Vehicle-based and smartphone-based “connected-vehicle” services have already been reaching the commercial market over the past two years, primarily utilizing commercial cellular networks as the communications platform. However, constraints associated with commercial wireless networks (latencies, dependencies, etc.) will prohibit utilization of commercial wireless networks as a sole source for all connected vehicle services. Therefore, one can envision a hybrid network architecture consisting of dedicated short range communications (DSRC) and commercial wireless networks (3G/4G). As a result, one sizeable question remains: how will the two communications platforms be fused to provide a homogenous, connected vehicle platform.
Essentially, DSRC will be designated for time-sensitive, mission critical functions, with commercial networks relegated to less time-critical and safety-sensitive services, yet provide the overarching data and information network, including data warehousing and third-party application development. The following graphic represents a conceptual draft, high-level prototype of a hybrid communications network architecture for the connected vehicle platform, with some of the preliminary service designations assigned below. As always, I strongly encourage comment.
