WO2024068942A1

WO2024068942A1 - Provision of vehicle information

Info

Publication number: WO2024068942A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/077085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael RÜCKER
Original assignee: Utimaco Ts Gmbh
Priority date: 2022-09-30
Filing date: 2023-09-29
Publication date: 2024-04-04

Abstract

Disclosed is inter alia a method for providing vehicle information in a system comprising an apparatus, one or more remote apparatuses and a plurality of vehicles, the method comprising: - receiving a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter and wherein a respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items is indicative of a location of the specific vehicle; - determining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses, wherein determining the one or more remote apparatuses comprises determining one remote apparatus that is capable retrieving from the specific vehicle the vehicle information item indicating the location of the specific vehicle; - obtaining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses, wherein the vehicle information item indicating the location of the specific vehicle is retrieved from the specific vehicle by the remote apparatus that is capable retrieving from the specific vehicle the vehicle information item indicating the location of the specific vehicle; - processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format; and - providing at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format.

Description

Provision of vehicle information

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure relate to the provision of vehicle information. Specifically, various exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure relate to receiving a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle, obtaining one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle from one or more remote apparatuses and after processing the obtained vehicle information items, providing the requested one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format. However, it is to be understood that the presentation of various exemplary embodiments in the following is merely by way of examples and is not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure.

BACKGROUND

In modern vehicles, a large number of functions is managed by electronic systems. For example, a vehicle may be equipped with several sensors and generate data regarding for example functions and processes concerning the inside and the environment of the vehicle. This data may for example represent comprehensive information on a location or a movement of the vehicle, a status of the vehicle or several other internal or external characteristics of the vehicle (e.g. a mileage, a number of seats occupied, a fuel level, a status of the doors and windows of the vehicle, details on autonomous driving functions or devices such as smartphones connected to the vehicle]. For example, at least one of these vehicle information is processed and/or stored within the respective vehicle as well as transferred (e.g. through a wireless communication network] to for example the respective vehicle manufacturer or vehicle administrator (e.g. a vehicle fleet manager or a car sharing company] regarded as holder of the vehicle information. In some examples, the holder of the vehicle information may process the vehicle information under its control to provide a proper functionality of the vehicle, services to a third party (e.g. the owner or the driver of the car], for other purposes (e.g. statistics about the quality, usage and proper function of the vehicle] or to comply to regulatory requirements (e.g. to log the usage of autonomous driving functions].

For example, vehicle information (e.g. related to a specific vehicle] may be requested by law enforcement agencies (LEA], which investigate criminal cases and have the legal right to request evidence from third parties holding information relevant for a particular case. In case of vehicle information, a law enforcement agency may for example direct a legal request (to e.g. the vehicle manufacturer or vehicle administrator as the holder of the vehicle information] for providing vehicle informs legal requests may come from respective law enforcement agencies of various states, countries and/or jurisdictions (e.g. depending on where the holder of vehicle information is registered]. Accordingly, various law enforcement agencies may apply different formal frameworks when requesting and receiving vehicle information. In further examples, implications of what particular vehicle information is allowed to be legally provided to a requesting law enforcement agency may depend on the detailed legal constellations and may differ from case to case. In addition, providing vehicle information according to a legal request may be challenging, since the particular vehicle information related to a specific vehicle may have to be identified and obtained out of a large amount of other vehicle information for this specific vehicle and/or vehicle information related to other vehicles. These demanding conditions for requesting and providing vehicle information are to be taken into account to ensure a technically reliable and timeefficient provision of vehicle information.

SUMMARY OF SOME EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure may have the effect of providing a framework for providing vehicle information. Specifically, certain exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure may address technical difficulties arising when vehicle information are requested and provided under varying conditions depending on for example detailed legal constellation and other requirements.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method for providing vehicle information in a system comprising an apparatus, one or more remote apparatuses and a plurality of vehicles, is disclosed, wherein the method comprises: receiving a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter; determining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses; obtaining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses; processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format; and providing at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format. For example, the method according to the first aspect may be performed by an apparatus (e.g. a server], which may for example be the apparatus of the system comprising the apparatus, the one or more remote apparatuses and the plurality of vehicles.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus is disclosed, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform and/or comprises means for performing: receiving a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter; determining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses; obtaining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses; processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format; and providing at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format.

The apparatus according to the second aspect may for example be an electronic device (e.g. a server]. Generally, the means of the apparatus may be understood as hardware and/or software components implementing a certain functionality. Accordingly, the apparatus may for example be implemented in or be a single device or module or also be implemented across or comprise multiple devices or modules. For example, the apparatus may comprise one or more processors and/or one or more memories and may provide a graphical user interface. In some non-limiting examples, the apparatus may be considered as stand-alone server (e.g. which operates with a Linux-based operating system] or as small, medium or large rack configuration including multiple servers. In other examples, the apparatus may be implemented or deployed in a virtualized system or virtualized environment, for example in form of a virtualized, cloudbased or software as a service deployment.

For example, the apparatus may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus (e.g. a server], at least to perform and/or to control the method according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is disclosed, wherein the computer program when executed by a processor of an apparatus (e.g. the apparatus according to the second aspect] causes said apparatus to perform the method according to the first aspect disclosed above. The computer program may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium (e.g. a computer-readable storage medium of a server such as a cloud server], in particular a tangible and/or non-transitory medium. The computer readable storage medium could for example be a disk or a memory or the like. The computer program could be stored in the computer readable storage medium in the form of instructions encoding the computer-readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium may be intended for taking part in the operation of a device, like an internal or external memoiy, for example a Read-Only Memory [ROM] or hard disk of a computer, or be intended for distribution of the program, like an optical disc.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a system is disclosed, wherein the system comprises at least the apparatus according to the second aspect, one or more remote apparatuses and a plurality of vehicles. It may be understood that in some examples the system may comprise further apparatuses such as for example one or more requesting apparatuses according to aspects described in the following, which are operated by a respective requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency] from which the request message is received.

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a method for obtaining vehicle information is disclosed, wherein the method comprises: providing a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter; and receiving at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format, wherein the one or more vehicle information items are obtained, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, from one or more remote apparatuses, wherein the one or more remote apparatuses are determined at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and wherein the obtained one or more vehicle information items are processed to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format.

For example, the method according to the fifth aspect may be performed by a requesting apparatus operated by a respective requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency] requesting the one or more vehicle information items.

According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a requesting apparatus is disclosed, wherein the requesting apparatus is configured to perform and/or comprises means for performing: providing a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter; and receiving at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format, wherein the one or more vehicle information items are obtained, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, from one or more remote apparatuses, wherein the one or more remote apparatuses are determined at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and wherein the obtained one or more vehicle information items are processed to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format.

The requesting apparatus (e.g. a server and/or a terminal device] according to the sixth aspect may for example be operated by a respective requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency] requesting the one or more vehicle information items. Generally, the means of the requesting apparatus may be understood as hardware and/or software component implementing a certain functionality. Accordingly, the requesting apparatus may for example be implemented in or be a single device or module or also be implemented across or comprise multiple devices or modules. For example, the requesting apparatus may comprise one or more processors and/or one or more memories and may provide a graphical user interface. For example, the requesting apparatus may comprise at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the requesting apparatus at least to perform and/or to control the method according to the fifth aspect.

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is disclosed, wherein the computer program when executed by a processor of a requesting apparatus (e.g. the requesting apparatus according to the sixth aspect] causes said requesting apparatus to perform the method according to the fifth aspect disclosed above.

The computer program may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium (e.g. a computer-readable storage medium of a server such as a cloud server], in particular a tangible and/or non-transitory medium. The computer readable storage medium could for example be a disk or a memory or the like. The computer program could be stored in the computer readable storage medium in the form of instructions encoding the computer-readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium may be intended for taking part in the operation of a device, like an internal or external memoiy, for example a Read-Only Memory (ROM] or hard disk of a computer, or be intended for distribution of the program, like an optical disc. A method for providing vehicle information in a system comprising an apparatus, one or more remote apparatuses and a plurality of vehicles may for example be understood as a method that is suitable for providing such vehicle information (e.g. one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles]. For example, a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles may be understood as a request message that is suitable for requesting such one or more vehicle information items. In some examples, a request message may be considered suitable for requesting one or more vehicle information items if the request message enables for obtaining the one or more vehicle information items (e.g. because it may be clearly and/or unambiguously deducible from the request message due to information and/or parameters included in the request message what one or more vehicle information items are requested by the request message]. In other words, the one or more vehicle information items may be identifiable by information and/or parameters included in the request message. For example, considering a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, these one or more vehicle information items may be understood as the one more vehicle information items requested by the request message. For example, one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may be understood as one or more vehicle information items that are associated (e.g. linked] to the specific vehicle. For example, a respective vehicle information item related to a specific vehicle may represent (e.g. indicate or include] one or more characteristics of the specific vehicle.

In a general example, a request message sent by a client and received by a server may be understood to trigger an action by the server (e.g. providing a response message as answer to the request message]. In some examples, the request message may be sent by a requesting apparatus operated by a requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency] and received by an apparatus to trigger the provision of one or more vehicle information items to the requesting apparatus.

To give a non-limiting example, a request message may be understood as a request message according to any current, previous or future version of the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP] as it may be further specified in HTTP-related specifications of the HTTP Working Group (e.g. presently available under https://httpwg.org]. For example, an HTTP request message may be composed of textual information encoded in ASCII format, wherein the request message may be structured into a head part and a body part. Therein, for example the HTTP header specifies a presence and size of the body part and the body part comprises payload data (e.g. inter alia at least one request parameter as further described below],

A request message may be received (e.g. at an apparatus performing receiving the request message] via an electronic interface from a requesting entity, wherein a requesting entity may for example be a law enforcement agency that requests one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle. For example, this may be understood to mean that a requesting entity operates (e.g. controls or provides] a requesting apparatus (e.g. a server and/or a terminal device] from which the request message is received (e.g. after generating the request message at the requesting apparatus operated by the requesting entity].

A request message comprises (e.g. includes or contains] at least one request parameter (e.g. one or more request parameters], which may for example be understood to mean that the request message represents (e.g. indicates or encodes] the at least one request parameter (e.g. one or more request parameters]. Apart from the at least one request parameter, the request message may comprise further request parameters as described below. For example, by receiving the request message, the at least one request parameter may be received as part of the request message and may be available (e.g. at an apparatus receiving the request message] as basis for performing following method steps (e.g. after extracting the at least one request parameter from the request message].

For example, the least one request parameter may be related to (e.g. associated with or linked to] a specific vehicle or a device which is part of and/or connected to the specific vehicle, to which vehicle the one or more vehicle information items requested by the request message comprising the at least one request parameter is related. This may for example be understood to mean that the specific vehicle or a device which is part of and/or connected to the vehicle is (e.g. unambiguously] identifiable at least partially based on the at least one request parameter. For example, the at least one request parameter may be related to a specific vehicle by representing (e.g. indicating or including] an identification (e.g. an identification number or code or label] of the specific vehicle or an identification of a device which is part of or connected to the specific vehicle.

In some examples, the request message may comprise further request parameters and/or request information items that may represent (e.g. indicate] further information items related to the request message. To give some non-limiting examples, such further request parameters and/or request information items may represent an identification of a requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency] from which the request message is received, a request number identifying the request message or a corresponding request process, a time and/or date at which the request message was generated or sent and/or an urgency or priority level of the request underlying the request message.

