Optimizing usage of modems for data delivery to devices on vehicles

摘要

Techniques for optimizing modem use for data delivery to vehicles that are near to or parked at ports include using a high-capacity forward communications link, in a first frequency band, to support a logical forward link of a data tunnel via which data is delivered between a data provider and the vehicle. Instead of using the reverse communications link of the first frequency band, though, a reverse communications link in a different frequency band is used to support the reverse logical link of the data tunnel, as reverse data typically requires less bandwidth. Thus, the forward communications link is used in a high-throughput, unidirectional manner. Forward data may be multiplexed and/or multicast, and in some cases, multiple forward communications links may be used in parallel to support the logical forward link of the data tunnel.

主权项

1. A method of for optimizing modem usage on a vehicle, comprising:
determining, at a processor that is fixedly connected to the vehicle, that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states, each of the plurality of port states being indicative of the vehicle being located proximate to a vehicle port; based on the determination that the vehicle is in the one of the plurality of port states, causing, by the processor, a first modem that is (i) operating in a bi-directional mode, (ii) fixedly connected to the vehicle, and (iii) turned to a first frequency band to be in a receive-only state; causing an establishment of a first wireless communication link at the first modem in the receive-only state; causing, by the processor, a second wireless communication link to be established at a second modem that is fixedly connected to the vehicle and that is tuned to a second frequency band, the second wireless communication link being established between the second modem and a transceiver that is fixedly connected to a structure external to and separate from the vehicle; using the first wireless communication link as a forward link over which first data is able to be received onto the vehicle while the vehicle is in the one of the plurality of port states; and using the second wireless communication link as a reverse link, corresponding to the forward link and having a maximum bandwidth less than a maximum bandwidth of the forward link, over which second data is able to be transmitted from the vehicle while the vehicle is in the one of the plurality of port states.