US 12,263,848 B2
Methods and structures to extend vehicle connectivity
Andrew J. MacDonald, Grosse Pointe Park, MI (US); Dipankar Pal, Sylvania, OH (US); Russell A. Patenaude, Macomb Township, MI (US); Matthew E. Gilbert-Eyres, Rochester, MI (US); Eric T. Hosey, Royal Oak, MI (US); and Venkata Naga Siva Vikas Vemuri, Famington Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/889,515.
Prior Publication US 2024/0059298 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. B60W 40/09 (2012.01); H04W 4/46 (2018.01)
CPC B60W 40/09 (2013.01) [H04W 4/46 (2018.02); B60W 2540/30 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of extending connectivity of a recipient vehicle, comprising:
during an ignition off state of the recipient vehicle, disabling a recipient cellular network access device (NAD) of the recipient vehicle;
connecting the recipient vehicle to a low power communications source, the low power communications source including a recipient Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) device located within the recipient vehicle;
and
communicating with a centralized location over the low power communications source on behalf of the recipient vehicle, via a donor NAD and a donor BLE device of a donor vehicle, wherein the donor vehicle is located proximate the recipient vehicle.