Internet multimedia on wheels: connecting cars to cyberspace

An integrated solution to seamless connectivity and innovative in-trip services is being researched at the Daimler-Benz Research and Technology Center in Palo Alto. The Internet Multimedia on Wheels Concept Car has an onboard, integrated wireless communication system and the computing infrastructure to provide Internet connectivity from the car to any specific server on the Internet while stationary or in motion. Essentially, the car is like any other node on the Internet with a unique Internet protocol (IP) address such as the vehicle identification number (VIN). Thus, an entirely new type of services can be delivered to cars in an efficient and secure way through increasingly less expensive wireless data connectivity over the Internet.