IP Library Granted Patent US 12683936
Granted Patent B2
US 12683936 · App. 18/591,246 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Communication with in-vehicle data communication module using network tunnel based on user selection

Inventor: Koji Takeoka (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H04L63/029H04W4/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12683936
App. No.
18/591,246
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A communication device communicating with an in-vehicle terminal includes a control unit that performs: authentication based on authentication information that the communication device receives from the in-vehicle terminal by using a tunnel established on an access network selected from among a plurality of access networks available for communication between the in-vehicle terminal and the communication device; and, when the authentication succeeds, routing of data received from the in-vehicle terminal.

Claims (34)

1 . A communication computer configured to communicate with a data communication module (DCM) through a telecommunications carrier network and a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) network, the communication computer comprising a first processor that includes a gateway connected to an internet, an authentication unit configured to authenticate authentication information data, and a routing unit,

the DCM being mounted in a vehicle and including a second processor, a user interface, a first subscriber identity module (SIM), and a second SIM,

the first SIM storing first authentication information data of the DCM,

the second SIM storing second authentication information data of the DCM,

the telecommunications carrier network being contracted by a user of the vehicle and configured to authenticate the first authentication information data,

the MVNO network being connected to the internet, and

the second processor being configured to

determine whether the telecommunications carrier network or the MVNO network is selected by the user through the user interface,

establish a first communication channel between the DCM and the communication computer via the telecommunications carrier network in response to the determination that the telecommunications carrier network is selected by the user,

transmit the first authentication information data to the telecommunications carrier network,

establish an IPsec tunnel between the DCM and the gateway over the MVNO network and the internet only in response to the determination that the MVNO network is selected by the user,

transmit the second authentication information data to the gateway through the IPsec tunnel, wherein

the first processor is configured to

cause the routing unit to perform routing of data between the DCM and a server in response to an authentication of the first authentication information data succeeding in the telecommunications carrier network and a second communication channel between the DCM and the routing unit being established by the telecommunications carrier network,

cause the gateway to transmit the second authentication information data to the authentication unit only in response to the MVNO network being selected by the user and the IPsec tunnel being established,

cause the authentication unit to authenticate the second authentication information data, and

cause the routing unit to perform routing of the data between the DCM and the server in response to an authentication of the second authentication information data succeeding.

2 . A combination of a communication computer, a data communication module (DCM), a telecommunications carrier network, and a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) network, the combination comprising:

the communication computer including a first processor that includes a gateway connected to an internet, an authentication unit configured to authenticate authentication information data, and a routing unit;

the DCM mounted in a vehicle and including a second processor, a user interface, a first subscriber identity module (SIM), and a second SIM, the first SIM storing first authentication information data of the DCM, and the second SIM storing second authentication information data of the DCM;

the telecommunications carrier network contracted by a user of the vehicle and configured to authenticate the first authentication information data; and

the MVNO network connected to the internet, wherein

the second processor is configured to

determine whether the telecommunications carrier network or the MVNO network is selected by the user through the user interface,

establish a first communication channel between the DCM and the communication computer via the telecommunications carrier network in response to the determination that the telecommunications carrier network is selected by the user,

transmit the first authentication information data to the telecommunications carrier network,

establish an IPsec tunnel between the DCM and the gateway over the MVNO network and the internet only in response to the determination that the MVNO network is selected by the user, and

transmit the second authentication information data to the gateway through the IPsec tunnel, and

the first processor is configured to

cause the routing unit to perform routing of data between the DCM and a server in response to an authentication of the first authentication information data succeeding in the telecommunications carrier network and a second communication channel between the DCM and the routing unit being established by the telecommunications carrier network,

cause the gateway to transmit the second authentication information data to the authentication unit,

cause the authentication unit to authenticate the second authentication information data, and

cause the routing unit to perform routing of the data between the DCM and the server in response to an authentication of the second authentication information data succeeding.

3 . The combination according to claim 2 , wherein the first processor is further configured to reject data that is not transmitted from the communication computer.