New Open Source Software Simplifies Remote-Access Communications

April 13, 2016

Terry Costlow

Genivi’s new RVI software will handle routine aspects of communication with external devices, Kevin Walworth told the SAE Congress audience. (Terry Costlow)

Design engineers who want to focus on high level functions are increasingly turning to open source software modules that can handle mundane tasks. The Genivi Alliance is expanding its efforts to provide this type of standard Linux-based software to include remote access.

The Alliance moved quickly to develop its Remote Vehicle Interaction (RVI) software, which handles tasks involved with various connectivity links. A work group was established only last October, and a demonstration will show how it works with a smart watch, a personal computer and a home network.

Kyle Walworth, Chair of the Genivi Alliance, described the project in a Technical Expert Discussion at the 2016 SAE World Congress, titled "Continuous Software Integration – Interacting With Connected Cars."

“We wanted to standardize and implement core connectivity protocols and services between the in-vehicle infotainment system and remote entities,” Walworth said. “The committee created a transport protocol that interacts with services on and off board.”

The RVI module handles tasks including provisioning for turning things on or off, over the air updates, security and remote controls. The software was designed to support a range of communications protocols and that communications would occur without failures.

“This is abstracted from the communications layer,” Walworth said. “It has the ability to prioritize functions, infotainment features can have a lower priority than powertrain, for example. Ultimately, it will work in multi-protocol environments."

That’s important, he noted, because OEMs all use different versions of protocols and the software will have to work with different implementations of CAN, Ethernet, MOST and other networks.

The RVI module will address consumer and OEMs alike. For consumers, it gives vehicle owners the ability to create a virtual key that can be put on a smart phone. An owner can create a time-limited key to allow a friend to use a vehicle for the weekend, Walworth explained.

On the OEM side, the module helps the system gather data from the vehicles networks and transfer it using the RVI. OEMs can collect this information and use it as part of a big data program to analyze vehicle usage and performance, then feed it back to design teams so they can improve next generation vehicles, Walworth explained.