Vehicular Commerce: Applications

CIS 8401 – Spring 2007

Bill Blaney

Introduction

What is “vehicular commerce”? What is a vehicle?

“any means in or by which someone travels or something is carried or conveyed; a means of conveyance or transport: a motor vehicle; space vehicles.” [1]

Some have indicated that the term “vehicular commerce” should apply only when using the “computing and communications functions of a vehicle” [2].

A broader definition

“Vehicular Commerce” also needs to include applications that relate to the existence of vehicular movement (not necessarily using the computing or communications capabilities of the vehicle itself).

GPS! While GPS has many more uses than just in vehicles,

we cannot ignore the prevalence of GPS applications meant for vehicles (e.g. mapping, routing, POI, LBS, weather updates).

Types of Vehicular Commerce Applications

GPS-based Applications Vehicle Statistics/Diagnostics Applications Vehicle Convenience/Safety Applications Vehicle-based Payment Facilitation

Applications Mobile Hot-Spots Other

GPS-based

Mapping/Routing (iGuidance)

Points of Interest / Location Based Services

Weather Updates

Traffic Updates (Garmin)

Tracking / Logging (http://www.gpsinsight.com)

Bonus fun item (not commercial, but it is vehicular…and cool!): GPS drawing (http://www.gpsdrawing.com/)

Vehicle Statistics/Diagnostics

GM’s OnStar Service – Diagnostics GM Animation Sample Email

Takes OBD to the next level!

Vehicle Convenience/Safety

GM’s OnStar Service Airbag Deployment Notification Remote Door Unlock Hands-Free Calling (Verizon option) Remote Horn & Lights Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance Turn-By-Turn Navigation Plans and Services

Vehicle-based Payment Facilitation

Tolls (CruiseCard – RFID) Parking (

Ad hoc sensor network integrated with text messaging)

Wireless RFID Parking Meters Pay-By-Cell Parking Meters

Mobile Hot-Spots

Products already exist! TracNet InMotion Technology “Roll your own” (Make Magazine)

Other

Vehicle-To-Vehicle ad hoc networks Low “contact time” and narrow spectrum

make this a “future” item [2] What about other Bluetooth applications?

Lots of hands-free headsets, little else Any other applications the class knows

about?

Economic Viability and Business Models

OnStar subscription model is by far the best example I could find.

GPS is a part of daily life, but it’s free. Related services are the key.

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication is a big question mark.

The Future

Leverage cellular wireless networks (2G, 3G) and wireless protocols

Bluetooth RFID Approach other technologies with caution

(do we really need other standards/technologies to move forward with vehicular commerce?)

References

1.) "vehicle." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 24 Apr. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vehicle>.

2.) Varshney et. al. Vehicular Mobile Commerce: Applications, Challenges, and Research Problems. CAIS. 2005(?).