The future of the in-car GPS device and co-operation of in-car wireless technologies
By Thomas Carmody, Head of Automotive Marketing, Audio and Consumer Business Unit, CSR
Industry trends in in-car navigation devices
The world of in-car wireless technologies is undergoing some fascinating changes right now. Not least amongst these is the world of in-car GPS-enabled devices. In-car GPS was once a luxury item. But over the last few years, thanks to the pioneering efforts of companies such as CSR and SiRF (now merged), GPS-enabled chip technology has become smaller, faster and more cost-effective. GPS systems, whether factory-fit in-dash, or aftermarket PND or car stereo-based, are now comfortably within the reach of everyman.
Moving forwards perhaps the biggest change on the horizon of in-car navigation is the ‘coming-together’ of different wireless technologies. GPS systems have now progressed to a point where they can bring in elements from other technologies to achieve a system that is greater than the sum of its parts.
The merger of CSR and SiRF has also seen a ‘coming together’: the market leader in short-range mobile handset connectivity technologies with the market leader in GPS chipsets. This combination of skills makes the new enlarged CSR the best qualified company to address this brave new world of in-car GPS.
Increased interconnectivity in converged navigation devices
Much like mobile phones, in-car GPS-enabled devices are fast approaching the point where it no longer makes sense simply to speak of separate ‘a GPS unit’ or ‘media centre’. Such devices are converging to fulfil multiple functions; a trend that will only continue as components become smarter through increased integration of multiple technologies and ultimately incur less cost to incorporate into designs. Forward-thinking companies are already starting to view in-car radios in terms of their overall potential, and looking at how to integrate additional connectivity technologies to ensure the functions co-operate to best effect. This opens up many fascinating possibilities.
CSR’s existing automotive products such as RoadTunes and RoadRunner already address the growing popularity of wireless audio streaming in-vehicle, and the importance of the car's media player as the hub of in-car electronics functions. CSR predicts that in-vehicle systems will see an increased coming-together of wireless technologies. Manufacturers of navigation/infotainment devices will have to understand these trends and develop their new solutions to meet user expectations for increased connectivity requirements.
In the near term, improvements to the wireless hands-free calling experience, currently streamed via Bluetooth to a compatible factory-fit or aftermarket in-car device, will be augmented with better, more reliable phonebook synchronisation using the Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP). The market can also expect to see a higher call quality with the adoption of wideband speech and other near-end enhancements. This will have significant implications for speech-recognition dialling in the car, which reduces physical contact between the driver and his phone and leads to safer driving when making or taking calls on the road. In addition Bluetooth stereo streaming will gain even wider adoption as it has matured significantly in recent years and now features a user-friendly in-vehicle control mechanism with the Audio-Visual Remote Control Protocol (AVRCP) v1.4 specification.
Looking at the future of the PND, the comparatively larger screen and longer battery life make the PND an ideal device to use as a 3rd screen within the car to provide users with easy access to their phone’s text messages and emails via Bluetooth connection. This is only the beginning and now the question is what additional functionality can be integrated into the PND to help carve out its future role in the automotive market.
Perhaps of the most exciting prospects on the horizon for the in-car navigation/infotainment sector is Wi-Fi. Support for Wi-Fi has now been adopted within the Bluetooth specification as of the 22nd April this year. The new Bluetooth specification Bluetooth v3.0 + High Speed (HS) is expected to make it into in-vehicle devices in 2012. With the adoption of Wi-Fi as the first AMP (Alternate MAC PHY) to enable a “fast data pipe” for Bluetooth, a new and exciting array of use cases are opening up to the navigation/infotainment device designer. Consumers will be able to synchronise a complete music collection, photo gallery, video or other media collection in a fraction of the time it takes traditional Bluetooth radios. For business users maps, telematics, route, diagnostics and a host of other information taken and or generated on long journeys can now be easily and quickly be accessed via Bluetooth v3.0 +HS from the navigation/infotainment device. Files can be transferred to a compatible device without the need for physical wired connections to the vehicle and in a fraction of the time it has taken in the past.
In addition to this CSR views internet connectivity within PNDs via a cellular connection on the horizon. At this point Wi-Fi will have a role to play in connecting portable gaming devices, laptops etc to the internet-connected device. Cellular connectivity will also have a role in downloading and uploading a navigational device’s map and telemetry data.