The at least one request parameter and further request parameters included in the request message may for example be included (e.g. contained, represented, indicated or encoded] in the request message in (e.g. according to] one or more (e.g. predetermined] formats. Such a format may for example determine a form (e.g. a language, scheme and/or further characteristics] in (e.g. according to] which the at least one request parameter is contained in the request message. To give some non-limiting examples, the Extensible Markup Language (XML] as defined by the World Wide Web Consortium’s specification (e.g. currently available under https://www.w3.org/XML/] or the JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) as for example specified in the ECMA-404 JSON data interchange standard (e.g. currently available under https://www.json.org] may be used as format according to which the at least one parameter and further request parameters are included in the request message. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one parameter and further request parameters are for example included in the request message according to one or more (e.g. predefined] schemes setting various characteristics such as for example a number, sequence, category, type and/or labelling of the request parameters.

For example, a format in (e.g. according to] which the at least one parameter and further request parameters are included in the request message may at least partially depend on a respective requesting entity transmitting the request message. This may be understood to mean that depending on which requesting entity sends the request message, a specific format may be used. For example, the respective format according to which the one or more request parameters are contained in the request message may be determined (e.g. set, defined or specified] by the requesting entity sending the request. In some examples, at least one request parameter contained in the request message may represent (e.g. indicate] a format according to which the one or more request parameters are contained in the request message. Considering for example that the requesting entity is a law enforcement agency, the format according to which the one or more request parameters are contained in the request message may depend on for example a state, country and/or jurisdiction of this law enforcement agency.

For example, one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may be understood as one or more vehicle information items that are associated (e.g. linked] to the specific vehicle. In other words, one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may for example refer (e.g. relate or point] to the specific vehicle. In some examples, the one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may be understood as one or more vehicle information items of the specific vehicle. For example, a respective vehicle information item related to a specific vehicle may represent (e.g. indicate or include] one or more characteristics of the specific vehicle. For example, a vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items may be indicative of (e.g. representing or including] at least one of the following: an identification of the specific vehicle or an identification of a device which is part of and/or connected to the specific vehicle; and/or a location of the specific vehicle and/or a movement of the specific vehicle; and/or a status of the specific vehicle.

In some examples, a respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may be obtained (e.g. measured, observed or received] by the specific vehicle (e.g. by one or more components, sensors and/or parts of the specific vehicle]. To give a non-limiting example, a location of the specific vehicle may for example be obtained by a GPS receiver which may be part of the specific vehicle. In other examples, a respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may for example be generated by one or more apparatuses separated from the specific vehicle and (e.g. subsequently] be related to (e.g. associated with, allocated to or linked to] the specific vehicle. To give a non-limiting example, a vehicle information item indicating an identification of a specific vehicle or an identification of a device which is part of the specific vehicle and/or connected to the specific vehicle may be generated by a vehicle manufacturer and subsequently be related to the specific vehicle.

In some examples, a respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may be held available at the specific vehicle (e.g. after obtaining the vehicle information item at the specific vehicle], while in other examples a respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may be held available at one or more remote apparatuses (e.g. after transmitting the vehicle information item from the specific vehicle to the one or more remote apparatuses or after generating the vehicle information item by the one or more remote apparatuses]. For example, such one or more remote apparatuses may be operated (e.g. controlled or provided] by a respective vehicle manufacturer or vehicle administrator of the specific vehicle.

Referring to the one or more request parameters as described above, it shall be understood that in some examples a request parameter and a vehicle item information may represent (e.g. indicate or include] the same characteristics and/or information. For example, an identification of a specific vehicle (e.g. a vehicle identification number] may be indicated by a respective vehicle item information related to the specific vehicle, while an identification of a specific vehicle (e.g. a vehicle identification number] may also be indicated by a respective request parameter.

As described above, both the at least one request parameter and a respective vehicle information item may be related to (e.g. associated with or linked to] a (e.g. the same] specific vehicle. This may be understood to mean that a respective request parameter related to a specific vehicle may be related to (e.g. associated with or linked to] one or more vehicle information items, which one or more vehicle information items are related to the same specific vehicle. To give some non-limiting examples, a request parameter related to a specific vehicle may represent a vehicle identification number of the specific vehicle and one or more vehicle information items related to the same specific vehicle may represent a location of the specific vehicle and/or a status of the specific vehicle, such that the vehicle identification number of the specific vehicle may be understood to be related to the location of the specific vehicle and/or the status of the same specific vehicle.

In an example, a vehicle may be any machine that transports people or cargo and may include a wagon, a bicycle, a motor vehicle (e.g. a motorcycle, car, truck or bus], a railed vehicle (e.g. a train, a tram], a watercraft (e.g. a ship, a boat, an underwater vehicle], an amphibious vehicle (e.g. a screw-propelled vehicle, a hovercraft], an aircraft (e.g. an airplane, a helicopter, an aerostat] and spacecraft. In more particular examples, a vehicle may be understood as motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, which may for example be a self-propelled land vehicle that does not operate on rails and is used for the transportation of people or cargo. A vehicle may be configured to move autonomously and/or at least in part autonomously (e.g. without or partly being controlled by a human driver] and may as such be referred to as an autonomous and/or semiautonomous vehicle. A vehicle propulsion may for example be provided by an engine or motor (e.g. an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, or some combination of the two such as hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids]. Further examples for a motor vehicle may be a car, a bus, a motorcycle, an off-road vehicle, a light truck and a regular truck.

For example, a vehicle may be a vehicle of a particular manufacturer (e.g. a vehicle manufacturer or car manufacturer] which has for example produced and/or marketed the vehicle and/or parts of the vehicle. To give some non-limiting examples, the manufacturer of a vehicle may be understood as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM] of the vehicle and/or as a company that supplies vehicle parts to an OEM and/or to another company supplying vehicle parts to an OEM. In some examples, a manufacturer of a vehicle may hold available one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle (e.g. at one or more remote apparatuses operated by the vehicle manufacturer], for example after generating the one or more vehicle information items or after obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the vehicle. Accordingly, a vehicle manufacturer may be referred to as holder of vehicle information (e.g. one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle].

In another example, a vehicle may be a vehicle of a particular vehicle administrator (e.g. a vehicle fleet manager, a car rental or car sharing company, a car leasing company], which for example administrates (e.g. organizes or manages] a use of the vehicle and/or parts of the vehicle. For example, the vehicle administrator of a specific vehicle may hold available one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle, which for example represent a location or movement of the specific vehicle or a status of the specific vehicle (e.g. a fuel status or a battery status, a mileage, an expected driving range, a status of doors and/or windows of vehicle or a status of autonomous driving function]. One or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may for example be obtained by a vehicle administrator from one or more devices connected to the specific vehicle (e.g. a GPS tracking device connected to the specific vehicle via a CAN interface and/or an on-board diagnostics, ODB, interface of the specific vehicle]. For example, the one or more devices connected to the specific vehicle may read out one or more vehicle information items from the specific vehicle and transmit the one or more vehicle information items to the vehicle administrator (e.g. to one or more remote apparatuses operated by the vehicle administrator] through a wireless communication network. This way, the one or more vehicle information items are for example transmitted to the vehicle administrator as holder of the vehicle information independently of the infrastructure of the vehicle manufacturer. Accordingly, a vehicle administrator may be referred to as holder of vehicle information (e.g. one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle].

In some examples, the one or more vehicle information items held available by a vehicle manufacturer or vehicle administrator may be held available at (e.g. stored in an electronic memory of] a respective remote apparatus of one or more remote apparatuses operated (e.g. controlled or provided] by the vehicle manufacturer or vehicle administrator. In some examples, a vehicle manufacturer or vehicle administrator may hold available one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of the manufacturer or administrator and further hold available one or more vehicle information items related to respective further vehicles of the manufacturer or administrator. For example, a plurality of vehicles may be understood as a plurality of vehicles of various respective vehicle manufacturers or respective vehicle administrators.

For example, one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may be requested by a requesting entity such as a law enforcement agency, which may investigate a criminal case involving the specific vehicle and/or one or more persons related to the specific vehicle (e.g. an owner, a driver or a passenger of the specific vehicle].

Determining, at least partially based on the at least one more request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses may for example be understood to mean that determining the one or more apparatuses may at least partially depend on the at least one request parameter.

For example, determining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses may comprise determining the one or more remote apparatuses that hold available the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle as requested by the request message comprising the at last one request parameter. Additionally or alternatively, determining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses may comprise determining the one or more remote apparatuses that are capable of receiving (e.g. retrieving] from the specific vehicle the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle as requested by the request message comprising the at least one request parameter. Considering an example where a specific vehicle is a vehicle of a respective vehicle manufacturer or vehicle administrator, the determined at least one remote apparatuses may for example be operated (e.g. controlled or provided] by this respective vehicle manufacturer or vehicle administrator of the specific vehicle. Determining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses may for example comprise selecting the one or more remote apparatuses from a plurality of remote apparatuses. To give a non-limiting example, a request message for requesting one vehicle information item related to a specific vehicle may comprise at least one request parameter related to the specific vehicle. Based on the at least one request parameter, one remote apparatus may be determined that for example holds available the one vehicle information item related to the specific vehicle. In another non-limiting example, a request message for requesting at least two vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may comprise at least one request parameter related to the specific vehicle. Based on the at least one request parameter, one remote apparatus may for example be determined that holds available the at least two vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle. Alternatively, based on the at least one request parameter, a first remote apparatus may for example be determined that holds available a first vehicle information item of the at least two vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle and a second remote apparatus may for example be determined that holds available a second vehicle information item of the at least two vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle.

In some examples, determining the one or more remote apparatuses may at least partially be based on (e.g. be performed by support of] information on which respective vehicle information item may be hold available or may be able to be received (e.g. retrieved] by which remote apparatus. For example, such information may be available in form of a database (which e.g. may be available at an apparatus performing the determining the one or more remote apparatuses, e.g. by storing the database in an electronic memory]. In some examples, determining the one or more remote apparatuses may comprise searching such a database for the one or more apparatuses.

For example, obtaining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle from the one or more remote apparatuses may be understood to mean that obtaining the one or more apparatuses may at least partially depend on the at least one request parameter.

It may for example be understood that before obtaining the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle from the one or more remote apparatuses, it may have been determined that the one or more vehicle information items are held available at the one or more remote apparatuses and/or that the one or more remote apparatuses are able to receive (e.g. retrieving] from the specific vehicle the one or more vehicle information items.

In some examples, obtaining the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle from the one or more remote apparatuses may comprise receiving the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses (e.g. over a respective communication link between an apparatus performing the obtaining the one or more vehicle information items and the one or more remote apparatuses]. To give a non-limiting example, a request message for requesting one vehicle information item related to a specific vehicle may comprise at least one request parameter related to the specific vehicle. Based on the at least one request parameter, one remote apparatus may be determined that for example holds available the one vehicle information item related to the specific vehicle. The one vehicle information item related to the specific vehicle may then be obtained (e.g. received] from the one remote apparatus. In another non-limiting example, a request message for requesting two vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may comprise at least one request parameter related to the specific vehicle. Based on the at least one request parameter, one remote apparatus may for example be determined that holds available the two vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle. The two vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle may then be obtained (e.g. received] from the one remote apparatus. Alternatively, based on the at least one request parameter, a first remote apparatus may for example be determined that holds available a first vehicle information item of the two vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle and a second remote apparatus may for example be determined that holds available a second vehicle information item of the two vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle. The first vehicle information item of the two vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle may then be obtained (e.g. received] from the first remote apparatus and the second vehicle information item of the two vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle may then be obtained (e.g. received] from the second remote apparatus.

