Vehicle Telematics Platform Using Multipath TCP

The problem that we are trying to solve is how an application on telematics platform can utilize multiple network interfaces available in different electronic control units (ECU’s) in the vehicle efficiently. Although this appears to be a similar problem facing the application on the smartphone, it differs considerably in many scenarios and needs. When the vehicle is in motion, network interface availability is transient; this poses unique challenges for utilizing the available networks effectively. And also vehicle employs a power mode strategy to ensure that the battery is not drained, implying time available after ignition-off is limited. To address seamless connectivity for automotive platforms that are generally supported with multiple network interfaces, we are considering Multipath TCP (MPTCP). With the support of MPTCP, applications on telematics module can take advantage of being able to use multiple interfaces for seamless vertical handover, larger bandwidth and also to send data redundantly on multiple network interfaces. This helps in providing a high quality ubiquitous connectivity for an automotive connectivity platform.