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from the nothing-escapes-the-grasp-of-the-marketers dept.
It looks like the PHBs are trying to figure out how to monetize a low latency car-car (and car-highway) data network before it is even deployed. Here's a cutting from a recent editorial in Automotive Engineering (Society of Automotive Engineers, SAE), discussing 5.9-GHz dedicated short range communications (DSRC).
Some observers feel that advertising may be sent to vehicles to help offset some of the cost. That's especially true for vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, which will require roadside beacons. DSRC data may also be sent to data-processing centers. Ads could help pay for these installations.
"Many models rely on some form of advertising," said Joe Averkamp, Senior Director, Technology, Policy & Strategy, at Xerox. "You need to make sure it's subtle and not distracting."
DSRC has multiple channels, so it's possible that one could be used to send localized ads or other information. That will depend on how bands are allocated.
"Advertising questions are still unresolved," said Mike Shulman, Ford's Global Driver Assistance and Active Safety Manager. "Seven DSRC channels have been allocated. Safety messages will go on one channel, things like traffic-light communications could go on another. An ad message channel has not been defined."
Some managers feel that advertisers will build an alternative infrastructure in the years before regulators mandate V2X and automakers start shipping equipped vehicles.
And GM appears to have already patented V2V and V2X adverts.
Knowing GM, this is probably a defensive patent, to plant a stake in the ground in case a patent troll comes along.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by VLM on Monday December 14 2015, @03:03PM
Oh please. At those freqs they'll be using a semi-directional horn antenna about the size of a coffee mug. Don't want too narrow of a beamwidth but do want some forward pointing gain (assuming you'd be more interested in stuff in front of the car than stuff you already drove past... or would you?)
So wrap the antenna in aluminum foil and/or pop the fuse and you're all good.
If it comes to AV integration, yank the head end unit and "forget" to plug into the Big Brother feed or buy a head end unit that doesn't speak Big Brother protocol.
Worst case scenario, desolder the wires to the speakers, attach the OEM speaker wires to two (or whatever) 8 ohm power resistors, and install a parallel system including fishing new wire (or install the power resistors at the legacy OEM headend and use the existing speakers and wires for the new parallel system).
My guess is, to prevent people from just ripping the GD thing out, they'll do some weirdness like the only way to unlock the system after a battery change will be the spam system. Still, that just means don't rip it out, just install a COTS speaker switch backwards to select if you want to listen to spam or listen to a real radio.
Despite all the talk about DRM and all cars being the same, I'm guessing that the car mfgrs will sell a service where for a modest price (like the $500 for DVD navigation maps) they'll adblock spam.