With respect to the one or more remote apparatuses, obtaining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses may for example comprise obtaining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items, at the respective remote apparatus (e.g. performed by the respective remote apparatus] of the one or more remote apparatuses from which the one or more vehicle information items are obtained. For example, obtaining the one or more vehicle information items at a respective remote apparatus may be understood to mean that the respective remote apparatus may perform obtaining (e.g. by identifying or selecting] the one or more vehicle information items related to the at least one request parameter, which may for example comprise obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from an electronic memory of the respective remote apparatus and/or receiving (e.g. retrieving] the one or more vehicle information items from the specific vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, determining whether the one or more vehicle information related to the specific vehicle are available at the respective remote apparatus and/or whether the one or more vehicle information related to the specific vehicle need to be received (e.g. retrieved] by the respective remote apparatus from the specific vehicle may be performed by the respective remote apparatus. Processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in (e.g. according to] a predetermined format may be understood to mean that after obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses, the one or more vehicle information items may be available in (e.g. according to] one or more formats (e.g. some or each vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items may be available in a different format] and may be processed (e.g. converted, transformed, rearranged, reformatted or changed] such that (e.g. all of] the one or more vehicle information items are in a predetermined format after processing the one or more vehicle information items. For example, the processing may affect the format in (e.g. according to] which the one or more vehicle information are available, but it may not affect the content represented (e.g. indicated or included] by the one or more vehicle information items. To give some nonlimiting examples, after processing the one or more vehicle information items may for example represent the same identification of the specific vehicle or the same identification of a device which is part of and/or connected to the specific vehicle, the same location and/or the same movement of the specific vehicle and/or the same status of the specific vehicle as before the processing.

In some examples, the predetermined format may be held available at (e.g. stored in an electronic memory of] an apparatus performing the processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format. In other examples, the predetermined format may be indicated by the request message for requesting the one or more vehicle information items (e.g. indicated by at least one further request parameter included in the request message]. In such examples, processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format may at least partially be based on at least one further request parameter that indicates the predetermined format and that is included in the request message.

The predetermined format may for example determine a form (e.g. a language, scheme and/or further characteristics] in (e.g. according to] which the one or more vehicle information items are available, such that processing the one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information may be understood to mean that the form (e.g. a language, scheme and/or further characteristics] of the one or more vehicle information items is changed (e.g. without changing the content of the one or more vehicle information items]. To give some non-limiting examples, the Extensible Markup Language (XML] as defined by the World Wide Web Consortium’s specification (e.g. currently available under https://www.w3.org/XML/] or the JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) as for example specified in the ECMA-404 JSON data interchange standard (e.g. currently available under https://www.json.org] may be used as format according to which the one or more request parameters are included in the request message. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more vehicle information items may be in one or more (e.g. predefined] schemes setting various characteristics such as for example a number, sequence, catego ly, type and/or labelling of the one or more vehicle information items.

For example, processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format may change the one or more formats in which the one or more vehicle information items are available after obtaining them from the one or more remote apparatuses, which one or more formats may for example be specified (e.g. determined, set or predefined] by the respective remote apparatus from which the respective one or more vehicle information items may have been obtained. In contrast, a predetermined format to which the one or more vehicle information items are processed may for example be specified (e.g. determined, set or predefined] by a requesting entity requesting the one or more vehicle information items.

After processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format, at least one response message comprising (e.g. containing, representing, indicating or encoding] the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format is provided (e.g. in response or in reaction to receiving the request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle]. For example, providing at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items may comprise generating the at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items. Therein, the one or more vehicle information items may for example be included (e.g. contained, represented, indicated or encoded] in the request message according to one or more (e.g. predetermined] formats, which may for example be the predetermined format in which the one or more vehicle information items are obtained by processing the one or more vehicle information items obtained from the one or more remote apparatuses.

To give a non-limiting example, a response message may be understood as a response message according to any current, previous or future version of the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP] as it may be further specified in HTTP-related specifications of the HTTP Working Group (e.g. currently available under https://httpwg.org]. For example, an HTTP response message may be composed of textual information encoded in ASCII format, wherein the response message may be structured into a head part and a body part. Therein, for example the HTTP header specifies a presence and size of the body part and the body part comprises payload data (e.g. inter alia one or more request parameters further described herein].

For example, providing the at least one response message comprises transmitting the response message via an electronic interface to a requesting entity (e.g. the requesting entity from which the request message in response to which the at least one response message is provided has been received], wherein the requesting entity may for example be the law enforcement agency that has requested the one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle. For example, this may be understood to mean that the requesting entity operates (e.g. controls or provides] a requesting apparatus to which the at least one response message is transmitted.

Advantageously, the requested one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle are provided in a predetermined format in response to the request message (e.g. which request message indicates the predetermined format]. This way, varying conditions (e.g. requirements on the format of the one or more vehicle information items that may be specific to the requesting entity, e.g. a law enforcement agency] for requesting and providing vehicle information items may be met in a technically reliable manner. If for example one or more vehicle information items related to specific vehicle are obtained from various remote apparatuses (e.g. operated by one or more vehicle manufacturers or vehicle administrators of the specific vehicle] in various formats, these one or more vehicle information items may be processed to obtain them in a format predetermined by the requesting law enforcement agency. As a result, the law enforcement agency is provided with the one or more vehicle information items in a required, predetermined format, such that for example a requesting apparatus operated by the law enforcement agency and the one or more remote apparatuses operated by vehicle manufacturers or vehicle administrators may be relieved from determining (e.g. agreeing on or negotiating about] a common format for providing requested vehicle information items. For example, technical difficulties originating from different formats being used on vehicle manufacturer side and law enforcement agency side may thus be resolved.

In addition, the requesting entity may for example be relieved from determining where the requested vehicle information are held available. For example, when requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle, these one or more vehicle information items may be held available at a respective remote apparatus of the one or more remote apparatuses or at least one vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items is not held available at a remote apparatus but needs to be retrieved from the specific vehicle. In such an example, the requesting entity may lack information on which one or more remote apparatuses may be able of providing the one or more vehicle information items and thus would for example have to request the one or more vehicle information items at a larger number of remote apparatuses, wherein only one or more remote apparatuses of them may be actually able of providing the one or more vehicle information items. Further, providing vehicle information items according to a legal request may be challenging, since the particular vehicle information item related to a specific vehicle may have to be identified and obtained out of a large amount of other vehicle information items related to this specific vehicle and/or vehicle information items related to other vehicles. The present approach allows the requesting entity to make a single request and one or more remote apparatuses from which the one or more vehicle information items are obtained may be determined at least partially based on the single request. In response to the single request, the one or more vehicle information items may for example be provided in a time-efficient and reliable manner. In the following, further exemplary features and exemplary embodiments of the different aspects of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, the at least one request parameter represents an identification of the specific vehicle or an identification of a device which is part of the specific vehicle and/or connected to the specific vehicle.

To give some non-limiting examples, the at least one request parameter may represent (e.g. indicate or include] a vehicle identification number (VIN] that identifies the specific vehicle or an international mobile equipment identity (I M E I] that identifies a communications device which is part of or connected to the specific vehicle (e.g. a mobile device such as a smartphone connected via Bluetooth with the vehicle’s electronic control system or e.g. a built-in communication module such as a built-in telematics device providing a proprietary network connection via e.g. an GSM module]. As another example, the at least one request parameter may represent (e.g. indicate or include] an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI] that identifies a subscriber (e.g. a user] of a mobile network to which for example a communications device which is used by the subscriber and which is part of and/or connected to the specific vehicle is connected (e.g. a mobile device such as a smartphone connected via Bluetooth with the vehicle’s electronic control system or e.g. a built-in communication module such as a built-in telematics device providing a proprietary network connection via e.g. an GSM module].

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, receiving the request message further comprises: receiving the request message via an electronic interface from a requesting entity; and/or wherein providing the at least one response message comprises: transmitting the at least one response message via an electronic interface to the requesting entity.

For example, receiving the request message via an electronic interface from a requesting entity may be understood to mean that the request message is received via an electronic interface from a requesting apparatus operated by the requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency]. The electronic interface may be provided by for example the requesting apparatus, an apparatus performing the receiving the request message or one or more further apparatuses. For example, transmitting the at least one response message via an electronic interface to the requesting entity may be understood to mean that the at least one request message is transmitted via an electronic interface to a requesting apparatus operated by the requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency]. The electronic interface may be provided by for example the requesting apparatus, an apparatus performing the receiving the request message or one or more further apparatuses. In some examples, an electronic interface via which the request message is received may be the same electronic interface (or different from the electronic interface] via which the at least one response message is transmitted.

An electronic interface for receiving the request message or for transmitting the at least one response message may for example be understood as physical or logical interface across which information, parameters and/or data may be received or transmitted. For example, such an electronic interface may be a handover interface [HI] that relies on various communication services such as for example telephony services (e.g. PSTN/ISDN, GSM/UMTS-cs, SMS], message services (e.g. FAX, email, webmail], multimedia services or network access service (e.g. internet, GPRS, UMTS-sp] for receiving and transmitting (e.g. requesting and delivering] information, parameters and/or data.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, providing the at least one response message further comprises: transmitting a plurality of response messages comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format to the requesting entity via the electronic interface continuously over a time period, wherein the time period is indicated by at least one further request parameter included in the request message.

For example, a specific number of response messages may be transmitted to the requesting entity via the electronic interface, wherein at least one response message of the plurality of response messages may comprise the one or more vehicle information items that are obtained at least partially based on the at least one request parameter from the one or more remote apparatuses. For example, the response messages of the plurality of response messages are transmitted continuously in regular time intervals (e.g. a next response message is transmitted after e.g. a particular number of seconds, minutes, hours and/or days] or in irregular time intervals (e.g. a next response message is transmitted if the transmission is triggered by a particular event] over the time period (e.g. a time period of a particular number of seconds, minutes, hours and/or days].

For example, when transmitting a plurality of response messages, the steps of obtaining the one or more vehicle information items, processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format and providing a response message may be repeated for each transmitted response message of the plurality of response messages.

To give a non-limiting example, a request message requesting a vehicle information item indicating a location of a specific vehicle may be received, wherein the request message comprises at least one further request parameter indicating that a plurality of response messages comprising the vehicle information item indicating a location of the specific vehicle is to be transmitting over a particular time period. In such an example, a next vehicle information item indicating a (e.g. a current or updated] location of the specific vehicle may be obtained in regular time intervals or irregular time intervals (e.g. triggered by a new location of the specific vehicle being available] over the particular time period from the one or more remote apparatuses, processed to obtain the next vehicle information item in the predetermined format, and transmitted included in a respective next response message of the plurality of response messages.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, the at least one request parameter is related to the one or more vehicle information items such that the one or more vehicle information items are identifiable (e.g. determinable, selectable or extractable] at least partially based on the at least one request parameter related to the one or more vehicle information items.

As described for some examples above, a respective request parameter of the one or more request parameters and respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items may be related to (e.g. associated with or linked to] the same specific vehicle, which may for example be understood to mean that the respective request parameter is related to the respective vehicle information item. In other words, a respective request parameter related to a specific vehicle may be related to (e.g. associated with or linked to] one or more vehicle information items, which one or more vehicle information items are related to the same specific vehicle as the respective request parameter. In such examples, a respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items may be identifiable and thus may be identified (e.g. determined, selected or extracted] at least partially based on the respective request parameter related to the respective vehicle information item. For example, if the one or more vehicle information items are identifiable at least partially based on at least one request parameter, this may be understood to mean that the one or more vehicle information items can be obtained at least partially based on the at least one request parameter.

