Many automotive, high tech, and telecom business leaders are now competing in the IoT (Internet of Things) connected car market by providing and developing innovative products/services. For example, Toyota created new department to unify its connected car technologies. Verizon launched ThingSpace IoT platform to simplify the development and deployment of the IoT connected car applications. Samsung, partners with leaders across industries, is going to offer the connected car solution. Patent information can provide insights regarding the state of the art of the IoT innovations for the connected car applications such as Accident Avoidance System, Control Automation (e.g., Autonomous Vehicle), Infotainment, Maintenance/Diagnostic/Alert, and Navigation System and Vehicular Communication System (e.g., V2V, V2I, V2X using DSRC or LTE). Thus, one can identify the potential further innovation R&D areas (“white space”) that can lead to new products/services development through the patent analysis.

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IoT Connected Car Innovation R&D White Space Insights from Patents
Alex G. Lee (alexglee@techipm.com)
Many automotive, high tech, and telecom business leaders are now competing in the IoT (Internet of Things)
connected car market by providing and developing innovative products/services. Forexample, Toyotacreated new
department to unify its connected car technologies. Verizon launched ThingSpace IoT platform to simplify the
development and deployment of the IoT connected car applications. Samsung, partners with leaders across
industries, is going to offer the connected car solution. Patent information can provide insights regarding the state
of the art of the IoT innovations for the connected car applications such as Accident Avoidance System, Control
Automation (e.g., Autonomous Vehicle), Infotainment, Maintenance/Diagnostic/Alert, and Navigation System and
Vehicular Communication System (e.g., V2V, V2I, V2X using DSRC or LTE). Thus, one can identify the potential
further innovation R&D areas (“white space”) that can lead to new products/services development through the
patent analysis.
To find the white spaces in the IoT connected car applications, more than 1000 published patent applications and
issued patents in the USPTO as of January 31, 2016 that are related to the connected car applications and vehicular
communication system are reviewed. More than 450 patent applications are selected as the key patents for the IoT
connected car applications and vehicular communication system. Following figure shows the patent landscape of
the IoT connected car applications and vehicular communication system. As can be seen in the figure, the

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connected car vehicular communication system is clouded by significant number of patent applications owned by
many market leaders such as Cisco, Continental, and GM. The connected car accident avoidance system is also
clouded by a large number of patent applications owned by several key market leaders such as Nissan, Toyota, and
Honda and American Vehicular Sciences, which is an active patent monetizing entity. American Vehicular
Sciences is a subsidiary of Acacia and has involved in 15 patent litigations.

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References
Internet of Things Strategic Patent Development and Monetization for New Business Creation
Internet of Things Business & Technology & Patent Integrated Strategy