Inter-network messaging for mobile computing platforms
View Patent ↗The present disclosure generally relates to one or more methods for organizing a plurality of remote units or mobile computing platform (MCPs) associated with vehicles such that the remote units or MCPs may communicate with each other, for example, without routing messages via the backend server. In some aspects, the remote units or MCPs may initiate the process by transmitting an awake and/or ready message to the server. The message may indicate the state of the remote unit or MCP and provide communication establishment information of the remote unit or MCP. Accordingly, the server may maintain a list of remote units or MCPs that are awake and configured for inter-network communication. In some aspects, the server may periodically distribute the compiled list of active MCPs, such that one remote unit or MCP may establish direct peer-to-peer (P2P) communication with one or more other remote units or MCPs in a fleet.
1. A method for supporting communications between mobile computing platforms associated with a fleet of vehicles, comprising:
receiving, over a communications network and at a network management center, a ready message from a first mobile computing platform, the ready message indicating that the first mobile computing platform is ready to communicate with at least one other mobile computing platform via direct peer-to-peer (P2P) communications;
receiving, over the communications network and at the network management center, one or more corresponding awake messages from one or more other active mobile computing platforms and an awake message from the first mobile computing platform at least once in a time period, wherein:
the one or more corresponding awake messages from the one or more other active mobile computing platforms indicate that the one or more other active mobile computing platform is in a state for communicating with other mobile computing platforms via direct P2P communications.
the awake message from the first mobile computing platform indicates that the first mobile computing platform is in a state for communicating with other mobile computing platforms, and
the awake message from the one or more other active mobile computing platforms or the awake message from the first mobile computing platform includes an internet protocol (IP) address of the first mobile computing platform, location information of the mobile computing platform, driver identification information associated with the mobile computing platform, and a type of the mobile computing platform;
compiling, at the network management center, a list of active mobile computing platforms configured for inter-network messaging based on the ready message received from the first mobile computing platform and the one or more corresponding awake messages received from the one or more other active mobile computing platforms
receiving, over the communications network and at the network management center, a query command from the first mobile computing platform or the at least one other mobile computing platform, the query command comprising at least one parameter for identifying active computing platforms in the compiled list of active mobile computing platforms-based on the at least one parameter;
identifying a list of active mobile computing platforms in a group based on the at least one parameter and the compiled list, wherein the identified list identifies active mobile computing platforms for direct P2P communications; and
disseminating, over the communications network, the identified list of the active mobile computing platforms in the group to the first mobile computing platform or the at least one other mobile computing platform based on the query command, wherein the first mobile computing platform or the at least one other mobile computing platform are enabled to perform direct P2P communications in response to receipt of the identified list,
wherein receiving the query command is received subsequently to receiving the ready message.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ready message includes at least one of an internet protocol (IP) address of the first mobile computing platform, location information of the first mobile computing platform, driver identification information associated with the first mobile computing platform, or a type of the first mobile, computing platform.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing platforms are configured to communicate with other mobile computing platforms via a Wi-Fi network, a cellular network, or a satellite network.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identified list of active mobile computing platforms is smaller than the compiled list of active mobile computing platforms.