To give a non-limiting example, one or more vehicle information items that represent a location of a specific vehicle and/or a status of a specific vehicle may be identifiable at least partially based on a request parameter representing a vehicle identification number of the same specific vehicle. In this example, it may be possible to obtain (e.g. determine, select or extract] the one or more vehicle information items that represent a location of a specific vehicle at least partially based on the request parameter representing a vehicle identification number of the same specific vehicle. For example, the one or more vehicle information items that represent a location of a specific vehicle and/or a status of a specific vehicle may be obtained (e.g. determined, selected or extracted] from a plurality of one or more vehicle information items that are related to a plurality of respective vehicles (and which plurality of one or more vehicle information items is e.g. stored in a database]. According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, at least one further request parameter included in the request message indicates a request type, and wherein at least one of the following holds: determining the one or more remote apparatuses is at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and the at least one further request parameter indicating a request type; and/or obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses is at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and the at least one further request parameter indicating a request type.

For example, a request parameter indicating a request type may be understood as request parameter indicating which type of vehicle information item is requested by the request message comprising the at least one request parameter. This may be understood to mean that if for example the one or more vehicle information items are obtained at least partially based on the at least one request parameter related to the one or more vehicle information items and the at least one further request parameter indicating a request type, one or more vehicle information items may for example be obtained that relate to the request parameter and which correspond to (e.g. which are of] the request type as indicated by the least one further request parameter. For example, a type of a respective vehicle information item may be an identification of the specific vehicle or an identification of a device which is part of a specific vehicle and/or connected to the specific vehicle, a location of a specific vehicle and/or a movement of a specific vehicle, a status of a specific vehicle and/or other characteristics related to a specific vehicle. Such characteristics may for example relate to conditions of the environment inside and/or the environment outside of a specific vehicle.

For example, a request type may have a form of "request parameter-to-vehicle information item type” in order to indicate which type of vehicle information item is requested by the request message comprising the request parameter. To give a non-limiting example, a request type may be "vehicle identification number of a specific vehicle-to-location of the specific vehicle” (e.g. "VIN-to-location”] indicating that based on a vehicle identification number of a specific vehicle as input, the location of the specific vehicle is to be obtained as output. Further examples of a request type may be "vehicle identification number-to- international mobile equipment identity” (e.g. "VIN-to-IMEI”] and "vehicle identification number-to- international mobile subscriber identity” (e.g. "VIN-to-IMSI”].

In some examples, a received request message may comprise the at least one further request parameter (e.g. "VIN-to-location”] indicating that a vehicle information item of a particular type (e.g. a location of a specific vehicle] is requested, such that a vehicle information item of this particular type out of a plurality of vehicle information items available (e.g. at a respective remote apparatus] is obtained. In other examples, considering that a plurality of vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may be available (e.g. at a respective remote apparatus] and no at least one further request parameter indicating a request type is included in the request message, a (e.g. predetermined] selection (e.g. at least one, some or all vehicle information items] of this plurality of available vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle may be obtained.

For example, determining the one or more remote apparatuses at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and the at least one further request parameter indicating a request type may be understood as determining the one or more remote apparatuses that hold available the one or more vehicle information items that are related to the specific vehicle and that correspond to (e.g. which are of) the request type as indicated by the least one further request parameter. In other examples, determining the one or more remote apparatuses at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and the at least one further request parameter indicating a request type may be understood as determining the one or more remote apparatuses that are capable of receiving (e.g. retrieving) from the specific vehicle the one or more vehicle information items that related to the specific vehicle and that correspond to (e.g. which are of] the request type as indicated by the least one further request parameter.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, obtaining the one or more vehicle information items further comprises: requesting, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items at the one or more remote apparatuses; and receiving, in response to requesting the one or more vehicle information items, the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses.

For example, the one or more vehicle information items may be requested at the one or more remote apparatuses by sending the at least one request parameter to the one or more remote apparatuses, where the at least one request parameter is received and subsequently used for obtaining the one or more vehicle information items related to the at least one request parameter. After the one or more vehicle information items have been obtained (e.g. by obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from an electronic memory of the respective remote apparatus and/or by retrieving the one or more vehicle information items from a specific vehicle to which the one or more vehicle information items are related), the one or more vehicle information items are transmitted by the at least one or more remote apparatuses and received, in response to requesting the one or more vehicle information items, at the apparatus that performed the requesting the one or more vehicle information items at the one or more remote apparatuses.

In another example, requesting, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items at the one or more remote apparatuses, may comprise forwarding the request message for requesting the one or more vehicle information items to the one or more remote apparatuses.

For example, one or more respective communication links as further described below between an apparatus performing the requesting the one or more vehicle information items at the one or more remote apparatuses and the one or more remote apparatuses may be used for transmitting and/or receiving the information items and parameters.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, the one or more vehicle information items are held available at the one or more remote apparatuses and/or the one or more vehicle information items are received at the one or more remote apparatuses from the specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles.

For example, holding available the one or more vehicle information items at a respective remote apparatus of the one or more remote apparatuses may comprise that the one or more vehicle information items are stored in an electronic memory of the respective remote apparatus. In such an example, the one or more vehicle information items may be read from an electronic memory (e.g. after the one or more vehicle information items are requested at the respective remote apparatus] before being transmitted by the respective remote apparatus to an apparatus from which the one or more vehicle information items have been requested.

In other examples, the one or more vehicle information items may be received at a respective remote apparatus of the one or more remote apparatuses from the specific vehicle via a communication link between the respective remote apparatus and the specific vehicle. For example, a communication link between the respective remote apparatus and the specific vehicle (e.g. a communication device that is part of and/or connected to the specific vehicle] may be understood as a communication network connection via one or more wireless and/or wired communication networks (e.g. one or more communication networks according to one or more standard communication protocols]. For example, the one or more vehicle information items may be received from the specific vehicle (e.g. after the one or more vehicle information items are requested at the respective remote apparatus] before being transmitted by the respective remote apparatus to an apparatus from which the one or more vehicle information items have been requested.

In some examples, at least one vehicle information item of the one more vehicle information items is held available at the one or more remote apparatuses and the remaining vehicle information items of the one or more vehicle information items are received from the specific vehicle. According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, the method further comprises: establishing, after determining the one or more remote apparatuses, one or more respective communication links to the one or more remote apparatuses.

For example, when determining the one or more remote apparatuses, no respective communication links between the one or more remote apparatuses and the apparatus that performed the determining the one or more remote apparatuses may have been established yet. In such an example, one or more respective communication links to the one or more remote apparatuses (e.g. one respective communication link between a respective (e.g. each] remote apparatus of the one or more remote apparatuses and an apparatus performing the determining the one or more remote apparatuses] are established after determining the one or more remote apparatuses.

Establishing a communication link to the one or more remote apparatuses may for example be understood to comprise negotiating (e.g. by exchanging request messages and response messages] and/or establishing and/or supporting the negotiating or establishing of a communication network connection via one or more wireless and/or wired communication networks (e.g. one or more communication networks according to one or more standard communication protocols]. Additionally or alternatively, the establishing a communication link to the one or more remote apparatuses may for example comprise authenticating one or more remote apparatus and/or authenticating the apparatus performing the establishing a communication link.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses further comprises: receiving a first vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items from a first remote apparatus of the one or more remote apparatuses; and receiving a second vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items from a second remote apparatus of the one more remote apparatuses.

In a non-limiting example, the requested one or more vehicle information items may comprise a first vehicle information item representing a location of the specific vehicle at a particular time (e.g. by indicating geographical coordinates] and may further comprise a second vehicle information item representing a status of the specific vehicle (e.g. a status of autonomous driving function]. In such an example, it may be determined that a first remote apparatus may be capable of providing the first vehicle information item and that a second remote apparatus may be capable of providing the second vehicle information item. According to such an example, the first vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items may be received from the first remote apparatus of the one or more remote apparatuses and the second vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items may be received from the second remote apparatus of the one more remote apparatuses.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, the predetermined format is indicated by at least one further request parameter included in the request message.

For example, the predetermined format may be indicated by at least one further request parameter such that the predetermined format is identifiable at least partially based on the at least one request parameter. This may for example be understood to mean that the predetermined format may be selected from a plurality of predetermined formats, wherein the plurality of predetermined formats may for example be held available at an apparatus performing the processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format (e.g. by storing the plurality of predetermined formats in an electronic memory of the apparatus]. In other examples, the predetermined format may be indicated by the at least one request parameter by comprising (e.g. including] the predetermined format such that the predetermined format is received as part of the request message comprising the at least one request parameter. In such an example, it may for example not be necessary to hold available the predetermined format at an apparatus performing the processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, the predetermined format is not explicitly indicated by the request message. This may for example be understood to mean that the predetermined format is not represented (e.g. explicitly or directly] by at least one further request parameter included in the request message. In such examples, the predetermined format may for example be implicitly indicated by the request message or at least one further request parameter included in the request message. To give a non-limiting example, the predetermined format may be indicated by (e.g. at least one further request parameter included in the request message indicating an identification of] the requesting entity from which the request message is received. This may for example apply to cases where a predetermined format is specific to a respective requesting entity.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format comprises: categorizing the obtained one or more vehicle information items into one or more vehicle information categories of the predetermined format. To give a non-limiting example, one obtained vehicle information item may be categorized into one respective vehicle information category of the one or more vehicle information categories of the predetermined format. In another example considering two obtained vehicle information items, a first vehicle information item of the two vehicle information items may be categorized into a first vehicle information category of the one or more vehicle information categories of the predetermined format and a second vehicle information item of the two vehicle information items may be categorized into a second vehicle information category of the one or more vehicle information categories of the predetermined format. Additionally or alternatively, both of the two vehicle information items may for example be categorized into a first vehicle information category and/or a second vehicle information category of the one or more vehicle information categories of the predetermined format.

In further examples, categorizing the obtained one or more vehicle information items into one or more vehicle information categories may be understood to mean that the obtained one or more vehicle information items are grouped (e.g. arranged, classified, assembled or composed] into one or more vehicle information groups of the predetermined format.

For example, a respective vehicle information category of the one or more vehicle information categories may relate to identification, location, routing, driving, status, interior and/or exterior environment or further characteristics. Considering these exemplary vehicle information categories, one or more vehicle information items indicating an identification of a specific vehicle or an identification of a device which is part of a specific vehicle and/or connected to a specific vehicle (e.g. a vehicle identification number, an international mobile equipment identity and/or an international mobile subscriber identity] may for example be categorized into a vehicle information category related to identification. In another example, one or more vehicle information items indicating a location of a specific vehicle and/or a movement of a specific vehicle (e.g. geographical coordinates of a location of a specific vehicle and/or e.g. a speed and/or acceleration at which and/or a direction to which a specific vehicle moves] may for example be categorized into a vehicle information category related to location, routing and/or driving.

For example, one or more vehicle information categories of (e.g. according to] a predetermined format may be understood as vehicle information categories that are given (e.g. specified, predetermined, set or fixed] by the predetermined format. For example, the one or more vehicle information categories may be indicated by at least one further request parameter included in the request message. For example, the one or more vehicle information categories may be specified by a requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency] from which the request message is received (and may e.g. depend on a state, country and/or jurisdiction of a law enforcement agency]. In further exemplary embodiments of the various aspects, processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format may comprise renaming at least one of the obtained one or more vehicle information items (e.g. renaming according to a predetermined dictionary of vehicle information items], grouping at least two of the obtained one or more vehicle information item and/or sorting the obtained one or more vehicle information items according to the predetermined format.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, a respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items is indicative of at least one of the following: an identification of the specific vehicle or an identification of a device which is part of the specific vehicle and/or connected to the specific vehicle; and/or a location of the specific vehicle and/or a movement of the specific vehicle; and/or a status of the specific vehicle.

