Apple patent involves vehicle-to-everything communication system

Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. Apple has been granted a patent (number 11,076,318) for “vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication authorization in Fifth Generation (5G) systems. It involves plans for such a vehicle to be able to easily communicate with other Apple Cars, iPhones, and Apple Watches.

About the patent

Admittedly, he patent filing could simply involve future features in CarPlay devices. CarPlay provides a simplified way to use your iPhone interface on a car’s touch screen, giving users access to Siri voice controls, as well as Apple Maps, Apple Music, Phone, Messages, and a variety of third party apps. 

Either way the patent filing involves vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications —  automobile technologies designed to allow automobiles to communicate with each other and with other devices (e.g., pedestrian smartphones and traffic lights). Apple says these technologies have the potential to redefine transportation by providing real-time, highly reliable, and actionable information flows to enable safety, mobility and environmental applications. Additionally, these techniques may pave the way to connected and automated driving (CAD). 

Summary of the patent

Here’s Apple’s (very technical) abstract of the patent: “One or more techniques of authorizing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) in a wireless network are set forth herein. In one example, during an initial registration procedure or an attach procedure, a UE includes its fifth generation (5G) V2X capability in a Non Access Stratum (NAS) message to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). 

“The MME or the AMF stores this information and determines whether the UE is capable of or authorized to use V2X communication subscription information received from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) or a Unified Data Management (UDM). If the UE is authorized, the MME or the AMF includes the V2X services authorized in a message from the MME or the AMF to an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) or a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG RAN).”

When can we expect an Apple Car?

The status of an Apple auto is unclear. On June 2, Bloomberg reported that Apple has lost “several” top managers from its “Apple Car” project. Here’s what the report says: Apple Inc. has lost multiple top managers of its self-driving car team in recent months, a sign of attrition at the division involved in what could become an important future product.

If an Apple Car ever arrives, it probably won’t arrive until 2024 at the earliest. In fact, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo doesn’t expect it until at least 2025.