TABLE OF CONTENTS Telematics refers to the combination of wireless communication, onboard electronics, and information technologies in the context of integrated automobile and freight information system. Conventional telematics systems on high-end vehicles use GPS and other in-vehicle sensing devices to remotely track a vehicle, monitor its operation, conduct mechanical or electronic diagnostics, and provide navigation and emergency assistance for the driver. Newer telematics systems make better use of wireless communication capabilities to deliver a wide range of personalized content onto a liquid-crystal display (LCD) or a built-in radio speaker in a vehicle.
Below is a list of telematics system either already in use or being developed:
In-vehicle road assistance, such as emergency service when a car breaks down; lock and unlock doors; provide maps and turn-by-turn navigation.
Vehicular diagnostics and enhanced safety such as real-time and offline remote vehicle diagnostic services; vehicle maintenance alerts; mobile messaging when a car's alarm is on. Insurance companies can use in-car devices to monitor a driver's behavior and wirelessly transmit to a back-end system when evaluating the driver's insurance policy. The same device can be used to train drivers; for example, when the driver brakes too hard, a chime could ring.
In-vehicle, value-added, location-based services, such as POI (gas stations, lounging, etc.) searches, restaurant reservations, purchasing tickets, real-time traffic reports, and location-based objects ( e.g., person, portable device, car) discovery, monitoring, and tracking. Parents will be able to trace their children in real time when the children are driving and could...