Referring to for example an identification of the specific vehicle, non-limiting examples for such an identification may be a vehicle identification number (VIN] that identifies a specific vehicle or an international mobile equipment identity (I M E I] that identifies a communications device which is part of and/or connected to the specific vehicle (e.g. a mobile device such as a smartphone connected via Bluetooth with the vehicle’s electronic control system or e.g. a built-in communication module such as a built-in telematics device providing a proprietary network connection via e.g. an GSM module]. As another example, a vehicle information item may represent (e.g. indicate or include] an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI] that identifies a subscriber (e.g. a user] of a mobile network to which for example a communications device which is used by the subscriber and which is part of or connected to the specific vehicle is connected (e.g. a mobile device such as a smartphone connected via Bluetooth with the vehicle’s electronic control system or e.g. a built-in communication module such as a built-in telematics device providing a proprietary network connection via e.g. an GSM module].

Referring to for example a vehicle information item that is indicative of a location and/or a movement of the specific vehicle, such a vehicle information item may indicate a location of the specific vehicle at a particular time, for example by indicating geographical coordinates (e.g. geographical coordinates according to aversion of the World Geodetic System] of the location of the specific vehicle and by indicating a time at which the vehicle has been located at this location. For example, a vehicle information item may be indicative of a movement of the specific vehicle by indicating at least two locations of the specific vehicle at respective two different times, such that for example a movement of the specific vehicle from a first location at which the specific vehicle was location at a first time to a second location position at which the specific vehicle was located at a second time may be indicated. In further examples, a movement of a specific vehicle may be indicated in terms of a speed and/or acceleration at which and/or a direction to which the specific vehicle moves and/or by a route along which the specific vehicle moves.

Referring to for example a vehicle information item that is indicative of a status of the specific vehicle, a status of the specific vehicle may for example be a status of the specific vehicle and/or a status of components the specific vehicle. As non-limiting examples, such a status may be a fuel status or a battery status, a mileage, an expected driving range, a status of doors and/or windows of the specific vehicle, a status of autonomous driving function (e.g. active or inactive] and/or a status of one or more devices connected to the specific vehicle (e.g. a smartphone].

Additionally or alternatively, vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle may be indicative of other characteristics related to the specific vehicle. Such characteristics may for example relate to conditions of the environment inside the specific vehicle (e.g. an inside temperature, a number of passengers and/or seats] and/or the environment outside of the specific vehicle (e.g. an external temperature or road events], to details on the infotainment system of the specific vehicle (e.g. communications, music or links to other devices], to a service history of the specific vehicle and/or to customer details (e.g. information on persons associated with the specific vehicle car such as e.g. a vehicle owner or vehicle user].

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, at least one further request parameter included in the request message is indicative of at least one of the following: an identification of the requesting entity; and/or the requesting entity being authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items.

For example, the at least one further request parameter may be indicative of (e.g. by indicating, representing or including] an identification of the requesting entity (e.g. an identification, name or address of a requesting apparatus operated by the requesting entity such as a law enforcement agency] from which a request message comprising the at least one request parameter is received. An apparatus receiving a request message from a requesting entity may for example be able to determine, at least partially based on the at least one further request parameter indicating an identification of the requesting entity, the identification of the requesting entity. When for example the requesting entity is a law enforcement agency, an identification of the law enforcement agency may for example be given by a name, a designation, an identification number, an address and/or further characteristics of the law enforcement agency (e.g. such further characteristics may be related to a state, country and/or jurisdiction of this law enforcement agency]. A request parameter that is indicative of the requesting entity being authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items may for example indicate (e.g. represent or include] one or more authorization information and/or authorization parameters that may for example verify an authorization (e.g. a permission or an allowance] of the requesting entity for requesting the one or more vehicle information. Considering for example a law enforcement agency as requesting entity, such one or more authorization information and/or authorization parameters may at least partially depend on a state, country and/or jurisdiction of this law enforcement agency.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, the method further comprises: determining whether the requesting entity is authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle; and/or determining the one or more remote apparatuses if it is determined that the requesting entity is authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items.

For example, the determining whether the requesting entity (e.g. a requesting apparatus operated by the requesting entity] is authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle may at least partially be based on the at least one further request parameter that is indicative of the requesting entity being authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items included in the request message. This may for example be understood to mean that it is determined that the requesting entity is authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle if the at least one further request parameter that is indicative of the requesting entity being authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items is included in the request message for requesting the one or more vehicle information items. In some examples, determining the one or more remote apparatuses may only be performed if it is determined that the requesting entity (e.g. a requesting apparatus operated by the requesting entity] is authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items.

In some examples, determining whether the requesting entity is authorized to make a request may at least partially comprise a manual (e.g. a legal] examination of the request for the one or more vehicle information items. For example, a legal document (e.g. a legally binding document, legal certificate, court order or judicial decision] attached to the request message may be examined by a person, wherein after examining the document, information on whether the legal document may authorize or not the requesting entity to make the corresponding request may be provided to the apparatus performing the determining whether the requesting entity is authorized.

In another example, it may be determined that the requesting entity is not authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle (e.g. if the at least one further request parameter that is indicative of the requesting entity being authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items is not included in the request message for requesting the one or more vehicle information items]. In such an example, the steps of determining the one or more remote apparatuses and/or obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses may not be performed. Further regarding such an example, no response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items may be provided, but instead for example a response message indicating that the request for the one or more vehicle information items is declined or no response message at all may be provided.

In further examples, it may also be determined that the requesting entity is only authorized to make a request for a subset of one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle. In such an example, the steps of determining the one or more remote apparatuses and/or obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses may only be performed for the subset of one or more vehicle information items. In such an example, obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatus may comprise selecting the subset of one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle for which the requesting entity is authorized from a plurality of vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle that may be available (e.g. at a respective remote apparatus].

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, the method further comprises: determining, at least partially based on the one or more vehicle information items, a cost value; and providing a cost information representing at least the cost value.

For example, the cost value may at least partially depend on the type of the one or more vehicle information items and/or on the number of the requested one or more vehicle information items. In some examples, a larger number of requested one or more vehicle information items may imply a larger cost value, while a smaller number of requested one or more vehicle information items may imply a smaller cost value. In some examples, a cost value may indicate a financial compensation for providing the one or more vehicle information (e.g. to compensate for the effort of providing the one or more vehicle information]. For example, such financial compensation may be due to a vehicle manufacturer (e.g. as holder of the requested one or more vehicle information items] of the specific vehicle to which the requested one or more vehicle information items are related.

After determining a cost value, a cost information representing (e.g. including or indicating] at least the cost value may for example be provided (e.g. by transmitting over a communication link] to an apparatus (e.g. a server] which may for example be operated by a financial service provider or by a vehicle manufacturer (e.g. as holder of the requested one or more vehicle information items] of the specific vehicle to which the requested one or more vehicle information items are related. For example, providing a cost information representing at least the cost value may comprise determining the cost information at least partially based on the cost value. In addition to a cost value, the cost information may represent further information and/or parameters, such as for example an information item representing an identification of the requesting entity from which the request for the one or more vehicle information items based on which the cost value has been determined has been requested and/or a request number identifying the request message requesting the one or more vehicle information items.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the various aspects, the requesting apparatus is a server or the requesting apparatus is a terminal device. In some further examples, a requesting apparatus may comprise at least one server (e.g. a plurality of servers] and/or at least one terminal device (e.g. a plurality of terminal devices].

For example, the requesting apparatus may be operated by a requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency] requesting the one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle. For example, a server as requesting apparatus operated by the requesting entity may be understood as a server that may be operated (e.g. controlled or provided] by the requesting entity in order to obtain vehicle information. In another example, a terminal device as requesting apparatus may be understood as a terminal device (e.g. a user device] that may for example be operated by a user (e.g. personnel of the requesting entity such as e.g. an employee of a law enforcement agency as exemplary requesting entity] in order to obtain vehicle information. In some non-limiting examples, a terminal device (e.g. an electronic device] may be given by a stationary device (e.g. a fax machine, a computer device, a printer or similar] or a mobile device (e.g. a telephone, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop or similar]. For example, the terminal device (e.g. a user device] may comprise a display for displaying information to a user (e.g. to an employee of a law enforcement agency as exemplary requesting entity] and/or an input device (e.g. a keyboard, a keypad, a touchpad, a mouse or similar] for obtaining information from the user.

In a non-limiting example, a server and/or a terminal device (e.g. a terminal device, a server or a terminal device communicating with a server via a communication link between the terminal device and the server] as requesting apparatus may perform providing a request message (e.g. via an electronic interface to the apparatus according to the second aspect] for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle and may further perform receiving (e.g. via an electronic interface from the apparatus according to the second aspect] at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format. For example, a terminal device as exemplary requesting apparatus may perform providing a request message directly to and/or receiving a response message directly from the apparatus according to the second aspect via an electronic interface. In another example, a terminal device as exemplary requesting apparatus may perform providing a request message to and/or receiving a response message from the apparatus according to the second aspect via an electronic interface through one or more further apparatuses (e.g. one or more servers which may be part of the requesting apparatus].

It is to be understood that the presentation of the embodiments disclosed herein is merely by way of examples and non-limiting.

Herein, the disclosure of a method step shall also be considered as a disclosure of means for performing the respective method step. Likewise, the disclosure of means for performing a method step shall also be considered as a disclosure of the method step itself.

Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale and that they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Some exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the second aspect or the sixth aspect of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure;

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure; and Fig. 6 shows a schematic illustration of examples of tangible and non-transitory computer- readable storage media.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following description serves to deepen the understanding of the present disclosure and shall be understood to complement and be read together with the description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure as provided in the above summary section of this specification.

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system 100 according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure. According to the shown exemplary embodiment, system 100 comprises an apparatus 110, two remote apparatuses 120, 130, two vehicles 140, 150 forming a plurality of vehicles and further comprises two requesting apparatuses 180, 190. As an example, it is further assumed without limiting the scope of the present disclosure that a request messages response messages may be transmitted and received between apparatus 110 and requesting apparatuses 180, 190 via two electronic interfaces 160, 170.

For example, apparatus 110 may be understood as a server (e.g. a stand-alone server which may operate with a Linux-based operating system or e.g. a medium and large rack configuration including multiple servers] as illustrated for apparatus 200 in Fig. 2 below, which apparatus 110, 200 may for example perform the method steps illustrated in flow chart 300 of Fig. 3 below. In other examples, apparatus 110 may be implemented or deployed in a virtualized system or virtualized environment, for example in form of a virtualized, cloud-based or software as a service deployment.

For example, apparatus 110 may be referred to as an automotive compliance system [ACS] that receives request messages for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle 140, 150 from various requesting entities (e.g. law enforcement agencies, LEA], collects requested vehicle information items related to respective specific vehicles 140, 150 from one or more remote apparatuses 120, 130 serving as IT systems (e.g. operated by respective vehicle manufacturers of the respective specific vehicle 140, 150] and provides the requested vehicle information items included in a response message to the respective requesting entity. For this purpose, requests received at apparatus 110 may for example be queued in an internal database stored at the automotive compliance system. Further, respective processes of receiving requests and providing requested vehicle information items may for example be logged by the automotive compliance system for the purpose of being reviewed and audited afterwards. For example, the automotive compliance system may implement such processes of receiving requests from requesting entities and providing requested vehicle information items according to legal obligations and limitations to avoid any misuse or non-compliance to the applicable regulations, laws and policies. In some examples, the automotive compliance system may determine whether a requesting entity may be authorized to make a request at least partially based on a manual (e.g. a legal] examination of the request. For example, a legal document (e.g. a legally binding document, legal certificate, court order or judicial decision] attached to a request may be examined by a person, wherein after examining the document, information on whether the legal document may authorize or not the requesting entity to make the corresponding request may be provided to the automotive compliance system.