5. An apparatus for supporting communications between mobile computing platforms, comprising:
a processor;
a memory in communication with the processor, the memory including instructions executed by the processor to:
receive, over a communications network and at a network management center, a ready message from a first mobile computing platform, the ready message indicating that the first mobile computing platform is ready to communicate with at least one other mobile computing platform via direct peer-to-peer (P2P) communications;
receive, over the communications network and at the network management center, one or more corresponding awake messages from one or more other active mobile computing platforms and an awake message from the first mobile computing platform at least once in a time period, wherein:
the one or more corresponding awake messages from the one or more other active mobile computing platforms indicate that the one or more other active mobile computing platform is in a state for communicating with other mobile computing platforms via direct P2P communications,
the awake message from the first mobile computing platform indicates that the first mobile computing platform is in a state for communicating with other mobile computing platforms, and
the awake message from the one or more other active mobile computing platforms or the awake message from the first mobile computing platform includes an internet protocol (IP) address of the first mobile computing platform, location information of the mobile computing platform, driver identification information associated with the mobile computing platform, and a type of the mobile computing platform;
compile, at the network management center, a list of active mobile computing platforms configured for inter-network messaging based on the ready message received from the first mobile computing platform and the one or more corresponding awake messages received from the one or more other active mobile computing platforms;
receive, over the communications network and at the network management center, a query command from the first mobile computing platform or the at least one other mobile computing platform, the query command comprising at least one parameter for identifying active computing platforms in the compiled list of active of active mobile computing platforms based on the at least one parameter;
identifying a list of active mobile computing platforms in a group based on the at least one parameter and the compiled list, wherein the identified list, identifies active mobile computing platforms for direct P2P communications; and
disseminate, over the communications network, the identified list of the active mobile computing platforms in a group to the first mobile computing platform or the at least one other mobile computing, platform based on the query command, wherein the first mobile computing platform or the at least one other mobile computing platform are enabled to perform direct P2P communications in response to receipt of the identified list,
wherein receiving the query command is received subsequently to receiving the ready message.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the, ready message includes at least one of an internet protocol (IP) address of the first mobile computing platform, location information of the first mobile computing platform, driver identification information associated with the first mobile computing platform, or a type of the first mobile computing platform.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the mobile computing platforms are configured to communicate with other mobile computing platforms via a Wi-Fi network, a cellular network, or a satellite network.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the identified list of active mobile computing platforms is smaller than the compiled list of active mobile computing platforms.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon for wireless communication, the instructions comprising:
code for receiving, over a communications network and at a network management center, a ready message from a first mobile computing platform, the ready message indicating that the first mobile computing platform is ready to communicate with at least one other mobile computing platform via direct peer-to-peer (P2P) communications;
code for receiving, over the communications network and at the network management center, one or more corresponding awake messages from one or more other active mobile computing platforms and an awake message from the first mobile computing platform at least once in a time period, wherein:
the one or more corresponding awake messages from the one or more other active mobile computing platforms indicate that the one or more other active mobile computing platform is in a state for communicating with other mobile computing platforms via direct P2P communications,
the awake message from the first mobile computing platform indicates that the first mobile computing platform is in a state for communicating with other mobile computing platforms, and
the awake message from the one or more other active mobile computing platforms or the awake message from the first mobile computing platform includes an Internet protocol (IP) address of the first mobile computing platform, location information of the mobile computing platform, driver identification information associated with the mobile computing platform, and a type of the mobile computing platform;
code for compiling, at the network management center, a list of active mobile computing platforms configured for inter-network messaging based on the ready message and the one or more corresponding awake messages received from the one or more other active mobile computing platforms;
code for receiving, over the communications network and at the network management center, a query command from the first mobile computing platform or the at least one other mobile computing platform, the query command comprising at least one parameter for identifying active computing platforms in the compiled list of active mobile computing platforms based on the at least one parameter;
code for identifying a list of active mobile computing platforms in the group based on the at least one parameter and the complied list, wherein the identified list identifies active mobile computing platforms for direct P2P communications; and
code for disseminating, over the communications network, the list of the active mobile computing platforms in the group to the first mobile computing platform or the at least one other mobile computing platform based on the query command wherein the first mobile computing platform or the at least one other mobile computing platform are enabled to perform direct P2P communications in response to receipt of the identified list,
wherein receiving the query command is received subsequently to receiving the ready message.
10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the ready message includes at least one of an internet protocol (IP) address of the first mobile computing platform, location it nation of the first mobile computing platform, driver identification information associated with the first mobile computing platform, or a type of the first mobile computing platform.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the mobile computing platforms are configured to communicate with other mobile computing, platforms via a Wi-Fi network, a cellular network, or a satellite network.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the identified list of active mobile computing platforms is smaller than the compiled list of active mobile computing platforms.