second diagnosis purpose tool and the ECU after converting identification informations of the diagnosis request and the diagnosis response.

Abstract: A method and system for performing diagnostics or software maintenance on a vehicle comprises recording high-fidelity data at the vehicle consistent with configuration files to support engineering analysis or diagnostics on vehicle components, systems or performance. Supplemental data is retrieved via a low bandwidth transmission at the vehicle to supplement the recorded high-fidelity data. The recorded high-fidelity data and retrieved supplemental data is processed to generate a diagnostic status report message from transmission to the central electronic data processing system. A data processor or central electronic data processing system organizes the diagnostic report message, the recorded high fidelity data and the retrieved supplemental data into a data mart or diagnostics database to support engineering analysis or diagnostics on vehicle components, systems or performance.

Abstract: In a wheel position detecting device, a first controlling section of a transmitter transmits a frame when an increasing or decreasing direction of values of gravitational acceleration components included in detection signals of an acceleration sensor, which is detected at predetermined intervals, is continuously the same direction. A second controlling section of a receiver acquires gear information indicating a teeth position of gears in accordance with the detection signal of wheel speed sensors, and performs the wheel position detection in accordance with gear information at a reception timing of the frame.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which maintenance vehicles collect information from sensors and operators, forward the collected information to a server, and, in response, receive maps and operator instructions.

Abstract: A tire condition sensing apparatus includes a tire-based sensor for sensing two relative rotational positions of its associated tire relative to the earth's horizon as the tire rotates and provides first and second signals indicative thereof. A transmitter for transmits tire condition information and a signal processing time delay value in response to the first and second signals. A vehicle-based sensor monitors tire rotation relative to the vehicle's chassis and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller for monitors the transmitted tire condition information signal, the signal processing time delay value, and the signal from the vehicle-based sensor and associates tire location in response thereto.

Abstract: A system includes a contactor system, a vehicle control unit, and a fault diagnostic system. The contactor system includes one or more contactors. The vehicle control unit is coupled to the contactor system via a first connection and a second connection. The vehicle control unit is configured to provide a controlling signal to the contactor system through at least one of the first connection and the second connection to control the one or more contactors. The fault diagnostic system is configured to identify faults occurring in the first connection and the second connection. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for monitoring the function of a safety monitoring system of a control unit of an actuator system of a motor vehicle, wherein it is checked by the function monitoring whether the safety monitoring is performed faultlessly, wherein the safety monitoring is carried out by a first monitoring entity and the function monitoring is carried out by a second monitoring entity, wherein the first monitoring entity sends a result of the safety monitoring as an information item to the second monitoring entity at defined time intervals, wherein the first monitoring entity and the second monitoring entity are free of a common interface, wherein the information item is received by the second monitoring entity by utilizing an interface between the second monitoring entity and the control unit, and wherein the information item is coded in a format which cannot be interpreted by the control unit.

Abstract: A tread wear indicator is affixed to a respective tire tread element. The indicator is constructed as a plurality of radially stacked sensor elements operatively configured and located to sequentially sacrificially abrade and change in electrical resistance responsive to a progressive tread wear of the respective tread element. The sensor elements are connected by circuitry that communicates a data signal from the sensor elements to a data processor indicative of a change in cumulative resistivity of the sensor elements. The data processor receives the data signal from the sensor elements and determines a radial wear level of the tread element based on the data signal. Multiple tread wear indicators may be mounted to respective tread lugs across the tread to derive a tread wear status based upon the tread wear profiles of the respective lugs.

Abstract: A tire condition sensing apparatus includes a tire-based sensor for sensing two relative rotational positions of its associated tire relative to the earth's horizon as the tire rotates and provides first and second signals indicative thereof. A transmitter for transmits tire condition information and a signal processing time delay value in response to the first and second signals. A vehicle-based sensor monitors tire rotation relative to the vehicle's chassis and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller for monitors the transmitted tire condition information signal, the signal processing time delay value, and the signal from the vehicle-based sensor and associates tire location in response thereto.

Abstract: A system for real-time measurement of vehicle performance. The system can include at least one sensor module mounted on a rotating member of the vehicle and a central module disposed in the vehicle. The sensor module can include a plurality of sensors communicatively coupled to a microcontroller, at least one wireless communications device communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, and a power source. The central module can include a central processor, memory, a central wireless communications device communicatively coupled to the central processor and to the at least one wireless communications device of the sensor module. The rotating member of the vehicle can be a wheel, a brake rotor, or a torsion disc disposed between an axle of the vehicle and a wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method in one example embodiment includes identifying a power state and a battery level of a vehicle. The method also includes allocating power to critical applications (for example) in response to determining that the battery level is above a reserve threshold while the power state of the vehicle is engine-off. The method also includes allocating remaining power in excess of the reserve threshold to non-critical applications according to a power management policy. The power management policy may comprise at least one of a user power preference index and an application power preference index.

Abstract: A vehicle behavior data storage control system is disclosed. The system includes a storage control device and an electronic control unit (ECU). The storage control device determines whether or not an unexpected behavior has occurred based on a behavior data. When the ECU determines that a change in the behavior data is attributed to control performed by the ECU, the ECU transmits a determination result to an in-vehicle network. At a time when the storage control device determines that the unexpected behavior has occurred, the storage control device records the behavior data at this time in the memory. When determining that the unexpected behavior relates to the control performed by the ECU, the storage control device deletes or permits overwriting the behavior data stored in the memory.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing failsafe conditions. One method includes receiving, at a processor, a message transmitted over a vehicle bus, wherein the message includes a data field. The method further includes accessing at least one data attribute included in a database file associated with the vehicle bus. The at least one data attribute includes at least one of (a) a safety critical attribute, (b) an automotive safety integrity level attribute, (c) a maturation time attribute, (d) a warning indicator attribute, and (e) a diagnostic trouble code attribute. The method also includes converting the data field based on the at least one data attribute.