In some examples, apparatus 110 may further be connected to an apparatus (e.g. a server] not shown in Fig. 1 which may for example be operated by a financial service provider. For example, an automotive compliance system may provide cost information for a respective process of receiving requests and providing requested vehicle information items to a law enforcement agency. Such financial compensation may for example be due to a vehicle manufacturer (e.g. as holder of the requested one or more vehicle information items] of the specific vehicle to which the requested one or more vehicle information items are related (e.g. to compensate for an effort of providing the one or more vehicle information items]. For example, cost information for invoicing the compensation may be exported to a finance system of the holder of the vehicle information items to start an invoicing process.

Remote apparatuses 120, 130 may be understood as respective IT systems (e.g. respective servers], which may for example be operated by respective vehicle manufacturers or vehicle administrators of the respective specific vehicle 140, 150. Such vehicle manufacturers may for example be referred to as holder of vehicle information (e.g. one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle 140, 150], For example, the remote apparatuses 120, 130 may be capable of providing one or more vehicle information items of a plurality of respective vehicles 140, 150, for example by holding available one or more vehicle information items (e.g. one or more vehicle information items are stored in an electronic memory of the respective remote apparatus] or by retrieving the one or more vehicle information items from a specific vehicle 140, 150.

For example, vehicles 140, 150 may be understood as motorized vehicles (e.g. cars] carrying one or more persons (e.g. an owner, a driver or a passenger of the specific vehicle]. At least one request parameter included in a request message received by apparatus 110 may be related to (e.g. associated with or linked to] vehicle 140 or vehicle 150 as specific vehicle, for example by representing a vehicle identification number (VIN] that identifies the specific vehicle 140, 150 or by representing for example an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI] that identifies a communications device which may be part of or may be connected to specific vehicle 140 (e.g. a mobile device such as a smartphone connected via Bluetooth with the vehicle’s electronic control system or e.g. a built-in communication module such as a built-in telematics device providing a proprietary network connection via e.g. an GSM module]. Further, one or more vehicle information items may for example be related to (e.g. associated with or linked to] the vehicles 140, 150, which vehicle information items may represent one or more characteristics of the respective vehicles 140, 150. For example, a vehicle information item related to specific vehicle 140 may represent a vehicle identification number (VIN] that identifies the specific vehicle 140 or represent for example an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI] that identifies a communications device which may be part of or may be connected to the specific vehicle 140 (e.g. a mobile device such as a smartphone connected via Bluetooth with the vehicle’s electronic control system or e.g. a built-in communication module such as a built-in telematics device providing a proprietary network connection via e.g. an GSM module]. Further, a vehicle information item related to the specific vehicle 140, 150 may for example represent a location of the specific vehicle 140, 150 (e.g. by indicating geographical coordinates at which the specific vehicle has been located at a given time], a movement of the specific vehicle 140, 150 at a particular time (e.g. a speed and/or acceleration at which and/or a direction to which the specific vehicle 140, 150 moves] and/or a status of the specific vehicle 140, 150 (e.g. a fuel status or a battery status, a mileage, an expected driving range, a status of doors and/or windows ofvehicle 140, 150, a status of autonomous driving function and/or a status of one or more devices, e.g. a smartphone, connected to the specific vehicle 140, 150],

Vehicle 140 and vehicle 150 may be of a particular manufacturer (e.g. a vehicle manufacturer or car manufacturer], which has for example produced and/or marketed the respective vehicle and/or parts of the respective vehicle. The respective vehicle manufacturer may for example operate one or more respective remote apparatuses 120, 130 that may be capable of providing one or more vehicle information items of a respective vehicles 140, 150, for example by holding available respective one or more vehicle information items (e.g. one or more vehicle information items are stored in an electronic memory of the respective remote apparatus] or by receiving (e.g. retrieving] respective one or more vehicle information items from a specific vehicle 140, 150.

Regarding the example of system 100, vehicles 140, 150 may form a plurality of vehicles, but it may be understood that a plurality of vehicles may comprise any number of vehicles.

Requesting apparatuses 180, 190 may for example be understood as respective servers and/or terminal devices which may for example be operated by respective requesting entities such as respective law enforcement agencies (LEA], For example, law enforcement agencies investigate criminal cases and have the legal right to request evidence from third parties holding information relevant for a particular case. In case ofvehicle information, a law enforcement agency may for example direct a legal request for providing vehicle information (e.g. one or more vehicle information items related to specific vehicle 140, 150], wherein such a legal request may come from law enforcement agencies of various states, countries and/or jurisdictions, which may depend on where the holder of vehicle data is registered. Accordingly, various law enforcement agencies may apply different formal frameworks (e.g. different required formats in which the requested one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle 140, 150 are provided] when requesting and receiving vehicle information.

For example, a request message may be received at apparatus 110 via an electronic interface 160, 170 from a respective requesting apparatus 180, 190 (e.g. a server and/or a terminal device operated by a law enforcement agency as requesting entity] and/or at least one response message may for example be transmitted from apparatus 110 to an respective requesting apparatus 180, 190 via an electronic interface 160, 170. Electronic interfaces 160, 170 may be understood as physical or logical interface across which information, parameters and/or data may be transmitted. For example, such an electronic interface may be a handover interface [HI] that relies on various communication services such as for example telephony services (e.g. PSTN/ISDN, GSM/UMTS-cs, SMS], message services (e.g. FAX, email, webmail], multimedia services or network access service (e.g. internet, GPRS, UMTS-sp] for receiving and transmitting (e.g. requesting and delivering] information, parameters and/or data.

Apparatus 110, requesting apparatuses 180, 190, remote apparatuses 120, 130 and vehicles 140, 150 of system 100 may be connected to each other by respective communication links enabling the transmitting and receiving of messages, information and/or parameters as depicted in Fig. 1 by solid lines. Therein, a communication link may be understood as a communication network connection via one or more wireless and/or wired communication networks (e.g. one or more communication networks according to one or more standard communication protocols].

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a system 200 according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure. According to the shown exemplary embodiment, system 200 comprises an apparatus 210, a remote apparatus 220 and a requesting apparatus 280. In addition, system 200 may comprise further remote apparatuses, further requesting apparatuses and/or a plurality of vehicles (not shown in Fig. 2).

For example, apparatus 210 may be referred to as an automotive compliance system (ACS] similar to apparatus 110 of system 100 depicted in Fig. 1. As such, apparatus 210 may for example receive request messages for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle from requesting apparatus 280 operated by a requesting entity such as a law enforcement agency (LEA], For example, requesting apparatus 280 may be understood as a server and/or a terminal device operated by an LEA similar to requesting apparatus 180 of system 100 depicted in Fig. 1. Apparatus 210 may further collect requested vehicle information items related to a specific vehicles from remote apparatus 220 serving as IT system (e.g. operated by a vehicle manufacturer or vehicle administrator of a specific vehicle] similar to remote apparatus 120 of system 100 depicted in Fig. 1 and then provide the requested vehicle information items included in a response message to the LEA.

For example, functions of remote apparatus 220 (IT system], apparatus 210 [ACS] and requesting apparatus 280 [LEA] may be understood within a general function model for lawful interception described in the following. Therein, an access function may for example be a responsibility of the respective IT system and may comprise access means for obtaining one or more vehicle information. Further, a mediation function, sometimes also referred to as delivery function, may for example mediate (e.g. organize or manage] vehicle information and deliver such information to one or more authorized LEAs. In particular, mediation may for example encompass correlation, conversion, formatting and/or mapping of vehicle information items to the appropriate formats, protocols, and interfaces as required by the LEAs. In some examples, vehicle information need to be stored intermediately before delivery, which then may be handled by the mediation function. The responsibility for the mediation function may for example depend on a country’s or jurisdiction’s regulation. In some examples, the mediation function may be carried out by a trusted-third party (e.g. as a hosted service] or by an LEA.

In addition, administration of the access function and mediation function may for example be divided in an ACS part and an LEA part, which may for example be understood to mean that the ACS manages obtaining vehicle information within the respective network and an LEA may administer components required to request and analyse vehicle information.

According to the exemplary embodiment of system 200, LEA (requesting apparatus 280], ACS (apparatus 210] and IT system (remote apparatus 220] may communicate over several electronic interfaces, in particular handover interfaces Hl, H2 (similar to electronic interfaces 160, 170 in system 100 depicted in Fig. 1] and network interfaces xl, x2. For example, electronic interfaces Hl, H2, xl and x2 may be understood as physical or logical interfaces across which information, parameters and/or data may be transmitted. For example, such an electronic interface may be an interface that relies on various communication services such as for example telephony services (e.g. PSTN/ISDN, GSM/UMTS-cs, SMS], message services (e.g. FAX, email, webmail], multimedia services or network access service (e.g. internet, GPRS, UMTS-sp] for receiving and transmitting (e.g. requesting and delivering] information, parameters and/or data.

For example, the xl network interface may serve the administration of requesting vehicle information from the IT system by the ACS, while the x2 network interface may for example serve delivering vehicle information from the IT system to the ACS (see e.g. action 430 as in flow chart 400 depicted in Fig. 4], In a similar manner, handover interfaces (Hl, H2] between ACS and LEA may for example be defined, wherein handover interface specifications, protocols, as well as data formats for example have been standardized by various organizations (e.g. ETSI, 3GPP, ANSI, CableLabs and others]. For example, handover interface Hl may be understood as physical and logical interface across which vehicle information are requested from ACS by the LEA (see e.g. action 410 in flow chart 400 depicted in Fig. 4], Accordingly, handover interface H2 may for example serve the delivery of vehicle information by the ACS to the LEA (see e.g. action 450 in flow chart 400 depicted in Fig. 4],

It is to be understood that remote apparatus 220 (IT system], apparatus 210 (ACS] and requesting apparatus 280 (LEA] of system 200 as depicted in Fig. 2 may comprise various other functions and interfaces.

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of apparatus 300. Apparatus 300 may be considered as example for apparatus 110 which is part of system 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 or as example for apparatus 210 as illustrated in Fig. 2. As such, apparatus 300 may for example be configured to perform the actions 410 to 450 of flow chart 400 illustrated in Fig. 4. For example, apparatus 300 may be considered as stand-alone server (e.g. which operates with a Linux-based operating system] or as medium or large rack configuration including multiple servers. In other examples, apparatus 300 may be implemented or deployed in a virtualized system or virtualized environment, for example in form of a virtualized, cloud-based or software as a service deployment.

Apparatus 300 may further be considered as example for a requesting apparatus 180, 190 as part of system 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 or as example for requesting apparatus 280 as illustrated in Fig. 2. For example, apparatus 300 may then be considered as a server or a terminal device (e.g. a stationary device such as e.g. a fax machine, a computer device, a printer or similar or a mobile device such as e.g. a telephone, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop or similar] which may for example be operated by a requesting entity such as respective law enforcement agency.

Apparatus 300 may comprise a processor 301 which may represent a single processor or two or more processors (which e.g. are at least partially coupled, e.g. via a bus]. Processor 301 may execute a program code stored in program memory 302 (e.g. program code causing apparatus 300 to perform embodiments according to the present disclosure or parts thereof) and interfaces with a main memory 303. Program memory 302 may also comprise an operating system (e.g. a Linux-based operating system) for processor 301. Some or all of memories 302 and 303 may also be included into processor 301.

Moreover, processor 301 may control one or more communication interface(s) 304 which may for example be configured to communicate with further apparatuses such as remote apparatuses 120, 130, apparatus 110 and/or requesting apparatuses 180, 190 of system 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 (e.g. with respective communication interface(s) of remote apparatuses 120, 130 and/or requesting apparatuses 180, 190] via electronic interfaces 160, 170. For example, the one or more communication interface^] 304 may be implemented as one or more wireless and/or wired communication interfaces. A wireless communication interface may for example be a WLAN-, GSM-, UMTS-, LTE and/or 5G-interface. A wired communication interface may for example be an Ethernet interface as for example further specified in the standards of the IEEE-802.3 family.