It’s truly an exciting time to be working in automotive connectivity. With the range of functions on offer in future devices, and the market-leading capabilities of SiRF and CSR’s location and connectivity technologies enabling the development and manufacture of the next generation of navigation plus connectivity products.
www.csr.com
Industry trends in in-car navigation devices
The world of in-car wireless technologies is undergoing some fascinating changes right now. Not least amongst these is the world of in-car GPS-enabled devices. In-car GPS was once a luxury item. But over the last few years, thanks to the pioneering efforts of companies such as CSR and SiRF (now merged), GPS-enabled chip technology has become smaller, faster and more cost-effective. GPS systems, whether factory-fit in-dash, or aftermarket PND or car stereo-based, are now comfortably within the reach of everyman.
Moving forwards perhaps the biggest change on the horizon of in-car navigation is the ‘coming-together’ of different wireless technologies. GPS systems have now progressed to a point where they can bring in elements from other technologies to achieve a system that is greater than the sum of its parts.
The merger of CSR and SiRF has also seen a ‘coming together’: the market leader in short-range mobile handset connectivity technologies with the market leader in GPS chipsets. This combination of skills makes the new enlarged CSR the best qualified company to address this brave new world of in-car GPS.
Increased interconnectivity in converged navigation devices
Much like mobile phones, in-car GPS-enabled devices are fast approaching the point where it no longer makes sense simply to speak of separate ‘a GPS unit’ or ‘media centre’. Such devices are converging to fulfil multiple functions; a trend that will only continue as components become smarter through increased integration of multiple technologies and ultimately incur less cost to incorporate into designs. Forward-thinking companies are already starting to view in-car radios in terms of their overall potential, and looking at how to integrate additional connectivity technologies to ensure the functions co-operate to best effect. This opens up many fascinating possibilities.
CSR’s existing automotive products such as RoadTunes and RoadRunner already address the growing popularity of wireless audio streaming in-vehicle, and the importance of the car's media player as the hub of in-car electronics functions. CSR predicts that in-vehicle systems will see an increased coming-together of wireless technologies. Manufacturers of navigation/infotainment devices will have to understand these trends and develop their new solutions to meet user expectations for increased connectivity requirements.
In the near term, improvements to the wireless hands-free calling experience, currently streamed via Bluetooth to a compatible factory-fit or aftermarket in-car device, will be augmented with better, more reliable phonebook synchronisation using the Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP). The market can also expect to see a higher call quality with the adoption of wideband speech and other near-end enhancements. This will have significant implications for speech-recognition dialling in the car, which reduces physical contact between the driver and his phone and leads to safer driving when making or taking calls on the road. In addition Bluetooth stereo streaming will gain even wider adoption as it has matured significantly in recent years and now features a user-friendly in-vehicle control mechanism with the Audio-Visual Remote Control Protocol (AVRCP) v1.4 specification.
Looking at the future of the PND, the comparatively larger screen and longer battery life make the PND an ideal device to use as a 3rd screen within the car to provide users with easy access to their phone’s text messages and emails via Bluetooth connection. This is only the beginning and now the question is what additional functionality can be integrated into the PND to help carve out its future role in the automotive market.
Perhaps of the most exciting prospects on the horizon for the in-car navigation/infotainment sector is Wi-Fi. Support for Wi-Fi has now been adopted within the Bluetooth specification as of the 22nd April this year. The new Bluetooth specification Bluetooth v3.0 + High Speed (HS) is expected to make it into in-vehicle devices in 2012. With the adoption of Wi-Fi as the first AMP (Alternate MAC PHY) to enable a “fast data pipe” for Bluetooth, a new and exciting array of use cases are opening up to the navigation/infotainment device designer. Consumers will be able to synchronise a complete music collection, photo gallery, video or other media collection in a fraction of the time it takes traditional Bluetooth radios. For business users maps, telematics, route, diagnostics and a host of other information taken and or generated on long journeys can now be easily and quickly be accessed via Bluetooth v3.0 +HS from the navigation/infotainment device. Files can be transferred to a compatible device without the need for physical wired connections to the vehicle and in a fraction of the time it has taken in the past.
In addition to this CSR views internet connectivity within PNDs via a cellular connection on the horizon. At this point Wi-Fi will have a role to play in connecting portable gaming devices, laptops etc to the internet-connected device. Cellular connectivity will also have a role in downloading and uploading a navigational device’s map and telemetry data.
It’s truly an exciting time to be working in automotive connectivity. With the range of functions on offer in future devices, and the market-leading capabilities of SiRF and CSR’s location and connectivity technologies enabling the development and manufacture of the next generation of navigation plus connectivity products.
www.csr.com
posted by Vince Holton at
4:47 AM
2 Comments:
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
http://cellularaccessoriess.com
Thanks for your positive comments, guys! Keep visiting the blog!
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