The components 302 to 304 of apparatus 300 may for example be connected with processor 301 by means of one or more serial and/or parallel busses. It is to be understood that apparatus 300 may comprise various other components (e.g. a display for displaying information to a user and/or an input device such as e.g. a keyboard, a keypad, a touchpad or a mouse for obtaining information from the user].

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart 400 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the first aspect of present disclosure. Without limiting the scope of the present disclosure, it is assumed in the following that apparatus 110 performs the actions of flow chart 400 as part of system 100 comprising apparatus 110, two remote apparatuses 120, 130, two vehicles 140, 150 forming a plurality of vehicles and two requesting apparatuses 180, 190 as depicted in Fig. 1.

In action 410, an apparatus performs receiving a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter.

For example, apparatus 110 receives (e.g. via electronic interface 160] a request message (e.g. an HTTP request message] for requesting one or more vehicle information items indicating a location of a specific vehicle 140 from requesting apparatus 180 (e.g. a server and/or a terminal device]. Therein, requesting apparatus 180 may be operated by a law enforcement agency that investigates a criminal case involving specific vehicle 140. In this example, the request message comprises the at least one request parameter representing a vehicle identification number (VIN] of specific vehicle 140 that identifies specific vehicle 140. In some examples, the request message may comprise at least one a further request parameter indicating a request type in order to indicate which type of vehicle information item related to specific vehicle 140 (e.g. by having a form of "request parameter-to-vehicle information item type”] is requested by the request message. Assuming that for example the respective LEA from which the request message is received requests information on a location of specific vehicle 140 based on the vehicle identification number of this specific vehicle 140, the at least one further request parameter (e.g. "VIN-to-location”] may indicate that a vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 is requested.

For example, the request message is received in action 410 via electronic interface 160 that may be understood as physical or logical interface across which information, parameters and/or data may be transmitted. For example, electronic interface 160 may be a handover interface [HI] that relies on various communication services such as for example telephony services (e.g. PSTN/ISDN, GSM/UMTS-cs, SMS], message services (e.g. FAX, email, webmail], multimedia services or network access service (e.g. internet, GPRS, UMTS-sp] for receiving and transmitting (e.g. requesting and delivering] information, parameters and/or data.

In some examples, receiving a request message as in action 410 may comprise receiving a written letter (e.g. with the signed court order], a FAX or email from a trusted sender (e.g. an LEA], For example, the personnel of the entity processing the request may enter information or details manually in a GUI provided by apparatus 110. In some further examples, the personnel of the processing entity may also confirm a request message before the request is processed further (e.g. before requesting vehicle information items at remote apparatuses 120, 130],

In action 420, the apparatus performs determining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses.

For example, apparatus 110 may determine, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter included in the request message received in action 410 that represents a vehicle identification number of specific vehicle 140, that remote apparatus 120 holds available one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle 140 (e.g. an vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140], In another example, the apparatus 110 may determine, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter included in the request message received in action 410 that represents a vehicle identification number of specific vehicle 140, that remote apparatus 120 is capable of receiving (e.g. retrieving] one or more vehicle information items related to specific vehicle 140 (e.g. a vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140] from specific vehicle 140. In some further examples, the determining in action 420 may be further based on a further request parameter indicating a request type in order to indicate which type of vehicle information item related to specific vehicle 140 (e.g. by having a form of "request parameter-to-vehicle information item type”, e.g. "VIN-to-location”] is requested by the request message.

In action 430, the apparatus performs obtaining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses.

For example, apparatus 110 may obtain, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter included in the request message received in action 410 that represents a vehicle identification number of specific vehicle 140, one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle 140 from remote apparatus 120 which has been determined in action 420. Considering for example that a plurality of vehicle information items related to specific vehicle 140 may be available at remote apparatus 120, apparatus 110 may obtain a (e.g. predetermined] selection (e.g. at least one, some or all vehicle information items] of this plurality of available vehicle information items from remote apparatus 120 in action 430. In other examples, the request message received in action 410 may comprise at least one the further request parameter (e.g. "VIN-to-location”] indicating that a vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 is requested, such that apparatus 110 may obtain a vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 out of the plurality of available vehicle information items at remote apparatus 120 from remote apparatus 120 in action 430.

Considering that for example a vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 is obtained in action 430, this particular vehicle information item may for example be held available at remote apparatus 120. In some other examples, a particular vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 is not held available at remote apparatus 120 but needs to be received (e.g. retrieved] by remote apparatus 120 from specific vehicle 140. At specific vehicle 140, for example, a vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 may be obtained (e.g. measured, observed or received] by specific vehicle 140 (e.g. by one or more components, sensors and/or parts of the specific vehicle 140, e.g. a GPS receiver which may be part of specific vehicle 140],

In action 440, the apparatus performs processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format.

For example, apparatus 110 processes (e.g. converts, transforms, rearranges, reformats or changes] the vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 that has been obtained in action 430 to obtain this vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 in a predetermined format. The processing in action 440 may for example affect the format the vehicle location information item is in, but it may not affect the location of the specific vehicle 140 as content represented (e.g. indicated or included] by the vehicle information item. For example, the predetermined format may be held available at (e.g. stored in an electronic memory of apparatus 110] apparatus 110 and/or the predetermined format may be indicated (e.g. included] by the request message (e.g. by at least one further request parameter included in the request message that indicates the predetermined format] received in action 410.

The predetermined format may for example determine a form (e.g. a language, scheme and/or further characteristics] in which the processed vehicle information item indicating a location of the specific vehicle 140 is available, such that processing the obtained vehicle information item indicating a location of the specific vehicle 140 may be understood to mean that the form (e.g. a language, scheme and/or further characteristics] of the vehicle information item is changed. For example, processing the obtained vehicle information item indicating a location of the specific vehicle 140 in action 440 to obtain the vehicle information item indicating a location of the specific vehicle 140 in a predetermined format may change the format in which the vehicle information item indicating a location of the specific vehicle 140 is obtained from the remote apparatus 120.

In action 450, the apparatus performs providing at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format.

For example, apparatus 110 provides a response message (e.g. an HTTP response message] comprising the vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 that has been processed in action 440. For example, this providing may for example comprise transmitting the response message to requesting apparatus 180 which may be operated by the law enforcement agency as requesting entity from which the request message has been received in action 410.

For example, the response message is transmitted to requesting apparatus 180 in action 450 via electronic interface 160 as described above for receiving the request message in action 410. In other examples, the response message is transmitted via another electronic interface 170 to requesting apparatus 180.

In some examples, a plurality of response messages comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format is transmitted to requesting apparatus 180, wherein at least one of the plurality of response messages comprises one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format. For example, at least one further request parameter included in the request message received in action 410 indicates that a plurality of response messages each comprising an vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 is to be transmitting over a particular time period (e.g. a time period of a particular number of seconds, minutes, hours and/or days]. In such an example, a new vehicle information item indicating a (e.g. a current] location of specific vehicle 140 may be obtained in regular time intervals or irregular time intervals (e.g. triggered by a new location of the specific vehicle 140 being available at remote apparatus 120] over the particular time period from remote apparatuses 120 in action 430, processed to obtain the new vehicle information item in a predetermined format in action 440, and transmitted included in a respective response message of the plurality of response messages in action 450. For example, when transmitting a plurality of response messages, the steps of obtaining the one or more vehicle information items (action 430], processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items (action 440] and providing a response message (action 450] may be repeated for each transmitted response message of the plurality of response messages. Advantageously, the requested vehicle information item indicating a location of the specific vehicle 140 is provided in action 450 in a predetermined format in response to the request message (e.g. which request message indicates the predetermined format]. This way, varying conditions (e.g. requirements on the format of the vehicle information item indicating a location of the specific vehicle 140 that may be specific to a requesting entity, e.g. a law enforcement agency operating requesting apparatus 180] for requesting and providing vehicle information may be met in a technically reliable manner. If for example further vehicle information items related to specific vehicle 140 are obtained from various remote apparatuses 120, 130 (e.g. operated by one or more vehicle manufacturers or vehicle administrators of the specific vehicle 140, 150] in various formats, these one or more vehicle information items may be processed in action 440 to obtain them in a format predetermined by the requesting law enforcement agency. As a results, the law enforcement agency is provided in action 450 with the one or more vehicle information items in the required format, such that for example requesting apparatus 180 operated by the law enforcement agency and remote apparatuses 120, 130 operated by vehicle manufacturers or vehicle administrators of specific vehicle 140 may be relieved from determining (e.g. agreeing on or negotiating about] a common format for providing requested vehicle information. For example, technical difficulties originating from different formats being used on vehicle manufacturer side and law enforcement agency side may thus be resolved.

In addition, the requesting entity (e.g. a law enforcement agency] operating requesting entity 180 may for example be relieved from determining where the requested vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140 may be held available. For example, when requesting vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140, this vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140 may be held available at remote apparatus 120 or at remote apparatus 130 or needs to be retrieved from the specific vehicle 140 by remote apparatus 120 or by remote apparatus 130. In such an example, the requesting entity operating requesting apparatus 180 may lack information on which remote apparatuses 120, 130 may be capable of providing the vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140 and thus would for example have to request the vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140 at a larger number of remote apparatuses, wherein only remote apparatus 120 may be actually capable of providing the vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140. Further, providing the vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140 according to a legal request may be challenging, since the particular vehicle information item related to specific vehicle 140 may have to be identified and obtained out of a large amount of other vehicle information items related to this specific vehicle 140 and/or vehicle information items related to other vehicles such as vehicle 150. The present approach allows the requesting entity to make a single request in action 410 and remote apparatus 120 from which the vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140 is obtained in action 430 may be determined at least partially based on the single request. In response to the single request, the vehicle information item indicating a location of specific vehicle 140 may for example be provided in a time-efficient and reliable manner

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart 500 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the fifth aspect of present disclosure. Without limiting the scope of the present disclosure, it is assumed in the following that requesting apparatus 180 or requesting apparatus 190 performs the actions of flow chart 500 as part of system 100 comprising apparatus 110, two remote apparatuses 120, 130, two vehicles 140, 150 forming a plurality of vehicles and the two requesting apparatuses 180, 190 as depicted in Fig. 1.

In action 510, the requesting apparatus performs providing a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter.

For example, requesting apparatus 180 transmits (e.g. via electronic interface 160] a request message (e.g. an HTTP request message] for requesting one or more vehicle information items indicating a location of a specific vehicle 140 to apparatus 110. Therein, requesting apparatus 180 (e.g. a server and/or a terminal device] may be operated by a law enforcement agency that investigates a criminal case involving specific vehicle 140. In this example, the request message comprises the at least one request parameter representing a vehicle identification number [VIN] of specific vehicle 140 that identifies specific vehicle 140. In some examples, the request message may comprise at least one a further request parameter indicating a request type in order to indicate which type of vehicle information item related to specific vehicle 140 (e.g. by having a form of "request parameter-to-vehicle information item type”] is requested by the request message. Assuming that for example the respective LEA which transmits the request message requests information on a location of specific vehicle 140 based on the vehicle identification number of this specific vehicle 140, the at least one further request parameter (e.g. "VIN-to-location”] may indicate that a vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 is requested.

In action 520, the requesting apparatus performs receiving at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format, wherein the one or more vehicle information items are obtained, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, from one or more remote apparatuses, wherein the one or more remote apparatuses are determined at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and wherein the obtained one or more vehicle information items are processed to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format.

For example, requesting apparatus 180 receives a response message (e.g. an HTTP response message] comprising the vehicle information item indicating the location of specific vehicle 140 that has been requested in action 510 as described above. For example, the response message is provided by apparatus 110 according to action 450 of flowchart 400 depicted in Fig. 4. For example, the response message is transmitted to requesting apparatus 180 in action 520 via electronic interface 160 as described above for providing the request message in action 510. In other examples, the response message is transmitted via another electronic interface 170 to requesting apparatus 180.

Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of examples of tangible and non-transitory computer-readable storage media according to the present disclosure that may for example be used to implement memory 302 or memory 303 of Fig. 3. To this end, Fig. 6 displays a flash memory 600, which may for example be soldered or bonded to a printed circuit board, a solid-state drive 601 comprising a plurality of memory chips (e.g. Flash memory chips], a magnetic hard drive 602, a Secure Digital (SD] card 603, a Universal Serial Bus [USB] memory stick 604, an optical storage medium 605 (such as for example a CD-ROM or DVD] and a magnetic storage medium 606.

Any presented connection in the described embodiments is to be understood in a way that the involved components are operationally coupled. Thus, the connections can be direct or indirect with any number or combination of intervening elements, and there may be merely a functional relationship between the components.

Any of the processors mentioned in this text, in particular but not limited to processor 301 of Fig. 3 could be a processor of any suitable type. Any processor may comprise but is not limited to one or more microprocessors, one or more processorfs] with accompanying digital signal processorfs], one or more processorfs] without accompanying digital signal processorfs], one or more special-purpose computer chips, one or more field-programmable gate arrays [FPGAS], one or more controllers, one or more application-specific integrated circuits [ASICS], or one or more computerfs]. The relevant structure /hard ware has been programmed in such a way to carry out the described function.

Moreover, any of the actions or steps described or illustrated herein may be implemented using executable instructions in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor and stored on a computer- readable storage medium (e.g., disk, memory, or the like] to be executed by such a processor. References to ‘computer-readable storage medium’ should be understood to encompass specialized circuits such as FPGAs, ASICs, signal processing devices, and other devices.

Moreover, any of the actions described or illustrated herein may be implemented using executable instructions in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor and stored on a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., disk, memory, or the like] to be executed by such a processor. References to ‘computer-readable storage medium’ should be understood to encompass specialized circuits such as FPGAs, ASICs, signal processing devices, and other devices. The wording "A, or B, or C, or a combination thereof’ or "at least one of A, B and C” may be understood to be not exhaustive and to include at least the following: [i] A, or [ii] B, or [hi] C, or [iv] A and B, or [v] A and C, or [vi] B and C, or [vii] A and B and C.

It will be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are only exemplary, and that any feature presented for a particular exemplary embodiment may be used with any aspect of the present disclosure on its own or in combination with any feature presented for the same or another particular exemplary embodiment and/or in combination with any other feature not mentioned. It will further be understood that any feature presented for an exemplary embodiment in a particular category may also be used in a corresponding manner in an exemplary embodiment of any other category.

The following embodiments are disclosed as exemplary embodiments of the various aspects of the present disclosure:

Exemplary embodiment 1:

A method for providing vehicle information in a system comprising an apparatus, one or more remote apparatuses and a plurality of vehicles, the method comprising: receiving a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter; determining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses ; obtaining, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses ; processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format; and providing at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format.

Exemplary embodiment 2:

The method according to embodiment 1, wherein the at least one request parameter represents an identification of the specific vehicle or an identification of a device which is part of the specific vehicle and/or connected to the specific vehicle.

Exemplary embodiment 3: The method according to embodiment 1 or embodiment 2, wherein receiving the request message further comprises: receiving the request message via an electronic interface from a requesting entity; and/or wherein providing the at least one response message comprises: transmitting the at least one response message via an electronic interface to the requesting entity.

Exemplary embodiment 4:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein providing the at least one response message further comprises: transmitting a plurality of response messages comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format to the requesting entity via the electronic interface continuously over a time period, wherein the time period is indicated by at least one further request parameter included in the request message.

Exemplary embodiment 5:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one request parameter is related to the one or more vehicle information items such that the one or more vehicle information items are identifiable at least partially based on the at least one request parameter related to the one or more vehicle information items.

Exemplary embodiment 6:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one further request parameter included in the request message indicates a request type, and wherein at least one of the following holds: determining the one or more remote apparatuses is at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and the at least one further request parameter indicating a request type; and/or obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses is at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and the at least one further request parameter indicating a request type.

Exemplary embodiment 7:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses further comprises: requesting, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items at the one or more remote apparatuses; and receiving, in response to requesting the one or more vehicle information items at the one or more remote apparatuses, the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses.

Exemplary embodiment 8:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more vehicle information items are held available at the one or more remote apparatuses and/or wherein the one or more vehicle information items are received at the one or more remote apparatuses from the specific vehicle of the plurality of vehicles.

Exemplary embodiment 9:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, the method further comprising: establishing, after determining the one or more remote apparatuses, one or more respective communication links to the one or more remote apparatuses.

Exemplary embodiment 10:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses further comprises: receiving a first vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items from a first remote apparatus of the one or more remote apparatuses; and receiving a second vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items from a second remote apparatus of the one more remote apparatuses.

Exemplary embodiment 11:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the predetermined format is indicated by at least one further request parameter included in the request message.

Exemplary embodiment 12:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format comprises: categorizing the obtained one or more vehicle information items into one or more vehicle information categories of the predetermined format.

Exemplary embodiment 13:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items is indicative of at least one of the following: an identification of the specific vehicle or an identification of a device which is part of the specific vehicle and/or connected to the specific vehicle; and/or a location of the specific vehicle and/or a movement of the specific vehicle; and/or a status of the specific vehicle.

Exemplary embodiment 14:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one further request parameter included in the request message is indicative of at least one of the following: an identification of the requesting entity ; and/or the requesting entity being authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items.

Exemplary embodiment 15:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, the method further comprising: determining whether the requesting entity is authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle ; and/or determining the one or more remote apparatuses if it is determined that the requesting entity is authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items.

Exemplary embodiment 16:

The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, the method further comprising: determining, at least partially based on the one or more vehicle information items, a cost value; and providing a cost information representing at least the cost value.

Exemplary embodiment 17:

An apparatus configured to perform and/or comprising means for performing the method according to any of the preceding embodiments.

Exemplary embodiment 18:

A system comprising the apparatus according to embodiment 17, one or more remote apparatuses and a plurality of vehicles.

Exemplary embodiment 19:

A method for obtaining vehicle information, the method comprising: providing a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter; and receiving at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format, wherein the one or more vehicle information items are obtained, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, from one or more remote apparatuses, wherein the one or more remote apparatuses are determined at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and wherein the obtained one or more vehicle information items are processed to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format.

Exemplary embodiment 20:

A requesting apparatus configured to perform and/or comprising means for performing the method according to embodiment 19.

Exemplary embodiment 21:

The requesting apparatus according to embodiment 20, wherein the requesting apparatus is a server or a terminal device.

Claims

C L A I M S A method [400] for providing vehicle information in a system [100] comprising an apparatus (110; 210], one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220] and a plurality of vehicles (140; 150], the method (400] comprising: receiving (410] a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle (140] of the plurality of vehicles (140; 150], wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter and wherein a respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items is indicative of a location of the specific vehicle (140]; determining (420], at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220], wherein determining the one or more remote apparatuses comprises determining one remote apparatus (120;220] that is capable retrieving from the specific vehicle (140] the vehicle information item indicating the location of the specific vehicle (140]; obtaining (430], at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220], wherein the vehicle information item indicating the location of the specific vehicle (140] is retrieved from the specific vehicle (140] by the remote apparatus (120;220] that is capable retrieving from the specific vehicle (140] the vehicle information item indicating the location of the specific vehicle (140]; processing (440] the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format; and providing (450] at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format. The method (400] according to claim 1, wherein the at least one request parameter represents an identification of the specific vehicle (140] or an identification of a device which is part of the specific vehicle (140] and/or connected to the specific vehicle (140], The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein receiving (410] the request message further comprises: receiving the request message via an electronic interface (160; 170] from a requesting entity (180; 190; 280]; and/or wherein providing the at least one response message comprises: transmitting the at least one response message via an electronic interface (160; 170] to the requesting entity (180; 190; 280],

4. The method [400] according to any of the preceding claims, wherein providing [450] the at least one response message further comprises: transmitting a plurality of response messages comprising the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format to the requesting entity (180; 190; 280] via the electronic interface (160; 170] continuously over a time period, wherein the time period is indicated by at least one further request parameter included in the request message.

5. The method (400] according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one request parameter is related to the one or more vehicle information items such that the one or more vehicle information items are identifiable at least partially based on the at least one request parameter related to the one or more vehicle information items.

6. The method (400] according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one further request parameter included in the request message indicates a request type, and wherein at least one of the following holds: determining the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220] is at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and the at least one further request parameter indicating a request type; and/or obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220] is at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and the at least one further request parameter indicating a request type.

7. The method (400] according to any of the preceding claims, wherein obtaining (430] the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220] further comprises: requesting, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, the one or more vehicle information items at the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220]; and receiving, in response to requesting the one or more vehicle information items at the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220], the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220], 8. The method (400] according to any of the preceding claims, the method further comprising: establishing, after determining the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220], one or more respective communication links to the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220], The method [400] according to any of the preceding claims, wherein obtaining the one or more vehicle information items from the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220] further comprises: receiving a first vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items from a first remote apparatus [120] of the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220]; and receiving a second vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items from a second remote apparatus (130] of the one more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220], The method (400] according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined format is indicated by at least one further request parameter included in the request message. The method (400] according to any of the preceding claims, wherein processing the obtained one or more vehicle information items to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format comprises: categorizing the obtained one or more vehicle information items into one or more vehicle information categories of the predetermined format. The method (400] according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a further respective vehicle information item of the one or more vehicle information items is indicative of at least one of the following: an identification of the specific vehicle (140] or an identification of a device which is part of the specific vehicle (140] and/or connected to the specific vehicle (140]; and/or a movement of the specific vehicle (140]; and/or a status of the specific vehicle (140], The method (400] according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one further request parameter included in the request message is indicative of at least one of the following: an identification of the requesting entity (180; 190; 280]; and/or the requesting entity (180; 190; 280] being authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items. The method (400] according to any of the preceding claims, the method further comprising: determining whether the requesting entity (180; 190; 280] is authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items related to the specific vehicle (140]; and/or determining the one or more remote apparatuses if it is determined that the requesting entity (180; 190; 280] is authorized to make a request for the one or more vehicle information items. The method [400] according to any of the preceding claims, the method further comprising: determining, at least partially based on the one or more vehicle information items, a cost value; and providing a cost information representing at least the cost value. An apparatus (110; 210; 300] configured to perform and/or comprising means (301; 302; 303; 304] for performing the method (400] according to any of the preceding claims. A system (100] comprising the apparatus (110; 210; 330] according to claim 16, one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220] and a plurality of vehicles (140; 150], A method (500] for obtaining vehicle information, the method comprising: providing (510] a request message for requesting one or more vehicle information items related to a specific vehicle (140] of a plurality of vehicles (140; 150], wherein the request message comprises at least one request parameter; and receiving (520] at least one response message comprising the one or more vehicle information items in a predetermined format, wherein the one or more vehicle information items are obtained, at least partially based on the at least one request parameter, from one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220], wherein the one or more remote apparatuses (120; 130; 220] are determined at least partially based on the at least one request parameter and wherein the obtained one or more vehicle information items are processed to obtain the one or more vehicle information items in the predetermined format. A requesting apparatus (180; 190; 280; 300] configured to perform and/or comprising means (301; 302; 303; 304] for performing the method according to claim 18. The requesting apparatus (180; 190; 280; 300] according to claim 19, wherein the requesting apparatus (180; 190; 280; 300] is a server or a terminal device.